The Arab Water Week and the World Water Week in Stockholm cooperate to find solutions to MENA issues

AMMAN, Jordan (2010-12-06) - The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACUWA) signed an agreement of cooperation to build linkages between the World Water Week in Stockholm and the Arab Water Week currently held in Amman.

SIWI is a policy institute and think-tank based in Stockholm, Sweden, that works to find sustainable solutions to the world’s escalating water crisis. SIWI administrates a number of policy and research projects related to the MENA region and organizes the annual World Water Week in Stockholm.

ACWUA arranges the bi-annual Arab Water Week to work on finding solutions to some of the region’s water shortcomings through cross-sector, pan-Arab cooperation. 

Both organisations signed a cooperation agreement at the Arab Water Week in Amman, Jordan. The agreement entails several proposed areas for cooperation, providing a foundation for the exchange of knowledge and expertise between both weeks through communications and marketing, capacity building and technical assistance.

For its part, ACWUA said the agreement with the World Water Week will help place Arab water issues and ambitions on the global agenda. ACWUA will present the solutions of the Arab Water Week at the 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm in August 21-27.

Endorsing the agreement, ACWUA Chairperson Eng. Nadia Abdou, said the first Arab Water Week is an excellent opportunity for international organisations to gain up-to-date knowledge on the water ambitions in the Arab World.

The Middle East and North Africa region is one of the driest regions in the world with significant water resource challenges, making it vulnerable to climate and demographic changes, especially at the current development speed. Much can be done to improve cooperation between sectors and nations in the region, and between the region and the rest of the world when it comes to securing sufficient water access and quality.

Sweden’s Ambassador in Amman, Ms. Charlotta Sparre signed an agreement with ACWUA during the Arab Water Week to facilitate funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) in support of different ACWUA activities, including the organisation’s planned participation at the 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm and other joint activities with SIWI.

About the Arab Water Week
The Arab Water Week is a high-profile international and regional event promoted to attract decision makers and water management practitioners and professional organizations internationally and in the MENA region. It will be firstly launched in Amman, Jordan and organized by the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) in partnership with the Arab Ministerial Water Council (AMWC) and the Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI). http://www.arabwaterweek.org/

About the World Water Week in Stockholm
The World Water Week in Stockholm is the annual meeting place for the planet’s most urgent water-related issues. Organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), it brings together 2500 experts, practitioners, decision makers and business innovators from around the globe to exchange ideas, foster new thinking and develop solutions. http://www.worldwaterweek.org/