Role of AWARENET in supporting capacity building for IWRM: Lessons learnt. Roula Majdalani Sustainable Development and Productivity Division UN-ESCWA

Transcription

1 Role of AWARENET in supporting capacity building for IWRM: Lessons learnt Roula Majdalani Sustainable Development and Productivity Division UN-ESCWA 1

2 Outline Why do we need a capacity building network on Integrated Water Resources Management for the Arab Region? How to go about it? Setting up, managing, operationalizing and financing the network: Lessons Learnt AWARENET outlook in its second phase ( ) Present and future AWARENET support for the Palestinian Territories: National Chapter of AWARENET IWRM Capacity building initiatives Concluding remarks: 3 golden rules about networking 2

3 Capacity building: a core component of IWRM IWRM discourse over the past 2 decades has shown the need for: Expanding, improving and revisiting the knowledge base of the water field, beyond what is readily available in conventional sources of knowledge Acquiring new skills for the Integration and Management in IWRM (explore communication, administration, social sciences, economics, legal, institutional development, computer, networking) 3

4 IWRM gaps and challenges in the ESCWA region Limited awareness about IWRM (shortages in adequate and relevant formal education, training and research, problem of quality rather than the quantity) Fragmented water related institutional framework with ill defined or overlapping mandates Absence of comprehensive national water policies (limited technical, financial and institutional resources available for implementing them) Outdated water-related legislation not commensurate with changing conditions on the ground (scarcity, competing demand, deteriorate water quality) Unavailability and inconsistency of reliable and verifiable data & information on water resources 4

5 Networking for capacity building on IWRM 5 CAPACITY BUILDING CAPACITY BUILDING Develop training programs Research and Development CAPACITY CAPACITY BUILDING BUILDING CAPACITY BUILDING CAPACITY Monitoring and evaluating IWRM plans and applications Building partnerships BUILDING

6 AWARENET Arab integrated Water REsources management NETwork A regional network of research and training institutes from ESCWA member countries, working on IWRM 6

7 Why AWARENET? To identify, consolidate and spread regional knowledge and lessons learnt/ success stories To facilitate capacity-building programs To stimulate regional communication and cooperation To encourage collaborative wok and a cumulative process of improving capacity to plan, implement and monitor IWRM processes 7

8 How was AWARENET created? 1. Network Facilitation Internet site development and maintenance Development of a platform for group discussions Uploading relevant IWRM information 2. Institutional Framework ESCWA Resolution 244 (XXII) Develop a constitution Mobilize support for AWARENET at national level 3. Resource Mobilization Prepare research and training proposals Identify donors 8

9 For whom? Original stakeholders and founding members of AWARENET: Water professionals and technical personnel in water related institutions (training & research/ public or private) involved in capacity-building in water sector Membership as defined in the AWARENET constitution: Training and research institutes involved in CB in IWRM; NGOs, water-related regional development and research institutions in Arab region Associate members and friends of AWARENET, international/ donor agencies 9

10 What are the types of memberships? REGULAR MEMBERS: Training and research institutes active in subjects related to IWRM from the Arab region. SUPPORTING MEMBERS: institutes active in subjects related to IWRM other than training and research, eg. Media groups, government affiliated agencies& international organizations. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: Resource persons that contribute to the various AWARENET activities. Currently the Network counts a total of around 120 member institutes that cover 14 Arab countries, namely: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. 10

11 How is the Network managed? General assembly Steering committee Advisory Group Secretariat 11

12 Who are the partners of AWARENET? ESCWA 12

13 Areas of cooperation with AWARENET partners CAP-NET UNESCO/ UNDP -Research Activities -Improve quality of IWRM Material -Network managers meetings -Training of trainers - Operational &constitutional guidelines -Network Start-up -Knowledge mapping -Platform for interaction -ToT for needs assessors -Support development of training packages and material -Support in fund raising ESCWA/ BGR/GTZ - Secretariat -Follow-up on progress in KM -Training workshops -Solicit funding -Regional webmaster 13

14 Regional networks 14

15 Initiating AWARENET: what was achieved in the period? Implementation of Capacity Building Programs Training packages and resource material on IWRM applications at regional and national levels learning by doing Collaborative research on IWRM: rainwater harvesting, gender mainstreaming, IWRM for groundwater management AWARENET activities at national level: stakeholders dialogue on IWRM applications, advocacy work and awareness campaigns Inter- and intra-regional cooperation, (members participating as capacity building providers and/or recipients Monitor Network development and change in Knowledge base TNA/ Survey existing & needed capacity to develop and implement IWRM plans and related sector reforms: Mapping available CB resources, knowledge; identify gaps 15

16 Initiating AWARENET: what was achieved in the period? Network Consolidation process Network constitution and operational framework Information and knowledge sharing through: members platform; AWARENET website, list-servers & thematic e.discussion groups Improved network outreach Membership expanded in number and geographical scope (around 120 members from: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) Membership includes NGOs, regional institutes and professionals from outside the hydrology circle 16

17 Lessons learnt Weak communication among members and insufficient commitment to take initiatives or leadership role within the network Difficulty in sustaining enthusiasm and commitment of senior members in the long-run Limited resources and capacity of members to engage in CB deliverables with high value added, and contribute to resource mobilization Administrative and bureaucratic red tapes which limit opportunities for continuous knowledge exchange and collaboration Spread effect and multiplier effect of AWARENET activities are not always forthcoming 17

18 Lessons learnt (cont d) Working at national level gave more tangible results and visibility to AWARENET (through the national chapters) Wide participation of members in developing IWRM resource and training material through learning by doing led to improved awareness, knowledge and ownership of the capacity building process Maintaining close links with champions of IWRM and AWARENET supporters at regional and international levels, gave good exposure and visibility for the network s activities and strong potentials for sustainability 18

19 Operationalizing AWARENET: the second phase ( ) AWARENET has developed a more outward looking approach with more deliverables, a broader membership base and increasing recognition of the skills and knowledge of its members 19

20 Operationalizing AWARENET: the second phase ( ) Activities undertaken within work plan: Regional level activities: Gender mainstreaming, ToT on economic and financial instruments for IWRM, legal framework for Water Users Association, MSc course on IWRM in the Arab region, implementing/ delivering training programs for key partners (UNU, UNDP) National chapters of AWARENET: national workshops, adapting IWRM training material, awareness campaigns Initiating a working group on WR within the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) in cooperation with GTZ: building synergy between WSS and IWRM agendas Recruitment of a network advisor: setting-up an independent secretariat 20

21 Operationalizing AWARENET: the second phase (cont d) Outlook beyond 2007: Preparations for holding the first AWARENET General Assembly meeting (2 nd quarter 2008) Scaling-up and supporting CB initiatives of individual members Identifying potential host institutions for the network and plan for the hand-over of the AWARENET secretariat Formalizing cooperation with partners through MOUs 21

22 AWARENET support for the Palestinian Territories Presently 10 institutional members from Palestine Leading role in the preparation of IWRM training modules for the Arab region Adapting training packages to national level stakeholders and developing resource material Serving as CB arm and resource people in training activities organized by AWARENET partners in the region Participate in CB activities organized or facilitated by AWARENET 22

23 AWARENET support for the Palestinian Territories (cont d) Scaling-up AWARENET activities in Palestine: is there a need for it? How to go about it? Establish an AWARENET national chapter to improve the outreach of network s activities at national and local levels Build on existing initiatives and CB programs to pool resources and maximize benefits and impacts of CB delivered Increase/ improve the participation of Palestinian members in on-going AWARENET and Cap-Net activities to undertake collaborative/ comparative research and develop training and resource material 23

24 Concluding remarks AWARENET grew in an incremental and experimental process and its biggest challenge has been maintaining the momentum created and commitment of its members Three golden rules for ensuring AWARENET sustainability: Members driven agenda, activities and outlook Openness and easy flow of communication Learning by doing and growing as you gain capacity! 24

25 How to contact AWARENET secretariat? Website: Phone: Fax: Mailing Address: UN-House AWARENET/ Water and Environment Team Riad EL Solh Square P.O.Box Beirut-Lebanon 25

26 THANK YOU 26