Online Event // Buidling back better: Towards sustainable water management for food security in the Near East and North Africa Region
The FAO Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa is organizing a virtual Regional Consultative Technical Meeting (RCTM), which is being convened within the framework of the Thirty-fifth session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC 35), to discuss the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Agriculture and Food Security in the Near East and North Africa Region.
Background
In addition to clean water and sanitation for all, the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development also recognizes the vital role of water for inclusive socio-economic development. This is reflected in target 6.4 of the SDGs, which seeks to ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. To measure the level of water stress, indicator 6.4.2 tracks the withdrawal of freshwater by all economic activities (including that of environmental flow requirements), compared to the total available renewable freshwater resources. Most of the countries of the region have a water stress level well beyond the world average. In fact, water withdrawal levels in many countries exceed the total water availability, indicting irreversible use of non-renewable groundwater reserves.
Questions for discussion:
- How can the countries of the region achieve both food and water security under a changing climate? How to address the challenges facing effective cross-sectoral coordination and policy coherence?
- What is the role of technology and innovation to optimize water use and provide additional supplies?
- Is the region ready for an era with less water for agriculture? What will the social and economic Implications, and how should the countries get prepared?
Date and Time
Tuesday, 21st of July 2020
11:00 - 13:00 (UTC +2)
Registration
Only registered participants can attend. To register for the event: https://fao.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwvfuurqDgjGNe-sjnMk6Ohk3oQLi_5awTG