Thematic Panel 4: Good governance of water resources to deal with water stress

The last panel of the international conference stresses the good governance of water resources to deal with water stress. It is chaired by Mr. Mathieu Vasseur, AFD Regional Director (Rabat), who talks about climate change as perceived by the financial partners, says he. He defines warming as a driver of exacerbation of water stress. Access to water and sanitation is a very strong marker of inequality between urban and rural areas, Mr. Vasseur adds. This calls for an international mobilization for participatory governance of the resources. 

Mr. Jean François Donzier, Honorary Secretary General of the International Network of Basin Organizations – INBO and member of the OSS SOC, makes a presentation of the integrated management of water resources to globally meet legitimate and reasoned requests, treat polluting discharges, recycle and preserve the ecosystems. 

The contribution of Mr. Khatim Kherraz, former Executive Secretary of the OSS, raises concern about the need to set up an updated database and to mobilize all human and financial resources necessary for good governance, to overcome the water stress challenge. He reminds that we must not focus on Money only and underestimate the really important issues. Having a true understanding of our resources is the only way to manage them and have them preserved, he says. 

Mr. Mokhtar Bzioui, expert with the World Water Council and member of the OSS SOC, explains the water shortages, according to the World Resources Institute via The Economist Intelligence Unit. He gives models as examples of forecasting water resources and diagrams representing the supply and demand management.  

Mrs. Atika Ben Maid, Water and Energy Project Manager (AFD Egypt), reveals the extent and nature of the donour support to meet water stress challenges, particularly in terms of unconventional areas in Egypt and in Jordan. 

Mr. Hamadi Habaieb, Director General of the Hydraulic Planning and Balance Office (Tunisia), insists on the importance of having all the data relating to water resources and their fluctuations centralized in one single structure. 

The presentation of Mr. Callist Tindimugaya, Commissioner for Water Resources Planning and Regulation of Uganda, highlights the importance of good governance of water resources to face water stress by enumerating the main water and environmental issues in this country. 

The debates of the fourth session are moderated by Mr. Abdel Kader Dodo, OSS Water Department Coordinator.