EMWIS Flash N°108, March 2013

EMWIS Flash - March 2013 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Union for the Mediterranean. For further information: www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- It is available in English, French & Arabic. (French & Arabic versions are available few days later) Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism / Geo-Catalogue / UfM-Water

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In this issue N°108 (www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash108)
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HEADLINE
1- Tunisia: National Seminar on National Water Information System (SINEAU)

IN BRIEF
2- Water and Cooperation: hand in hand for sustainable future
3- World Water Day: EU Water-related Research
4- UfM launches study to protect the Mediterranean Sea from pollution
5- Islamic Development Bank extends support to UfM projects
6- Responding to Drought: WMO-GWP Integrated Drought Management Program Launched
7- Unions and others expose lobbying of private water company to influence EU policy
8- GWF Highlights Increased Information Sharing in Transboundary Basin Treaties
9- Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea & South Sudan: New Nile Perspectives - Scientific advances in the Eastern Nile Basin
10- Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon & Iraq: Regional council to regulate shared water resources
11- Turkey: More effective water management policies need to be adopted
12- Lebanon: SPNL Launches New Project on Water Management Systems
13- Jordan: ACWUA signs a new agreement with the National Law Center
14- Morocco: Veolia sells Morocco water & waste services to Actis
15- The water crisis cannot be solved simply by conservation and infrastructure investment
16- Water Stress in the Mediterranean
17- Water Security in the Arab World
18- As water disappears from the Arab world at an alarming rate, data is falling from the sky
19- USAID in the Middle East: Using Data to Improve Regional Water Management
20- GWP CEE Recommends Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Plants to Address Rural Sanitation Access
21- EC helps Member States to get on track with sustainable waste management

NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS  
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
PROJECTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1- In March 2010, the General Directorate General of Water Resources of the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture organized with EMWIS a national seminar to celebrate the grant agreement with the African Water Facility for the first phase of the National Water Information System (SINEAU). The detailed SINEAU development, implementation and training plan was presented last March 26, 2013 in Tunis following the contract signature in early 2013 with a consortium led by the Tunisian consultancy company ST2I. This phase is expected to last 12 months for the implementation of the SINEAU and its 3 sub-systems dedicated to water resources (SYGREAU), soil degradation (SISOL) and pollution control (COPEAU/SPORE). From the institutional point of view, a SINEAU protocol has been signed by 5 Ministries and a technical team set-up with concerned directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the National Environment Protection Agency (ANPE). With a budget of more than 3 MEuros, this 1st phase of SINEAU is a major tool of the 2nd Investment Plan for the Tunisian water sector (PISEAU II), especially for monitoring and assessment of the various activity foreseen as well as for the environmental impact of this plan. SINEAU is also one of national pilots of the regional project on “Creating Shared National Water Data Management Systems towards a Mediterranean Water Knowledge Hub” in the projects’ pipeline of the Union for the Mediterranean. Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The year 2013 is the UN International Year of Water Cooperation. The topic puts an accent on raising the awareness of the potential and challenges of water cooperation and facilitating the dialogue among stakeholders and partners in the water sector. Since 1993, on 22nd of March, the World Water Day is celebrated at various level in all countries. The topic this year is also concentrated on water cooperation. The initiative of the World Water Day has the aim to encourage and show to the society the importance of the water resources. The key message of the International Year of Water Cooperation and the World Water Day 2013 is to show how important water cooperation is, but also that it poses challenges and brings many benefits. Further information on EMWIS website.

3- Water research has been a major component of EU research since the late 1980s, covering a wide spectrum of water-related topics and evolving over the years in close correlation to EU water policy. Over the last 10 years, the EU - via the Framework Programme for research - has contributed an average of €130 million per year to water-related research. Today, economic development, growing populations and increasing degradation of the environment all make sustainable exploitation of resources a priority, and no resource is more fundamental to our well-being than water. Climate change will have a direct impact on human society, affecting the quality and availability of fresh water, increasing the frequency and severity of droughts and flooding, and posing a serious threat to the functioning of our economies and ecosystems.  Here are two examples of successful EU-funded water-related research projects: SILCO project - Doing away with bacteria in drinking water systems, and AQUAFIT4USE project – Helping industry conserve the world's most valuable asset by reducing its consumption of fresh water. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- A study to prevent, abate and combat pollution of the Mediterranean Sea is conducted by the UfM Secretariat. The launching workshop of the study entitled “Update priority investment portfolio for protecting the Mediterranean Sea from Pollution”, to be conducted by the Union for the Mediterranean and concluded by the end of 2013, took place at the UfM headquarters, in Barcelona, on 22 February. The main purpose of the study is to update investment needs towards pollution reduction targets in the perspective 2020-2025. The meeting was the occasion to present the preliminary findings of the UfM’s study, as well as the main activities planned until next autumn. It also gave the opportunity to discuss countries’ involvement and collect information from relevant water and environment stakeholders. The UfM study will complement two other studies conducted in parallel by the United Nations Environment Programme - Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP) and the European Investment Bank (EIB) with an aim to evaluate the implementation of depollution projects in the Mediterranean. They will provide recommendations on the way forward, taking into account the need for coherence, synergy and joint effective action among different actors and their respective programmes and initiatives in this field. The outputs of the three studies will contribute to revise the UNEP-MAP Depollution Strategic Action Program and National Action Plans as well as to define the second phase of H2020 initiative. Further information on EMWIS website.

5- The President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Dr Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al Madani held a working session with the Secretary General of the UfM, Fathallah Sijilmassi, on 9 March 2013 in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). During the meeting UfM projects supported by the IDB were evoked. The emphasis was particularly made on the Desalination Facility for the Gaza Strip Project, for which the President of the IDB confirmed the intention of the institution to finance 50% of the total amount (in coordination with Gulf countries). The total cost of the project that is being implemented by the Palestinian government is 450 Million USD. Its aim is to enable 2 Million people to have access to fresh water, as more than 90% of water in the Gaza Strip is not drinkable. The IDB also expressed its will to reinforce their partnership with the UfM through the promotion of other priority projects for the countries of the region. The President of the institution insisted on the possibility of promoting projects aiming to create job opportunities for young people in the framework of the Mediterranean Initiative for Jobs (Med4Jobs). M. Sijilmassi held also a working session with the Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanolu, in which possible synergies and areas of cooperation with the UfM were discussed. Further information on EMWIS website

6- The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Global Water Partnership (GWP) have launched a joint Integrated Drought Management Programme (IDMP) on March 13, 2013, to improve monitoring and prevention of one of the world’s greatest natural hazards. The programme was launched at the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP) in Geneva, Switzerland, where decision-makers and scientists from around the world are discussing proactive, forward-looking national drought policies to replace the current piecemeal, reactive approach. There is an urgent need to develop better drought monitoring and risk management systems, and for countries to have frameworks in place to manage drought risks through an integrated approach. This programme aims to support countries in this endeavour, within their regional contexts. The IDMP is looking at monitoring and early warning systems to deliver timely information to decision makers, effective impact assessment procedures, pro-active risk management measures, preparedness plans to increase coping capacities, and effective emergency response programmes to reduce the impacts of droughts.  The IDMP will focus especially on sharing scientific information, knowledge and best practices to advise policies and management approaches. Better drought management is also one of the priorities of the Global Framework for Climate Services, the GFCS. This framework is now being implemented by governments with support from several partners from the United Nations System. Climate services can be a powerful tool to increase drought resilience, by improving climate information and services, especially for the most vulnerable. They will build on fast improving climate prediction capabilities. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- The Spanish water utility Agbar, part of the Suez Environment group, has invited European policy makers to participate in a one-day study tour to put policy in practice. The company wants to discuss the Blueprint to safeguard European Water and the European innovation Partnership. Several Spanish organisations and including the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) affiliates have expressed their concerns to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs). They draw attention to the risks of private companies involvement in water management with examples of: several court cases over illegal awarding of concessions, investigations over corruption, use of public funds for investment rather than own funds, corporate dominance of water services by the private companies and over-use of water resources. EPSU works with the European Water Movement. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- Turkish experts warn that if effective water management policies are not developed by the government as soon as possible, Turkey will struggle with a very serious water shortage in the future. According to former Foreign Minister Yaşar Yakış, "Turkey is not rich at all in terms of water resources". The amount of water consumption per person is approximately 1,400 cubic meters per year in Turkey, but the per capita water amount in water-rich countries is approximately 18,000 cubic meters per year.  In addition, water in Turkey is not equally dispersed throughout country. While the Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey suffers from floods, the Central Anatolia region and South-eastern Anatolia regions suffer from droughts. In order to be able to equally distribute water throughout country, Turkey needs huge new investments.  On the other hand, Center for Middle Eastern Strategic Studies (ORSAM) Water Research Program specialist Dr. Tuğba Evrim Maden, pointed to the excessive water consumption in Turkey as a major problem. She stated: “Turkey has started to implement some effective policies in recent years, but they are not sufficient. Excessive use of water is a major problem in Turkey. The awareness of people should be raised with new initiatives as most of the people living in Turkey consider water to be an everlasting natural resource, but it is not.  In the meantime, a report recently released by the Ministry of Forest and Water Affairs has revealed there is a water shortage in Turkey. The report, titled “Water Resources Development Working Group Report,” states that Turkey currently has an available water supply of 112 billion cubic meters and uses 39 percent of its water each year, adding that 32 billion cubic meters of water per year are used in irrigation, 7 billion cubic meters are consumed as drinking water and 5 billion cubic meters are used in industry. Further information on EMWIS website.

9- The Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL) has recently launched the project entitled “Restoring Hima Ecosystem functions through promoting sustainable community based water management systems” in Hima Anjar Kfar Zabad. The project objectives include: 1-Improving the management of water quality and quantity used for agriculture from the canals, wells and wetlands in both Anjar and Kfar Zabad Himas; 2- Promoting the sustainable, community based practice of water use for Agriculture by the farmers of Anjar and Kfar Zabad; 3- Improving the valuation and appreciation of the Hima water ecosystems in Anjar and Kfar Zabad IBA for people and nature. The project will focus on transferring the traditional experience of the Anjar Water Users Association in the management of water for agriculture purpose through the traditional open canal system to Kfar Zabad farmers, where it will promote the good governance and wise use of water for people and nature. Further information on EMWIS website.

10- Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) signed a new agreement with the National Law Center of Jordan for the aim of establishing an Arbitration Center for Water, Energy, and Infrastructure; to be the first arbitration center in the region that is concerned in Conflict Resolution in the water, energy and  other infrastructure projects and tenders. The agreement was signed during a press conference where Eng. Khaldon Khashman and Mr. Ahmad Tahboub gave a short overview about the Arbitration center. ACWUA Secretary General Khaldoun Khashman said "the centre was the first arbitration centre specialised in water, energy and infrastructure issues in the region. The centre is being established after two years of hard work. It will serve utilities, ministries and private sector companies.” Ahmad Tahboub, who represented the National Law Centre, noted that the arbitration centre would attempt to settle disputes arising from the implementation and management of projects or the tender process. The Water, Energy And Infrastructure Arbitration Centre will serve water and energy companies and utilities both in Jordan and abroad, he added, and will benefit from the expertise of other similar centres around the world. The centre will also “establish a clear and advanced mechanism” for resolving disputes and “develop the technical and administrative operations” inside water, energy and infrastructure institutions to avoid future disputes, according to organisers. Arbitration is a form of dispute resolution used as an alternative to litigation in court, whereby parties to a dispute agree to have a third party review the facts at hand and issue a legally binding resolution to which both parties must adhere. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- Given developments in the Nile River basin, including the emergence of a new riparian State, the Ministry of Water Resources and Electricity, Sudan, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) – Institute for Water Education (IHE), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and others, are organising a conference to discuss water cooperation. The conference will address, inter alia: new Nile projects and politics; new Nile hydrology, morphology and climate change; new Nile land and water use and livelihoods; new Nile economics and optimization; and new Nile futures – institutionalizing interdependencies. New dams and new initiatives for cooperation bring new Nile basin realities with new opportunities for its inhabitants. To what extent the people of the Eastern Nile basin can benefit from these developments depends on their understanding of Nile flows and cooperation over Nile water uses. Researchers should and do play a pioneering role both in creating new understandings of Nile flows and in further improving cooperation over Nile waters through data and knowledge sharing. There are only few platforms which draw together Nile researchers from different disciplines, projects, universities and countries however. Therefore the orgnisers invite researchers to further cooperate and share new Nile knowledge at the New Nile Perspectives conference in Khartoum on 6-7 May 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

12- Water experts and policy makers from five regional countries are in the process of setting up a new council to regulate sharing of trans-boundary water resources. The council, comprising high-level members from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey, will draft policies for regional water and for creating cooperation between countries that share joint water resources. Setting up the council was one of the recommendations of the “Blue Peace: Rethinking Middle East Water” report, which seeks to turn water from a cause of conflict into a source of peace and cooperation between countries in the Middle East.  This report was presented at the “Blue Peace in the Middle East: International Media Conference”, which was held in Istanbul and co-hosted by the Turkish Review journal and the India-based think tank Strategic Foresight Group (SFG), in partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.  The report treated countries covered by the study in distinct circles of cooperation; the first encompasses the northern countries, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan, while the second includes Israel and the Palestinian territories. The report’s authors suggested creating a cooperation council for the northern countries tasked with standardising measurements of quality and quantity of water resources, combating climate change and drought, and promoting research in environment-friendly and energy-efficient water technologies among other tasks. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- Information sharing on water resources has become a key component of transboundary water treaties, according to a Global Water Forum (GWF) discussion paper. The paper, “Greater exchange, greater ambiguity: Water resources data and information exchange in transboundary water treaties,” analyzes data and information exchange in the 287 transboundary water agreement signed between 1900 and 2007. Most transboundary water treaties have a mechanism for exchanging water resources data or information, according to the experts from IWMI and the University of Arizona. Direct exchange mechanisms increased from less than 20% pre-World War II, to over 50% in the post-Cold War era. The authors caution, however, that only 37% of treaties include direct data and information exchange mechanisms, and instead rely on indirect mechanisms, such as formalized communication and prior notification.  Based on this finding, the authors conclude that the goals and nature of treaties influence levels of data and information exchange. They suggest these trends indicate “new global normative framework for transboundary water that [shape] international law.” Only 29% of agreements that include data and information exchange call for regular exchanges, which the authors suggesting that this figure indicates a reluctance among States to legalize exchange schedules and a preference for event-triggered, on request or unclear exchange practices. They also suggest States may encourage ambiguity in exchange frequency to serve domestic purposes or facilitate flexibility in the event of resource uncertainty. Further information on EMWIS website

14- Veolia Environnement has agreed to sell its Moroccan water, wastewater and electricity services operated by concession companies Redal and Amendis to the investment fund Actis for around 370 million Euros. The transaction will reduce the company's debt by around 88 million Euros in 2013, Veolia said. Veolia has signed a three-year technical support contract with Actis. This contract will ensure the smooth transition of services, enabling Veolia to share its know-how and expertise in Morocco. Actis has over 60 years of experience of investing exclusively in emerging markets, and particularly across Africa.  Further information on EMWIS website

15- "The water crisis cannot be solved simply by conservation and infrastructure investment; it calls for a new wave of creative thinking."; Amir Peleg, Chairman of SWAN (Smart Water Networks Forum), discusses how the water industry is lagging behind when it comes to adopting sophisticated technologies. According to the Global Risks Report 2013, “water supply crises” was ranked second out of 50 in terms of impact. Only “major systemic financial failure” was placed higher, while “chronic fiscal imbalances” and “food shortage crises” were placed lower. Also, the likelihood of water supply crises was listed fourth out of 50. Clearly, improved water management is essential. However, it will not occur without innovation. There is a gap between the perception of the water crisis and the increasing need for innovation and investment in this sector. According to the OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050, global water demand is projected to increase by 55% between 2000 and 2050, by which time over 40% of the global population is likely to be under severe water stress. Insufficient water supply could result in food shortages, demographic changes, political strife and even armed conflict. Technologies that provide superior performance at lower costs and improve the productive and responsible use of natural resources are needed to meet these challenges in a sustainable manner. Developing such technologies requires investment. As cited by the Cleantech Group i3 Platform, out of the 2012 venture capital funding directed towards cleantech, only 5.4% was invested in the water sector with the majority going towards the transportation, energy efficiency and alternative energy sectors. Why does such an investment gap exist? One reason is that the water industry is perceived as conservative and slow-moving. Another is that water is undeniably underpriced, affecting the perceived return on investment in making networks more efficient. This, in turn, yields lack of venture capital interest with only a handful of visionary funds looking for water investments. The industry needs a call to action. It is now up to us – entrepreneurs, investors and water experts – to deliver. Together, we can work to resolve the innovation scarcity in the water sector. The future of global water management is in our hands. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- For many years now, the Mediterranean has been facing problems leading to a situation of serious environmental degradation. An increase in the temperature and salinity levels has been recorded during the second half of the 20th century in the Mediterranean Sea. The increase in the water stress in the Mediterranean basin (due to a higher evaporation rates and a decrease in rainfalls and water courses levels) will cause the raise of salinity. The high rates of evaporation and the lack of moisture alter soil properties making the soil less productive, thus holding back agricultural development, the backbone for the economy of the Mediterranean basin countries. The main cause of the water stress suffered by the Mediterranean and Middle East is the increasing use of natural resources by the rising population and the higher demand for water per capita. This is not only because customs are being adopted that do not allow for balanced water use but also, and especially, because economic and industrial development in the region has turned its back on any type of sustainable management of resources and conservation of the natural environment. Proper water management is necessary, especially because water is a limited resource in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. It is necessary to create a greater awareness amongst society. Industries must become more respectful of the environment, national policies must be adopted to promote such industries and sustainable, equitable water management must be set up. The countries in the region must continue working together to resolve the problems and fair, common policies must be adopted, preventing further international conflicts. Further information on EMWIS website

17- Water availability in the Arab region is a critical issue as the region has 5 percent of the world's population having access to merely 1 percent of the world's total water resources. According to United Nations estimates, around 12 Arab countries suffer from severe water shortages. The per capita availability of renewable water resources is less than 500 m³ per year. In order to resolve this critical situation, many projects in the Arab Strategy for Water Security (2010-2030) support efficient management and use of water resources. Agriculture accounts for 85 percent of total fresh water consumption in the Middle East, while its share in the total gross domestic product (GDP) roughly exceeds 8 percent. The major factors responsible for the rise in water consumption and depletion of freshwater resources are: High standards of living; Increasing urbanization and industrialization; High population growth rate; Failure to adopt basic water conservation principles; Insufficient energy for seawater desalination; Regional conflicts resulting in mass flow of internal migrants; and Lack of public awareness. Food security is also at stake as the Arab region relies on scarce water resources for irrigation, heavily imports major food resources or invests in agricultural lands in other parts of the world. Therefore, regional cooperation is an urgent need of the hour to ensure water and food security in the Arab world. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- A ground-breaking study released last month shows how the Middle East is losing its fresh water reserves. Prepared jointly by NASA and the University of California Irvine, and published by Water Resources Research, the report offers a range of alarming statistics on both the amount and rate of the region’s water loss. Satellite missions from 2003 to 2009, supplemented by remote-sensing data and output from land surface models, show a decrease in volume of the region’s freshwater reserves of 143.6 cubic kilometers during the 7-years of the study. This rate of water loss is among the largest liquid freshwater losses on the planet during this period. The 143.662.8 km3 loss during the 7-year study period is nearly equivalent in volume to the entire Dead Sea, which has an average volume of 147 km3. The analyses presented suggests that groundwater depletion is the largest single contributor to the this observed negative trend, accounting for approximately 60 percent of the total volume of water lost, the majority of which occurred after the onset of drought in 2007. Why is this not surprising?  For one, a complex system of trans-boundary, groundwater aquifers underlies this region. Extracting groundwater at a faster rate than it can be naturally replenished has some clearly observable effects, such “subsidence”, a geological term that describes the sinking of the earth’s surface. Secondly, domestic and international monitoring, regulation, and data-sharing related to these groundwater aquifers are sorely lacking. If countries do not openly share information on water use, especially aquifer withdrawals, how can one verify these results? But the technology mix of satellite, remote sensing, land surface models, and meteorological data makes individual government self-reporting on water abstractions, irrelevant. Data-driven models can approximate true values of surface as well as groundwater withdrawals. They are an objective source of information that all stakeholders can have equal access to. Further information on EMWIS website

19- Few places are drier than the Middle East and North Africa. Host to 5 percent of the world’s population, the region has only 1 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water. Population growth and increasing demands for food, housing and jobs place extreme pressures on water resources, raising the potential for conflict within and between countries. Climate change could make a challenging situation worse. The first step for effective water decision-making is data – understanding the location, availability and quality of water resources. To be effective, water management decisions need to be grounded in the best information available. However, political and economic constraints often mean that decisions affecting water use in the region rely upon outdated or inaccurate information. USAID is working to put accurate data – and the know-how to interpret them – into the hands of the region’s water decision-makers. As former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton noted in her 2012 World Water Day speech, “the water crisis is a health crisis, it’s a farming crisis, it’s an economic crisis, it’s a climate crisis, and increasingly, it is a political crisis.  And therefore, we must have an equally comprehensive response.”  Further information on EMWIS website.

20- Implementing decentralized wastewater treatment plants can help to address sanitation concerns, particularly in rural and mountainous areas, according to a study by the Global Water Partnership Central and Eastern Europe (GWP CEE). GWP highlights the special water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) challenges encountered by rural, small and widely dispersed villages, which are home to over 40 million people in the CEE region. Rural populations often use groundwater for drinking, which frequently becomes polluted, resulting in health concerns, especially among children. Financing for sewage and wastewater treatment plans represents an additional challenge because local municipalities often cannot afford to cover the co-funding requirements for such systems. Nature-based decentralized treatment systems represent “a promising solution for the region" but will require extensive awareness rising activities. These GWP recommendations draw upon an August 2012 report titled “Natural Processes of Wastewater Treatment: Actual status in CEE countries.” Further information on EMWIS website

21- Every year, each European citizen generates over 500 kilos of municipal waste, more than one third of which goes directly to landfill. Whereas some Member States manage to put those resources to productive use, recycling or composting around 60% of their municipal waste, others struggle to manage it.  A recent seminar was organised by the European Commission to help Member States to optimise their waste policies through tailored Roadmaps with practical recommendations, focusing on the effective implementation of EU waste legislation. In parallel, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published an in-depth analysis of the past decade's achievements in municipal waste management policies in the EU. Environment Commissioner Janez Potočnik said: "Many Member States still rely too heavily on land filling and this is not in line with our efforts to achieve a more resource efficient Europe. Burying our waste is a huge loss of precious materials and a lost opportunity to create more jobs, economic growth and reduce the impacts of waste on human health." The Roadmaps emphasise the need to use economic instruments to improve municipal waste management, such as landfill and incineration taxes and bans, producer responsibility schemes, and incentives to promote waste prevention, reuse and recycling (e.g. "pay as you throw" systems). Improved monitoring and statistics, intensifying separate collection, better governance, updating waste management strategies, and measures to increase public participation are other recommendations in the Roadmaps. They also note that future investments in waste management should prioritise prevention, reuse, recycling and composting – the preferred options in the waste hierarchy set out in the Waste Framework Directive. Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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22- The Autonomous Region of Sardinia has been appointed by the Joint Programming Committee (made up of the delegates of 14 countries) for a 2nd term as Joint Managing Authority of the future Programme ENI (European Neighbourhood Instrument) CBC Med for the period 2014-2020. Further information on EMWIS website.

23- Marie Curie Individual Fellowships at Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei. Internal deadline: May 17th, 2013: Candidates must be in possession of a doctoral degree or have at least 4 years of research experience (full-time equivalent) since obtaining a university degree giving access to doctoral studies. Eligible researchers can be of any nationality and must not have resided or carried out their main activity in Italy for more than 12 months since August 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

24- Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) Announces 2013 Scholarship Fund for Students from the Middle East and North Africa. Application Deadline is 30 June, 2013: Applicants must be nationals from a MENA country holding the equivalent of a B.Sc or M.Sc. Applicants must obtain acceptance from a relevant university to be eligible for a MEDRC scholarship. Further information on EMWIS website

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PUBLICATIONS
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25- Report on Water Desalination Status in the Mediterranean Countries: This report has just been published by EMWIS Steering Committee Former President, Dr. Juan Cánovas Cuenca, currently Chief of Natural Resources Department, at the "Instituto Murciano de Investigación y Desarrollo Agrario y Alimentario" (IMIDA) in Murcia (Spain). The report provides information about different water desalination processes, qualitative characteristics of desalinated waters, energy requirements, environmental impacts, desalinated water demands, economy of water desalination and future tendencies.  Further information on EMWIS website

26- ENPI CBC-MED Online project database: now available. Take a look through the database to discover the wide range of projects which have received financial support from the Programme.  Further information on EMWIS website.

27- UNESCO-IHE launch its Open Course Ware platform at the start of the Open Education Week: The demand for water education far exceeds the number of professionals that the Institute can train. In order to bridge this gap somewhat, UNESCO-IHE aims to make available all of its modules as Open Courseware by 2017. Further information on EMWIS website

28- On the occasion of the World Water Day, WWF launched a new report criticizing dam projects worldwide that continue to violate fundamental sustainability criteria. In the WWF report, “Seven Sins of Dam Building,” numerous dam projects planned or under construction are given a failing review e.g.  in Austria (Kaunertal) and Montenegro (Moraca). WWF calls for a better use of existing EU and international standards when planning dams to ensure their sustainability. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- Transboundary Law and Economic Value of Water: New Background Papers from GWP Technical Committee.  Further information on EMWIS website

30- "The new drinking water pricing": This book aims to help communities choose pricing methods of drinking water that are legally and socially acceptable. Further information on EMWIS website. (Available only in French)

31- UNESCO Water e-Newsletter: Water Cooperation: Special Edition on the occasion of the International Year of Water Cooperation 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

32- The "Arab Youth Portal on Water" (AYPOW) is a project that aims to create interactive information and e-learning portal on water including all aspects (gender, rights, sustainability...). Further information on EMWIS website

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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33- CIRCLE-2 ERA-NET is launching a new joint call for transnational research projects in "Adaptation to Climate Change from a natural and social science perspective: Water in coastal Mediterranean areas". The aim of this call is to encourage scientific cooperation between social and natural scientists in order to find novel solutions for transnational water-related climate change adaptation challenges in support to public policies. CIRCLE-MED2-2013 is a 2013 joint call of the Mediterranean network under the CIRCLE-2 ERA-NET. The funding countries of this call are France, Greece, and Portugal. Research will cover one at least one of the following priority vulnerable sectors and their relation with necessary adaptation responses: Freshwater resources, availability and use (including water supply and sanitation); Urban infrastructure / agglomerations; Ecosystem services. Deadline for submission is Monday 6th of May 2013 (18:00 CET). Further information on EMWIS website.

34- 2nd Call for transnational proposals for eco-innovation (Deadline for pre-proposals: 8th April 2013): There will be a two-stage submission procedure for joint applications: pre-proposals and full proposals. Joint pre-proposals (in English) must be submitted in an electronic version no later than 8th April 2013 at 12 a.m. Central European Time. Within its second call the ECO-INNOVERA Network supports eco-innovation as a contribution to a Green Economy. The fundamental role of Innovation in a Green Economy is recognised by European policy through the Eco-Innovation Action Plan (EcoAP), which refers to eco-innovation as “any form of innovation resulting in or aiming at significant and demonstrable progress towards the goal of sustainable development, through reducing impacts on the environment, enhancing resilience to environmental pressures, or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources”. ECO-INNOVERA is looking for collaborative R&D projects which include social, environmental, market and technological issues and have a strong focus on future markets and societal needs as well as a strong capability to deliver to the market. The second call of the ECO-INNOVERA Network aims to boost Green Growth and industrial driven R&D by addressing market-oriented projects in the fields of: Topic 1 - System innovation, Topic 2 - Sustainable processes and products, Topic 3 - Recycling; re-use of waste and water. Further information on EMWIS website

35- Call for proposals: ICT-2013.6.3 - ICT for water resources management. ICT offers an untapped potential to improve the management of water resources by integrating real-time knowledge about water consumption at domestic, corporate and city level, and by enabling subsequently the implementation of efficient resource and demand management strategies and pricing schemes. This objective brings together the ICT and water stakeholders in joint research, in order to document the ICT potential via lessons learned from real-life testing and demonstration experiments. The aim is to pilot and demonstrate innovative ICT systems and services for efficient water use and reuse, in order to improve household, business and societal awareness, to induce changes in consumer behaviour and to enable the introduction of innovative resource and demand management schemes and adaptive pricing incentives. Deadline: 16 April 2013, at 17:00.00 Brussels local time. Further information on EMWIS website.

36- Call for proposals: FP7-ENV-2013-WATER-INNO-DEMO. This call aims at promoting sustainable management of the natural and human environment and its resources by advancing our knowledge on the interactions between the biosphere, ecosystems and human activities, and developing new technologies, tools and services, in order to address in an integrated way global environmental issues. Emphasis will be put on prediction of climate, ecological, earth and ocean system changes, on tools and on technologies for monitoring, prevention and mitigation of environmental pressures and risks including on health and for the sustainability of the natural and man-made environment. Under Challenge 6.3. Improving resource efficiency, there are two kind of projects: ENV.2013.WATER INNO&DEMO-1: Water innovation demonstration projects. One or more proposals can be selected; and ENV.2013.WATER INNO&DEMO-2 Ensuring the integration of water and innovation demonstration projects and support to trans-national networks of procurers. Deadline: 4 April 2013 at 17.00.00, Brussels local time. Further information on EMWIS website.

37- The seventh LIFE+ call for proposals was published on 19 February, 2013, with up to €278 million available for co-financing of projects under three headings: Nature and Biodiversity (NAT); Environment Policy and Governance (ENV); and Information and Communication (INF). Project proposals should be submitted to the relevant national authority using the eProposal tool no later than 16:00 hours (Brussels time) on 25 June, 2013.
Member States will forward proposals to the European Commission by 5 July, 2013. The earliest possible starting date for 2013 projects is 1 June, 2014. Further information on EMWIS website

38- CARIAA Call for Concept Notes: CARIAA is a seven-year research program launched in 2012 and jointly funded by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). A call for concept notes on collaborative adaptation research in the three hot spots is now open until April 4, 2013. The selected consortia would be expected to lead innovative programs of research into the impacts of climate change on vulnerable populations in the hot spots from 2013 to 2019. CARIAA encourages strong southern participation and innovative collaborations among various types of institutions in both Africa and Asia. Note that each application must involve a proposed consortium of three to five institutions. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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39- Call for abstracts for the 3rd International Conference on Water (CI.EAU 2013): This conference to be held in Algiers (Algeria) on 18-20 November 2013; is a new opportunity to dialogue and share different experiences and research results, as well in science than management. One of the main objectives of this conference is to initiate regional and Mediterranean cooperation initiatives. Reconciliation between the rarity, quality and sustainability of water resources is an ongoing objective to achieve. The technical and managerial institutions managing water, good management and good governance of water resources is the key to development of any country. Water desalination, treatment and recovery of waste, delegated management, proving to be a necessity. Deadline for abstract submission: 20/04/2013. Further information on EMWIS website

40- Call for abstracts for the 17th International Symposium on Environmental Pollution and its Impact on Life in the Mediterranean Region to be held in Istanbul/Turkey from September 28th to October 1st in 2013. This year’s symposium will focus on Impact of climate change in the Mediterranean region. For oral and poster contributions, a one-page abstract should be submitted not later than April 30, 2013. Further information on EMWIS website

41- Call for abstracts for the CMTDE 2013: The 4th Maghreb Conference on Desalination and Water Treatment to be held in Hammamet (Tunisia) from 15 to 18 December 2013. Deadline for abstracts: 30 June 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

42- Amsterdam International Water Week (4-8 November 2013) - Call for Papers May 15th 2013: The Amsterdam International Water Week invites you to submit your papers for the International Water Week Conference: Integrated Water Solutions for a Green Economy. Amsterdam International Water Week (AIWW) has been initiated to devise integrated solutions to enable life in delta cities. The conference is unique because it crosses the boundaries between water management and coastal management, drinking water and agriculture, energy and water supply, as well as spatial planning and wastewater. Further information on EMWIS website

43- Call for papers for the IWA Water Loss 2014 Conference, Vienna (Austria), 30/03-02/04/2014: Deadline for Paper Submission: 31 May 2013. Water Loss 2014 is intended to present and discuss the latest developments, strategies, techniques and applications of international best practices in Non-Revenue Water Management including related to “smart” networks. The Conference is the sixth event in a series of IWA water loss reduction speciality conferences, following the successful "Water Loss 2012" that was held in Manila, Philippines in February 2012 with 525 participants from 50 different countries from around the world. was brought back to the Danube region to address the pressing need for further improving water utility efficiency in Europe and making water distribution networks “smarter”. Further information on EMWIS website

44- Call for proposals for the 5th European River Restoration Conference Promotion Package: The Conference will provide: Exciting examples of practical efforts to restore the natural state and functioning of rivers and how this has improved flood risk management, river ecology, and supported green infrastructure and community development. Several sites along the Danube will be visited on inspiring field trip excursions; Exchange of expertise – about River Restoration from expert presentations, field trips to restoration sites, and workshop sessions; Valuable networking opportunities – the ideal platform to meet and share ideas with like minded professionals and practitioners involved in protection and restoration of Europe’s rivers. Submit your session and poster proposals and case study summaries until the 15th of April. Further information on EMWIS website

45- This 1st International Conference on Materials for Energy & Environmental Engineering (ICM3E’13) aims i) at providing better visibility of the new created centre CRTSE through its various activities towards national institutions (R&D, Academic, economic) and abroad; ii) enable research teams to present the status of their work; iii) Identify opportunities for cooperation and exchanges with teams both nationally and abroad and iv) getting closer to the socio-economic sector. Deadline: April 30, 2013 Abstracts submission. Further information on EMWIS website

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TRAINING
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46- Water Security for Policy Makers and Practitioners Short Course 10–14 June 2013: The course is designed for entry and mid-level water and development policy-makers and professionals in government, donor, NGO or implementing agencies, environmental journalists, consultants and activists wishing to take their knowledge of water resources further. This course will be held at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK from the 10–14 June 2013 for a fee of £1,500 (inc. of accommodation). Further information on EMWIS website.

47- Call for applications for the 16th Edition of the International Summer School on Regulation of Local Public Services: The Turin School of Local Regulation announces the launch of the 16th Edition of the International Summer School on Regulation of Local Public Services. The Summer School will take place in Torino, Italy, from the 9th to the 20th of September 2013. The School is addressed to final year undergraduate students, graduates and official of the Public Administration (municipalities, counties, regional bodies) and regulatory agencies staff who intend to study in depth some of the most relevant issues for regulation, tariff setting and management of local public services, either of environmental interest or not. The programme is designed as an intensive workshop, combining theoretical and practical courses. More specifically it is divided into three parts: theory, economic models and analytical instruments for local regulation; sector analysis (e.g. water cycle, urban waste) and country-based cases studies; local site-visits and a practical experience with virtual regulatory case studies developed by working groups. Applications are open until June the 14th through the on-line application form; 25 participants will be selected. Further information on EMWIS website.

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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PROJECTS (Projects database)
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WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP7, INTERREG, etc.)

Halting Desertification in the Jucar River Basin (HALT-JÚCAR-DES). Further information on EMWIS website.

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