Transcript Challenges in the MENA Region and contribution - UN

Challenges in the MENA Region and
contribution of information systems
Dr. Hani Sewilam
UNW-DPC
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What is UN-Water?
•
UN-Water is an inter-agency mechanism formally established in
2003 by the United Nations High Level Committee on
Programmes
•
It consists of over two dozen members and numerous partners.
No single “lead agency”
•
UN-Water strengthens coordination and coherence among UN
entities and non-UN partners dealing with issues related to all
aspects of freshwater and sanitation.
•
It contributes to the agenda defined by the 2000 Millennium
Declaration and the World Summit on Sustainable Development
More information: www.unwater.org
UNWDPC
WWAP
UNWDPAC
JMP
UNDESA
UNECA
UNESCAP
UNESCWA
UNECE
UNCTAD
UNSGAB
UNECLAC
UN-Water Members
UN-Water Partners
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UN-Water: Strengthening the UN System
UN-Water strengthens coordination and coherence
among UN entities dealing with issues related to all
aspects of freshwater and sanitation.
Capacity Development is……….
“…the sum of efforts needed to nurture, enhance
and utilize the skills and capabilities of people and
institutions at all levels – locally, nationally,
regionally and internationally - so that they can better
progress …”. (UNDP)
Capacity Related Challenges in the MENA Region
1. Awareness, understanding and commitment of public
2. Lack of required commitment from the political system
3. Lack of organizational/institutional frameworks
4. Disagreement among stakeholders
5. Technical skills to cope specific tasks (e.g. IWRM)
Mission Statement of
UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development.
Enhance the credibility, coherence, and integrated effectiveness of the
capacity development activities of UN-Water to strengthen the efforts to
achieve the Millennium Development Goals related to water.
UNW-DPC Work-Plan
1.2 Collection of information and analysis of
existing UN Water related programmes, projects and activities.
2.2
1.4
Carrying out mapping of UN Water activities
Development of a single entry point of access to
information about projects, programs and activities by setting an online
database.
Why Web-Based/IT in Capacity Development
Type of activity
Organize Training
Develop toolkits
Awareness raising
Collection and dissemination
Exchange programmes
Web-based
>50%
Other
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100 %
Percentage of the total activities
Source: Water-Related Capacity Development: A survey of UN-Water members’ and partners’
activities, UNW-DPC Publication Series, 2008
• Objective I of this session:
– The role of IT in capacity development and solving the
water challenges in the MENA region.
Developing Information Systems
Main Objectives of this Session
• Objective I
– The role of IT in capacity development and solving the
water challenges in the MENA region.
• Objective II
– Investigating the possible integration between different
systems
UNW-AIS contains:
Social Learning Tools
UN-Water Publications
IW-Science Projects and Publications
… & more
Mapping Results
ePool (eTraining)
UNW-AIS
Thank you!
UN-Water Decade Programme
on Capacity Development
(UNW-DPC)
UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY
UN Campus
Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10
D-53113 Bonn, Germany
Phone: + 49 (0) 228 815-0652
Fax:
+ 49 (0) 228 815-0655
E-Mail: [email protected]
www.unwater.unu.edu
Experience managing a knowledge network
supported by information systems
Nick Tandi is a Water Resources Specialist
at the UNDP Cap-Net programme with international
experience in managing formal water governance
knowledge networks. He is educated in Soil Science
and Social Ecology. Before joining Cap-Net he
worked for WaterNet, a Southern Africa Development
Community capacity development network.
AQUASTAT, FAO‘s Global Information System on Water and Agriculture
• Karen FRENKEN is a Senior Water Resources
Management Officer at the Land and Water
Division of FAO and Coordinator of the
AQUASTAT Programme, FAO’s global information
system on water and agriculture. Worked and lived
for 20 years as an agricultural engineer in different
countries in South Asia, the Near East and mostly
Sub-Saharan Africa, before joining FAO
Headquarters in Rome in 2003.
IW:Science Platform
Enhancing the use of Science in International Waters
projects to improve project results
• DR. WALID SALEH is the regional Coordinator, MENA
Region for the United Nations University-Institute for Water,
Environment, and Health (UNU-INWEH) since 1997. His
work experience within the UN system is engaged in the
sustainable development through multi-disciplinary
Integrated Management approach to achieve project needs
and address the Millennium Development Goals. He
authored and co-author several papers and applied research
project reports.
New features of the UN-Water Activity Information System (AIS+)
• Dr. Dirk Jaeger recently joint the UNW-DPC as a Programme
Officer. As a Professional Engineer, he has a Diploma degree (Master’s
equivalent) and PhD in Forestry and Environmental Management and
Forest Engineering from the University of Goettingen and the University of
New Brunswick, Canada. Dr. Jaeger has more than 14 years experience of
university teaching, adult education and capacity development as well as
environmental research. He is also guest lecturer at the University of
Freiburg in Germany for 14 years. Dr. Jaeger has supervised over 30 theses
projects of Master’s and PhD and undergraduate students. His research
findings are published in more than 30 publications. Dr. Jaeger worked for
FAO and World Bank as a consultant and in technical support projects for
GTZ in Indonesia, China and Albania.