The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its partners launched the “Regional Collaboration and Annual Review Meeting” of the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI) Programme in Amman from 20 to 22 January. The three-day workshop brought together government representatives, regional organizations, and development partners to review progress from the past year and to set the strategic direction for 2026, addressing the growing challenge of water scarcity in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
The meeting was organized under the Regional Water Scarcity Initiative Programme, a flagship multi-partner initiative jointly implemented by FAO, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), UNICEF, ICARDA, ICBA, and IWMI, with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). The programme is currently active in nine countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.
In his opening remarks, Eng. Hisham Alhisa, Secretary General of the Jordan Valley Authority, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, integrated policy development, and good governance. He highlighted the need to balance sustainable development objectives with food security, particularly in agriculture, which is the largest consumer of water in the region.
The workshop provided a critical platform for National Coordinators from the nine beneficiary countries to engage with implementing partners, share experiences, and discuss evidence-based solutions to strengthen water resource management. Eng. Nabil Assaf, FAO Representative in Jordan, stressed the importance of cross-border collaboration, describing water scarcity as a daily reality for millions and emphasizing integrated approaches to protect food systems and build community resilience.
Ms. Anna Rosendahl from Sida highlighted the complexity of water scarcity as a transboundary issue that affects multiple sectors and is exacerbated by climate change. She stressed that effective solutions require coordination across sectors and harmonization between countries. Mr. Mahmoud Fathallah, representing the League of Arab States, reinforced the League’s commitment to supporting policy coordination in water resources management, while Mr. Kamel Amer from the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development emphasized AOAD’s role in translating programme outputs into tangible regional impact and improving scalability and sustainability.
The meeting is expected to conclude with a validated roadmap for 2026 and an enhanced framework for communication and monitoring, ensuring alignment among all stakeholders and strengthening the region’s collective efforts to achieve a water-resilient future.
