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Bader Al-Saad
Bader Al-Saad

MENA on verge of water crisis

Experts urge updating policies to ensure sustainable water management

KUWAIT: The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces a looming water crisis, with less than 1 percent of global renewable freshwater resources available for over six percent of the world’s population, according to Bader Al-Saad, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD). Speaking at the Water Development Financing Forum on Tuesday, Al-Saad highlighted the urgent need for innovation, investment, and sustainable strategies to address this growing challenge.

“By 2050, water availability in MENA may decline by 20 percent, while demand could surge by 50 percent. Agriculture, which consumes 85 percent of the region’s water, faces escalating risks, and urban areas are already struggling with shortages,” Al-Saad warned.

Al-Saad identified advancements in desalination and wastewater reuse as promising solutions. However, significant obstacles persist. Developing cost-effective and environmentally sustainable desalination technologies is imperative, as is expanding wastewater recycling and its regional adoption. Financial constraints further complicate these efforts, with many utilities hindered by low tariffs, heavy subsidies, and escalating operational costs.

The forum also provided a platform to explore pathways toward addressing the crisis. Al-Saad emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships to mobilize both resources and expertise. He advocated for leveraging green bonds, climate finance, and mechanisms like carbon markets and the Green Climate Fund to drive sustainable investments.

Beyond technical solutions, Al-Saad highlighted the broader implications of water security. He linked it directly to economic development, social stability, and human dignity, calling for inclusive solutions that leave no one behind. He urged collective regional and global efforts to secure MENA’s water future, stressing that collaboration, innovation, and equity are crucial for overcoming the region’s challenges.

Ousmane Dione, World Bank Vice President for MENA, echoed these concerns, describing the region as “the most water-scarce in the world, where droughts and desertification are becoming increasingly severe.” He warned that climate change is amplifying these pressures, posing existential risks that could make parts of MENA uninhabitable.

Dione cited startling statistics: Citizens in MENA have access to just 480 cubic meters of water annually, compared to a global average of 5,500 cubic meters. With 60 percent of the population relying on surface water and 24 percent on groundwater, climate disruptions are intensifying these vulnerabilities. Despite these challenges, Dione highlighted the region’s legacy of resilience and ingenuity, from ancient water systems like Morocco’s Qatala and Oman’s Faraj to cutting-edge desalination technologies pioneered by GCC countries. “MENA’s history reminds us that water scarcity has never defined its destiny,” he said.

However, both speakers cautioned that innovation alone will not suffice. Dione referenced the World Bank’s Country Climate Development Report (CCDR), which outlines the severe economic and social impacts of water scarcity. “Water is central to these challenges and must be central to our solutions,” he stated, calling for cross-border cooperation and integrated strategies. He praised partnerships like that of the Arab Fund and the World Bank, which blend regional expertise with global resources, as pivotal for progress.

“This partnership matters,” Dione emphasized. “Together, we can ensure that the people of MENA not only survive but thrive, creating a future marked by development, prosperity, and peace.”

Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, a longstanding advocate for regional cooperation and water sustainability, stressed the need for a comprehensive, human-centered approach. He pointed out that the water crisis is not merely a technical issue but one deeply intertwined with human dignity, social stability, and economic development.

He posed a poignant question: “Are we investing in our true capital — human capital — or are we prioritizing material exploitation at the expense of the region’s people?”

Prince Hassan proposed a blue-green initiative during a recent meeting in Amman with Muslim and Arab ambassadors and ministers. This initiative would address water in the context of peace, align resource management with human dignity, and promote sustainable greening for the benefit of all citizens. While acknowledging the political complexities of the region, he expressed hope for collaboration. “If all countries in the region recognize that this is about building peace and take the necessary steps, then the potential for participation is limitless,” he concluded.

Suggested solutions from the water development forum

• Advancements in desalination: Development of cost-effective and sustainable desalination technologies to address water scarcity.

• Expansion of wastewater recycling: Increased adoption of wastewater reuse as a vital strategy for augmenting available water resources.

• Public-private partnerships: Mobilizing both public and private sectors to pool resources, expertise, and financial support for water-related solutions.

• Green finance initiatives: Utilizing green bonds, climate finance, carbon markets, and the Green Climate Fund to drive sustainable water investments.

• Inclusive solutions for water security: Integrating water management strategies with broader goals of economic development, social stability, and human dignity.

• Cross-border cooperation: Collaborative, integrated approaches between nations in the region to manage water resources more effectively.

By the numbers: The MENA water crisis

• Less than 1% of global renewable freshwater resources are available for over 6% of the world’s population in the MENA region.

• By 2050, water availability in MENA may decline by 20%, while demand could surge by 50%.

• Citizens in MENA have access to just 480 cubic meters of water annually, compared to the global average of 5,500 cubic meters.

• 60% of MENA’s population relies on surface water, and 24% on groundwater.

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