EMPOWERS, improving local water governance

Published on: 22/10/2003

The overall objective of the EMPOWERS project is improved long-term access to water by vulnerable populations through more effective local integrated water resource management, with a more specific purpose of improving horizontal and vertical flows of information and influence between stakeholders in integrated water resource management in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

EMPOWERS will work directly in three countries which reflect the range of water situations in the MENA region. Egypt has very high per capita availability of water, but demand exceeds supply because of low irrigation efficiency. Jordan has the world's lowest per capita water availability. In the West Bank and Gaza, access to water is controlled by hostile authorities. Common features are the lack of involvement of stakeholders, the centralised nature of management and the fragmentation of responsibilities among many players. The principal target groups will be governorate and district water authority staff and community beneficiaries of pilot projects.

The main activities for the project are in the areas of:

1. Integrated management of local drinking water supply, sanitation and sewage
2. Local water resources and demand management (quantity and quality) within catchments areas
3. Irrigation water management
4. Use of non-conventional water resources
5. Preparation of national and local scenarios for the period until 2025 that enable precise objectives to be set and actions to be taken for sustainable water management

With the main anticipated results being:

1.Improved ability to manage major water resource problems in target areas

2.Increased involvement of civil society in local water resource management, mobilised through participatory approaches

3.Increased public awareness and knowledge about the problems and opportunities in the water sector

4.Regional policy and technical forums enriched through the exchange of experiences and knowledge on sustainable water management strategies

5.Wider regional working relationships developed through training modules and the sharing of lessons between relevant stakeholders in MEDA zone countries

6.Project experience disseminated to a wider audience

The principal partners are:

• Care International, as the leader of the consortium, managed by Care International UK
• IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, Netherlands
• Inter Islamic Network on Water Resources Development and Management (INWRDAM), Jordan
• Development Research and Technological Planning Centre (DRTPC), Egypt
• Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), West Bank and Gaza