Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA
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Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa: A Comparative Study of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine P a g e | 2 Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA CONTENTS FOREWORD……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 INTRODUCTION: Why water diplomacy and why emphasise the role of women in water diplomacy?.......................................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 1: Baseline on Women in Water Diplomacy in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, Morocco, Palestine…………………………………………………………………………………………………...13 CHAPTER 2: Cross-country analysis of findings…………………………………………………..35 CHAPTER 3: What makes a good water diplomat?.....................................................70 CONCLUSION: Taking stock of the process and taking action……………………………77 P a g e | 3 Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA FOREWORD Prof. Michael Scoullos, DSc, PhD Eng. Francois Muenger, Chairperson, GWP-Mediterranean General Director of the Geneva Water Hub “Hydrodiplomacy” is an adaptive, preventive, In November 2017, the Global High Level multidisciplinary form of diplomacy centred Panel on Water and Peace, an initiative of 15 on water sharing, which apart from being a co-convening countries, launched in source of “rivalries”, could also result in Geneva its recommendations for a global benefits. Water has been recognised, in water hydrodiplomacy of the 21st century, in important International Fora, as a potentially its report “A Matter of Survival”. It is the first powerful instrument for peace and long- analytical reflection to date on the water and lasting international cooperation. peace issues, and its positioning at the global political level. GWP-Med is committed to transboundary dialogue on water cooperation, considering it As Secretariat to the Global High Level Panel an inseparable part of IWRM. Apart from on Water and Peace, the Geneva Water Hub being instrumental in bringing together the globally advocates, follows up the riparians of the Drin river (Western Balkans, developments and is engaged in the 2006), and servicing since then the Secretariat implementation of the Panels' recommenda- of the Drin Core Group (de facto Joint Body), tions. In the impressive Panel report, the GWP has, among other initiatives, facilitated gender dynamics however weakly addressed. the technical work and dialogue among It is a weakness that we have to correct with Algeria, Libya and Tunisia on the North the developments of the water and peace Western Saharan Aquifer System; has agenda. contributed in research and publication with UNESCO, Lebanon and Italy, on Orontes River The support of this initiative to strengthen the Hydrodiplomacy (2015) and with the French role of women in water diplomacy is a Senate and MEDURABLE for the annual remarkable step in addressing this issue, and Conferences on Hydrodiplomacy and Climate we are convinced that such an initiative will Change in the Middle East (2015-2020). increase, the overall water diplomacy capacities and will finally leverage the overall For Hydrodiplomacy to be effective, the active voice of women in decisional bodies. involvement of many state and non-state actors is required. Ensuring the equal In addition, the Global Observatory on Water involvement of women, with their dynamism and Peace, which was launched at the Dead P a g e | 4 Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA and talents, is critical for the success of the Sea, Jordan during the 5th Arab Water Week, needed interventions at all levels. to create a global analytical “intelligence”, and a safe space to tackle sensitive issues, has a GWP-Med and the Geneva Water Hub special node that voices the reflections of recognised that many of the above are still not women on sensitive issues of water and fully substantiated and women’s em- peace. powerment in areas related to water, including transboundary cooperation and With our partners GWP-Med, we are diplomacy, is still much needed. Therefore, committed to the development of this supported, financially by Sida, SDC and the initiative and are expecting it to grow and University of Geneva, and politically by the include more countries in the region. Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), GWP- Med and GWH brought together a group of Sustainable and equitable water manage- competent experts and undertook the present ment in a peaceful environment is one of the study, based on analyses carried out in Egypt, vital challenges of the twenty first century, in Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine. which women water diplomats are instrumental. I believe that the results will contribute substantially to more inclusive Hydrodiplomacy and promote the cause of peace and sustainable development in our region, which is “thirsty” not only for water but also for peace and gender equality. P a g e | 5 Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA Credits: Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the Middle East and North Africa: A Comparative Study of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine Was prepared by the six co-authors (in alphabetical order), Eng. Charafat Afailal, Former Minister in charge of Water, Expert on Water and Climate (for Morocco) Dr. Anthi Brouma, Deputy Regional Coordinator and Theme Leader on Diversity, GWP-Med (for regional & global components) Eng. Natasha Carmi, Lead Water Advisor, Geneva Water Hub, former Policy Advisor on Water at the Palestinian Negotiation Support Project (for Palestine & regional/global) Ms. Mey Al Sayegh, Communication Manager, Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP), Ministry of Social Affairs, Lebanon (for Lebanon) Dr. Tahani Moustafa Sileet, Head of Central Department for External Cooperation, AMCOW TAC, PMU Director & Regional Coordinator-VICMED Project, Director- NBI National Office, Nile Water Sector- Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Arab Republic of Egypt (for Egypt) Ms. Maysoon Zoubi, Water and Sanitation Consultant at Arab Dar Engineering Co. Jordan, former Secretary General, Ministry of Water and irrigation, Jordan (for Jordan) With the institutional support of the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and the Geneva Water Hub. The preparation of this document was made possible thanks to the generous support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), in the framework of the “Making Water Cooperation happen in the Mediterranean” Project, aka Water Matchmaker Project, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the University of Geneva. Disclaimer: The co-authors certify that all sources of information used have been fully acknowledged. The co- authors are solely responsible for the content and arguments employed in this document, which do not necessarily reflect the views of the partner institutions or the focus countries.. Graphic design by Alexandros Kandarakis, Head of Communications, GWP-Med © Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) & Geneva Water Hub, 2021 P a g e | 6 Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA INTRODUCTION Why water diplomacy and why emphasise the role of women in water diplomacy? Setting the stage When placing women, water and diplomacy The growing imbalance in global water in the same sentence, often enough the link supply and demand leads to tensions and among them is not easily -nor well- conflicts and could potentially evolve into a understood. widespread threat to international peace and security. It is indicative that for the 8th time in In 2017, the Security Council held a briefing a row, water crises ranked as a top global risk on Preventive Diplomacy and Transboundary in the 2020 World Economic Forum Report2. Waters1, emphasising the role of water At the same time, water deprivation is diplomacy and cooperation in conflict increasingly seen as a fundamentally political prevention. This illustrates the growing and security problem, and not confined only awareness of the need to strengthen within the realms of human development and preventive diplomacy in all its dimensions and environmental sustainability. After water is an integral part of this effort. ‘Water, recognising water formally as a foreign policy peace and security are inextricably linked’, issue in 20133, the EU Foreign Affairs Council was the opening line of the UN Secretary adopted the new conclusions on EU Water General Mr. António Guterres in the said Diplomacy4 making the case for linking water, meeting. security and peace, including the potential of 1https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9 3https://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pr B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_pv_7959.pdf essdata/EN/foraff/138253.pdf 2http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Global_Risk_Report_ 4https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press- 2020.pdf releases/2018/11/19/water-diplomacy-council-adopts- P a g e | 7 Comparative Study on Empowering Women in Water Diplomacy in the MENA water as an instrument for peace. of water resources7. For water diplomacy to bear fruits, the Evidence shows that gender equality is critical inclusive participation of all stakeholders in to achieving the totality of the Sustainable the process is an absolute must; including Development Goals (SDGs)8 and the Paris women. However, the role of women in water Agreement9, however, related research diplomacy related decision-making has been usually focuses on how policies affect women underestimated,