Convener: United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA)
Date: 4 October 2011
Time: 14:00 – 15:30
Place: Plenary Room

Speakers and panelists

• Overview of the session: Mr. Mohamed Al-Hamdi, First Economic Affairs Officer in the Water Resources Section of the Sustainable Development and Productivity Division, ESCWA.
• Discussion with panelists:
  Case 1. Yemen: Mr. Hani Sewilam, Programme Officer, UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC).
  Case 2. Arabian Gulf: Mr. Khaldon Khashman, Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWA).

This overview discusses the main challenges, approaches and lessons learnt for water management in Western Asia. It focuses on how progress towards the MDG targets related to water supply and sanitation can contribute to fostering a green economy within the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication. This is realised through efforts to improve the technical and financial capacity of water utilities to deliver accessible and reliable water services for domestic use.

• Case 1: Reform of the urban water supply and sanitation sector in Yemen
  This case summarizes the experience of on-going reform in the urban water supply and sanitation (UWSS) sector in Yemen. The reform is supported financially and technically by several international players including the GIZ, World Bank, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN). The reform has dramatically reshaped the UWSS sector shifting power away from a central authority to local agencies. Better customer services, more financial stability, and better protection of the least advantaged groups are some of the most positive outcomes of the reform initiative. As a result, water supply coverage rates increased from 47% in 2002 to 71% in 2007, and sanitation coverage rates increased from 25% to 52%.
  
• Case 2: Capacity development in the Arab Region: The role of ACWUA in promoting the exchange of experiences and expertise
  This case explores the role of the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) in tackling the severe water challenges faced in the Arab region. ACWUA was founded in 2009 by key water sector representatives in the Arab region and serves as a platform for water utilities to communicate and exchange experiences. The initiative uses a range of capacity building tools to improve regional cooperation and promote best practice with the overall objective of improving the efficiency and levels of service of water supply and sanitation provision.
  

This table includes cases presented during the conference as well as additional cases which illustrate success stories for addressing water challenges in the Western Asia region. These will contribute to the preparation of input for the Rio+20 conference.