Where are we working?

EMPOWERS is a four year regional program in Egypt, Jordan and Palestine. These three countries reflect quite different water situations in a region with increasing conflicts over water, locally up to the basin level (Jordan and Nile). Compared to other countries in the Middle East, Egypt has a relatively high per capita availability of water, however with demand exceeding supply. Jordan and West Bank/Gaza are among the countries with the world's lowest per capita availability of water*. In the West Bank and Gaza water scarcity is further compounded by Israel’s control over access to water.

The critical water situation in the 3 countries demonstrates the many challenges faced by government and development agencies when strategizing to provide good quality water to those with limited access. It has also made clear the urgent demand for innovation in planning and decision making in the water sector of Middle Eastern countries in general.

Despite trends at national levels in the three countries to adopt IWRD&M planning together with prudent policy shifts towards decentralization, the reality at intermediate government staff and end-user levels remain to be different. Some of the common water management features present in the three countries that the internediate staff and end users are confronted with, and subsequently compound the effect of water scarcity are:

• Centralized nature of management with top-down implementation of instructions.
• Fragmentation of responsibilities among many players.
• Lack of involvement of all stakeholders, with little autonomy, planning, or communication with end-users.
• Limited capacity for facilitation of stakeholder interaction.
• Emphasis on trouble-shooting and complaint management .
• Specific needs and rights of marginalized groups (women and poor) are largely ignored.

* The Middle East is one of the most water-poor and water-stressed regions of the world. The annual availability of fresh water in the region fell from an average of 3,300 cubic meters per person in 1960 to less than 1,250 cubic meters per person in 1995 (World Bank, 1996), making it the lowest per capita water availability in the world. It is estimated that by 2025, this limited availability is likely to drop to less than half the 1995 level.