Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform - United Nations Partnerships for SDGs platform

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Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform

Description
SDGs & Targets
Deliverables & timeline
Resources mobilized

Description/achievement of initiative

The establishment of a Mediterranean Water Knowledge Platform is a prerequisite to the development of sustainable policies for integrated water resources management and climate change adaptation. It aims to provide a common basis for the development of national water information systems in four pilot countries, and to deliver an assessment of water resources management and use (i.e., drafting of a white paper) by collecting and exploiting data of these systems. It will allow for an evaluation of best practices, joint management of transboundary resources, and follow-up on regional or sub-regional projects and policies in the Mediterranean region, on a voluntary basis.

Implementation methodologies

The implementation of this platform is based on the following: * Creation of National Water Information Systems (NWIS) through a regional approach – regional guidelines, tools, training on data management, and definition of needs for international data reporting. The first steps of implementation will include data sharing among many data producers in each of the four pilot southern Mediterranean countries, and setting up initial operational governance agreements and IT tools of the NWIS.* Drafting of a Mediterranean White Paper on water, after providing technical assistance, with the aim to compile data and present a regional picture of water resources and uses (maps & graphs) in the partner countries.

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

The Platform includes a regional capacity building component to support national developments and to ensure the interoperability of the systems and content (i.e. possibility or argregate/compare data/indicators provided by National Systems. The first set of training defined are related to: institutional cooperation for data management, Satelite based earth observation for sustanaible water management, water data master planning, indicators and essential water variables.

Coordination mechanisms/governance structure

The platform’s management structure is composed of:* National Coordination Units, chaired by the Ministries in charge of Water and involving ministries and their supervised agencies in charge of the environment, agriculture, health, industry, households and statistical institutes* Mediterranean Committee: National Coordination Units chairs, regional networks promoters, Union for the Mediterranean, European Environment Agency, UNEP-MAP, Arab League

Partner(s)

* International Office for Water * Institut Méditerranéen de l'Eau * Euro-Mediterranean Water Information System (EMWIS) * Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations * United Nations Environmental Programme Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP-MAP) * Arab League Center for Water * Ministry of Water and Irrigation (Jordan) * Ministry of Energy and Water (Lebanon) * Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment (Morocco) * Ministry of Agriculture and water resources (Tunisia)

Progress reports

Goal 6

6.1 - By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

6.2 - By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

6.3 - By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

6.4 - By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity

6.5 - By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

6.6 - By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

6.a - By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies

6.b - Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

Goal 13

Goal 15

15.1 - By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

15.9 - By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts

Goal 17

17.7 - Promote the development, transfer, dissemination and diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms, including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed

17.8 - Fully operationalize the technology bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least developed countries by 2017 and enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology

17.14 - Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development

17.18 - By 2020, enhance capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed countries and small island developing States, to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data disaggregated by income, gender, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability, geographic location and other characteristics relevant in national contexts

December 2016