Background: The virtual panel titled, “The Future of Sustainability of Water, Agriculture & Food: Water for Peace”  which was presented on March 24, 2024, aimed to contribute toward water awareness, building water conscience, and enhancing the general public understanding of the critical role and basic life form and appreciation of water in general. In connection with, “Water For Peace”, the LMGlobal.Org strongly thinks that without securing clean and affordable water and sustainable food for all, consequently, we cannot achieve the SDGS, or world peace, which are not separable and tied one to another such as skin and bond.
Through this panel, each speaker contributed from a different perspective in terms of country, theme-related field, and expertise along with crosscutting diverse issues.
We sought and received answer to one of the core questions on ‘how we can contribute toward increased behavior change in the minds of the governments, policymakers, businesses, scientific, engineering, and technology communities, and all users and consumers of water’ based on each respected country and/or instutution’s stand point. (Based on the Description and the Concept of the Panel)

Power Point Presentation

Hello everyone.

First, I would like to thank the Light Millennium Global for this opportunity to celebrate World Water Day 2024 with you.

Since the main theme of this year Water Day is ‘’Water for Peace’’, I would like to show you this slide which shows the state of global peace in 2023. As you can see the countries and territories by peace level in 2023, the middle east where I am based is always a hot spot. The index measures peace across three domains: 

• societal safety and security, 
• ongoing domestic 
• international conflict, and militarization.

Annual displacements by natural disaster in Africa, water related natural disasters such are floods and droughts are the main reason for internal displacement of populations.  This has been significantly increasing in the past couple of years.

The Peace Index demonstrates the critical importance of peace in relation to water resources and management. Peace is inherently linked to water security, as conflicts and instability can disrupt access to clean water, sanitation services, and equitable distribution of resources. The Peace Index indicates that nations characterized by minimal positive peace experience reduced levels of cooperation, diminished environmental performance, and endure higher casualties resulting from natural disasters. 

Countries with higher levels of peace are more likely to prioritize cooperation and collaboration in managing water resources sustainably. They are better equipped to implement effective policies, infrastructure projects, and conservation efforts to ensure access to clean water for all citizens and to mitigate the impacts of water-related disasters.

Conversely, nations facing conflicts or low levels of peace may struggle to address water-related challenges, leading to water scarcity, pollution, and inadequate infrastructure. Conflict over water resources can exacerbate tensions and hinder efforts for peacebuilding and sustainable development.

Therefore, the Peace Index serves as a crucial tool for highlighting the interconnectedness between peace, water security, and overall socio-economic development. It underscores the need for concerted efforts to promote peace and stability as foundational elements for achieving water sustainability and resilience in communities and nations worldwide.

The Nile Basin as an Example for collaboration for joint management of shared water resources. The Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) evolved over time and was officially founded in 1999 against the backdrop of a longstanding history of mutual accusations, regional conflicts, drought, and other challenges. Initially, cooperation within the NBI focused on the exchange of scientific information. 

Nile Basin countries: Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan and Egypt. They cover about three million square kilometres of the African continent.

The Nile Basin Initiative has served as a catalyst for cooperation in the search for a new legal framework for the management of the Nile. The foundation of the Nile Basin Initiative rests on the understanding that the waters of the Nile are a significant and essential resource for the populations of the basin countries. Recognizing that governments alone cannot effectively manage this resource, it is crucial to involve other stakeholders such as civil society. This Civil Society Stakeholder Initiative is integral to ensuring comprehensive participation in decision-making processes.

To address this need for broader engagement, the Nile Basin Discourse was established to incorporate the voices of stakeholders beyond government entities. It aims to facilitate open dialogue on development within the Nile basin through the NBI, involving all relevant actors, stakeholders, and affected parties.

Transboundary waters present challenge 

• Different states with different interests as per their national needs
• Different groups of people in the different states with different needs

Building a dam on the Nile has caused major geopolitics tensions in the region and has the potential to fuel dispute between countries on the banks of the river for many years to come. Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystem in Transboundary Basins as an approach for cooperation:

• Regional dialogues e.g. Virtual meeting of experts on nexus solutions and investments in the Nile Basin.
• Promotion of WEFE-Nexus approach to:
  • Adapt and mitigate climate change.
  • Renewable energy planning (in the Nile Basin).
  • Financing of cooperation and projects

How do transboundary resources become lever of peace Versus conflict?

• Water needs to be prioritised, both at the national and the transboundary levels, using established frameworks.
• Moving from diplomacy to participation in shared river basins is a political process.
• Substantive rights to access water are as critical as procedural rights in the management of shared river basins.
• Stakeholder involvement/participation is critical to enhancing broad ownership & ensuring inclusiveness of processes.

The challenges surrounding water in our world can serve not just as sources of tension, but also as opportunities for collaboration. By joining forces, we can pave the way for a secure and sustainable water future.

Once again, I thank the Light Millennium Global for inviting me to celebrate World Water Day 2024 with you.

Happy World Water Day 2024.

Thank you.

Dr Dahlia Sabri
Chair, IWRA-Egypt Chapter

Power Point Presentation