EMWIS Flash N°83, September 2010

EMWIS Flash - September 2010 Euro-Mediterranean Information System on the know-how in the Water Sector EMWIS is a program of the Union for the Mediterranean. For further information: http://www.emwis.net Monthly Flash produced by the EMWIS Technical Unit- OIEAU, CEDEX, SOGESID- It is available in English, French & Arabic. (French & Arabic versions are available few days later)

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In this issue N°83 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash83)
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HEADLINE
1- The Union for the Mediterranean Summit, November 20th, 2010
IN BRIEF
2- EMWIS relaunches its regional & national activities after summer holidays
3- ESA & EMWIS: Exploitation of Earth Observation for water management in the Mediterranean
4- Tunisian President Ben Ali calls for establishing the "Islamic Water Council"
5- "EUROPE-INBO 2010" & International Conference on Water in Mountains, Mégève 2010
6- ARLEM bureau moves to Morocco to discuss priorities for Euro-Med regional body
7- Launch of the Mediterranean Youth Office: UfM
8- MEDAYS 2010: "The Southern Forum : Latin America - Africa - Asia "
9- Front-runner projects identified under Horizon 2020 depollution initiative
10- The EU-WFD beyond 2010: let actions speak louder than words
11- EU river basin plan warning
12- EC to provide €250 million for more than 200 new LIFE+ projects
13- The EU seeks US partners for join space research projects
14- World Water Week: Water seen as 'fundamental' to UN development goals
15- The final IWRM-NET conference: Improving co-operation in Water Research across Europe
16- France: Approval of a national water data schema
17- Spain: Spanish desalination plant pipe contract for Protesa
18- Spain and Italy: Sustaining farm soil resources
19- Bosnia and Herzegovina: EIB supports water supply and wastewater with a EUR 50 million loan
20- Protecting Balkan biodiversity in the Sava river basin floodplains
21- Morocco: Water & Environment management remains a national priority
22- Morocco: IAEA back up Morocco’s drinking water and environment projects
23- Morocco: Regional Potable Water Supply Systems & Oum Er Rbia Sanitation Projects
24- Tunisia: Three desalination plants for south Tunisia in 2011
25- Lebanon: Water shortages hit southern coast and northern villages
26- Turkey: Urban water management model to be exemplified by three cities
27- Egypt: President orders stepped-up desalination
28- Libya: Hitachi in Libyan MBR tie-up
29- Jordan: Ministerial team checks on water situation in the north
30- Palestine: Wastewater treatment project in Gaza gets World Bank funds
31- UAE: Desalinated water output in the Gulf accounts for nearly 41 per cent of the world's total
32- The end of controversies on the Human Right to Water
33- Water security and climate change: Investment in data collection and knowledge building is needed
34- Water map shows billions at risk of 'water insecurity'
35- Earth Observation satellites help rescue operations after heavy floods
36- SCARCE: Assessing and predicting effects on water quantity and quality in Iberian rivers caused by global change
37- More climatic and hydrologic data & analysis are needed to calibrate drought and flood warning systems
38- Drought Slows Plant Growth, 2000-2009
NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
PUBLICATIONS  
CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
CALL FOR PAPERS
TRAINING
EVENTS
BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1- French President Nicolas Sarkozy received his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, last August 30th, at the Elysées. Following their talks, the two heads of state have announced the next summit of the Union for the Mediterranean on 20-21 November in Barcelona, city hosting the headquarters of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), with the aim to advance prospects for peace in the Middle East. An important announcement for the UfM, up to now focused on projects essentially at the economic level rather than on resolving political conflicts in the Mediterranean Basin. Hence, now that, after several months of negotiations, the UfM seems to have stabilized this its first phase, the new UfM co-chairs will be Tunisia and Spain from next November. A full calendar of meetings will take place before that summit, including senior officials as well as thematic ministerial meetings (previously planned before June 2010) such as the "Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Food Security, Agriculture and Rural Development" that will take place in Cairo next 8 November 2010.  On the other hand, the UfM sevretariat is becoming operational in Barcelona with all the vice secretaries officially nominated: Lino Cardarelli, SME and project financing (Italy); Panagiotis Roumeliotis, Energy (Greece); Celia Attard Pirotta, Civil Defence (Malta); Mehmet Yigit Alpogan, Transport (Turkey); Ilan Chet, Research and Education (Israel); Rafiq al Husseini, Water and Environment (PNA). Further information on EMWIS website.

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2- The next coordination meeting of EMWIS National Focal Points (NFP) will take place in Firenze (Italy) on December 2nd, 2010, and as discussed in the last coordination meeting held in Nice (France) in June 2009, the meeting of EMWIS Steering Committee will be held the following day (December 3rd, 2010). This will allow exchanges between National Focal Points and the Water Directors Members of this Committee. These 2 meetings will focus on progress made on National and Mediterranean Water Information Systems, the Med Joint Process (Water Frameword Directive-EUWI) working groups on "water scarcity and drouhgt" and "water quality monitoring" and planning for the coming year, including support for the implementation of the future Water Strategy for the Mediterranean. Concerning National Water Information Systems, it is worth mentioning the organisaiton of a serie of national meetings to reinforce and foster the efforts to build such systems in particular in the context of the SEIS -Shared Environment Information System- initiated in Europe and for Neighborhood countries.  Next meetings will take place in Amman (Jordan) next 20th October 2010, and in Cairo (Egypt) next 27th October 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

3- A technical workshop on the Exploitation of Earth Observation for water management in the Mediterranean, was jointly organized conjointly by the European Space Agency (ESA) and EMWIS Technical Unit in ESA-ESRIN Offices, Frascati (Rome), Italy last 27-28 September 2010. This workshop allowed to discuss and build the basis for developing a dedicated capacity building program in the region aimed at empowering water authorities to enhance water resource management by exploiting the benefits of earth Observation technology. Among others, the participants reviewed and discussed: current or potential applications of EO for water management, good practices from the TIGER initiative (Africa), the needs of water authorities and cost-benefits analysis of using EO instead of classical technologies. The workshop focused on non EU Mediterranean countries bringing together representatives from water authorities and scientists from remote sensing institutes from a couple of countries (Morocco, Egypt, Jordan & Lebanon). The participants decided to prepare a concept note for such capacity building program to be presented at the next EMWIS Steering Committee meeting on 3rd December. Further information on EMWIS website.

4- Tunisian President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali opened, last October 5th, 2010, the 4th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers held by the Islamic Educational, scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) and the General Presidency of Meteorology and Environment Protection in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. President Ben Ali delivered a speech in which he underlined that many risks currently threatening the planet as a result of the disruption of the ecological balance and the intensifying of natural disasters pose huge challenges for mankind, requiring stepping up action and increasing co- operation as part of a more comprehensive global solidarity. He emphasised the need for Islamic countries to seek most efficient ways and means to face up to the scarcity of water resources, calling for establishing the "Islamic Water Council", to serve as a reference and consultative scientific institution in charge of examining the reality of water resources in these countries, developing a computer system in this field and use modern technologies for the mobilisation and rational use of these resources. Further information on EMWIS website.

6- For the first time since its creation, members of the ARLEM Bureau – the decision-making body of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly – will move to the southern shores of the Mediterranean, meeting in the Moroccan city of Tangiers on 9 October. Invited by the ARLEM co-president, Mohammed Boudra, the Bureau will meet to prepare the autumn agenda, including the planned summit of heads of state and government of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). Earlier this year, the bureau had sent a formal request to UfM Secretary-General Ahmad Masa'deh for ARLEM to be granted observer status in the UfM. The question will be examined again by the bureau ahead of the 20-21 November UfM summit, together with a report commissioned on the progress of the territorial dimension within the UfM. The bureau will also look ahead to meetings of ARLEM’s Commission for Economic, Social and Territorial Affairs (ECOTER) and its Commission for Sustainable Development (SUDEV), ahead of the coming plenary session of its assembly to be held in Agadir on 29 January 2011. In the autumn, ECOTER and SUDEV are expected to finalise their work on urban development and local management of water. ARLEM is a consultative assembly, which aims at bringing a regional and local dimension to the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. It gathers 84 members from the EU and its 16 Mediterranean partners who are representatives of regions and local bodies holding a regional or local authority mandate. The inaugural ARLEM meeting took place on 21 January 2010 in Barcelona. Further information on EMWIS website.

7- The French Minister for Immigration, Integration, National Identity and Cooperative Development presented a paper on the Mediterranean Office for Youth. At the initiative of France, sixteen countries bordering the Mediterranean gathered in Paris December 14, 2009, decided, with the support of the Union for the Mediterranean, to create by late 2010 a Mediterranean Office for Youth . The office will bring together four countries of the south side (Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia) and five countries outside the European Union (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro and Turkey) and seven Member States (Cyprus, Spain France, Greece, Italy, Malta and Slovenia). Initially, the Mediterranean Youth Office will give priority to mobility of students and young professionals. This is to promote "circular migration qualifying, combining in a single project to obtain a diploma of higher education, access to the labour market and return to the country of origin. From autumn 2011-2012, the Mediterranean Youth Office will implement an "Erasmus-Med" of the Mediterranean, offering mobility grants, facilities for visa and residence, sponsorship professionalizing, access, in association with businesses, internships and jobs. 100 to 150 masters and doctoral degrees will be selected to participate in this program. They will provide training in one of the thirteen university courses of Mediterranean chosen taking into account the needs of labour markets in the Mediterranean basin. Priority will be given to masters and doctoral degrees which fall into one of six areas of action of the Union for the Mediterranean: pollution monitoring, maritime and land highways, development of renewable energy, education and research, protection and development of civil Small and medium enterprises. Further information on EMWIS website.

8- The "Amadeus Institute" organizes the third edition of the Forum MEDays from 10 till 13 November 2010 in Tangier (North of Morocco), under the High Patronage of His Majesty the king Mohammed VI. This year, the MEDays main theme is "The South: Between crises and emergence" and centers around experience sharing among the 3As: Africa, Latin America & Asia. The MEDays 2010 edition will bring together a community of over 150 world-class speakers: Heads of State, government representatives, political leaders, businessmen, entrepreneurs and CEO’s, representatives from international and intergovernmental organizations, academic experts and representatives from civil society. The Business MEDays Forum 2010 will focus on energy revolution in emerging markets, with sectoral panels about fossil energies, development and financing of renewable energies, PPP (Public Private Partnerships), Real Estate and housing labeled ‘High Environmental Quality (HQE)’… Further information on EMWIS website.

9- Five front-runner projects have been identified, aimed at significantly contributing to the reduction of pollution in the Mediterranean under the Horizon 2020 programme. One year after its launch, the first results of the Horizon 2020 Mediterranean Hot Spot Investment Programme – Project Preparation and Implementation Facility (MeHSIP-PPIF) are coming through, with the identification of the projects recommended for a first wave of implementation. The five projects (from Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco & Tunisia) represent a total estimated value of €235 million. Following the completion of the review of these projects, the European Investment Bank (EIB) will assess supporting the projects with long term financing if country commitment is strong. MeHSIP-PPIF is designed to help reinvigorate the Horizon 2020 de-pollution initiative in the Mediterranean partner countries, by supporting the identification and development of projects that will contribute significantly to reducing pollution in the region. It facilitates access to regional and sectoral funds available for such projects. De-pollution projects that may be eligible for support from potential funding agencies in this region are in urban wastewater, solid waste management and industrial emissions (air quality and water quality) sectors. Further information on EMWIS website.

10- The first generation of WFD River Basin Management Plans is now available. This is a formidable achievement and a great step towards addressing Europe’s deteriorated river systems. However, plans are only words: only the actual implementation of the selected measures will result in achievement of good ecological and chemical status. The WFD Lille 2010 Conference pointed out that a lot of new, but so far unused scientific knowledge is available to improve the effectiveness of selected measures or to inspire the introduction of complementary measures. Furthermore, the complexity in terms of the functioning of the water system, its interaction with the socio-economic system and the uncertain consequences of climate change, urges a ‘learning-by-doing’ approach. This approach should be applied in well-designed, -coordinated and -monitored learning catchments. Further information on EMWIS website.

11- Failure to submit their plans for managing Europe's river basins as required by EU water legislation has resulted in the European Commission (EC) issuing a warning to 12 member states - including Ireland. The EC said failure to do so has put the achievement of the Water Framework Directive's objectives at risk. Under the legislation, member states had to publish a management plan for each river basin district at the latest nine years after the legislation entered into force. Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Spain have not done so. The river basin plans are the cornerstone of the WFD, and essential for achieving the EU's objective of "good status" for European waters by 2015. They should have been adopted by December 22, 2009 at the latest. With plans for a quarter of the EU's territory still missing, some 31% of citizens have no certainty yet how their water resources will be managed, putting the achievement of the directive's objectives at risk. Further delays will have a knock on effect for the implementation of the directive, on the establishment of measures and ultimately on improvement of the water environment. The commission has, as a result, issued a first written warning to the member states involved, urging them to speed up procedures to adopt the plans. They have two months to reply. 
River Basin Management Plans give a comprehensive overview of the main issues for each river basin district and should include the specific measures needed to achieve set environmental quality objectives. Where any exemptions are applied, a thorough justification must be provided. The EC is studying the quality of the plans submitted, and will present a third report on the implementation of the WFD in 2012, assessing the plans and providing recommendations for improving their implementation. The report will feed into the 2012 Blueprint for Safeguarding European Waters. Further information on EMWIS website.

12- The European Commission has approved funding for 210 new projects under the third call for the LIFE+ programme (2007-2013), the European fund for the environment. The projects are from across the EU and cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, environmental policy, and information and communication. Overall, they represent a total investment of €515 million, of which the EU will provide €249.8 million. The Commission received more than 600 applications from public or private bodies from the 27 EU Member States during the call for proposals, which closed in November 2009. Of these, 210 were selected for co-funding through the programme’s three components: LIFE+ Nature and Biodiversity, LIFE+ Environment Policy and Governance and LIFE+ Information and Communication. Further information on EMWIS website.

13- On 20 July 2010, the European Commission launched a call for proposal, under the FP7 Space Research Programme, with a budget of € 99 millions. One day later, a conference was held at the Stanford University, California, US, organised by the Science Section of the EU Delegation to the US. The aim of this event was to inform the US space related research community about the EU Space Research Program, the topics of the current call for proposals, and the opportunities for US interest parties to collaborate with EU partners for space research projects. In fact, the Commission would like to generate a considerable degree of mutual interest and potential synergies between US and the European space research communities, which are both recognized as leading actors in the space field. Further information on EMWIS website.

14- World Water Week, held in Stockholm, drew attention to water as means of achieving the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on alleviating poverty and hunger by 2015. Water discussions of the World Water Week concluded with a 'Stockholm Statement' calling for a stronger focus on water in an upcoming review of the MDGs in New York later in September. The Stockholm Statement stresses that in addition to the specific water-related MDGs, water is a core cross-cutting element for reaching every other development goal. Access to water and sanitation is a prerequisite for ending poverty and hunger, achieving gender equality and improving health and environmental sustainability, and should therefore be put higher on the agenda, it says. The statement calls for improved water management to avoid drastic increases in hunger caused by more floods and drought, and says access to water and sanitation is key to increasing women's opportunities to work and participate in society.  According to stakeholders present in Stockholm, "the world is on track for meeting or even surpassing the goal for drinking water," but will miss the sanitation target by some one billion people. "Sanitation and water are not just targets or sectors.  Further information on EMWIS website.

15- IWRM-Net is an European Research Area-Network (ERA-Net) project, that created, over the past three years, a network among many of the water resource management research programmes developed by EU Member States. The network has been acting on several fronts to promote IWRM research and the transfer of that research into practice. The final IWRM-Net conference has been postponed from October to the new dates 1-3 December 2010. A positive consequence of the delay, is that an optional workshops, with hydro-morphology and governance themes, where you will be able to learn in detail about recent research funded by IWRM-Net partners. The conference aims: To improve the coherence and coordination of water research in Europe, to meet the needs of the Water Framework Directive; and To demonstrate the contribution of IWRM-Net to the European Research Area for Water. Further information on EMWIS website.

16- A Ministerial Decree approved the scheme of national data on the French water, main component of the National Water Information System. The law on water and aquatic environments of December 30, 2006 introduced into the environmental code the existence of a water information system and entrusted implementation and technical coordination with the National Water and aquatic environments (ONEMA). This information system is a continuation of the National Network on Water Data (RNDE) device partnership established in the wake of the Water Act of 1992, which brings together from 1992 to 2002 the major producers of public data on water for easy sharing and providing the information required in particular to the development of the first master planning and water management. Since then, both national and community legislation has strengthened the role of knowledge media as a tool of public policy in the field of water and the environment. Further information on EMWIS website.

17- Glass-reinforced plastic piping and fittings for the low- to medium-pressure process lines of the Marina Baja Desalination Plant, situated in the district of Mutxamel in Alicante, Spain, will be supplied by. The contract was awarded by  The Marina Baja Desalination plant, with a capacity of 17.5 million m³/year, will supply water to a population of approximately 200,000 people living in the towns of Mutxamel and El Campello and will, in the future, also supply water to Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig. The plant will be built and operate by the Marina Maja joint venture, which consists of the companies Degremont, Acsa and Rover Alcisa.  Protesa, the Spanish pipe manufacturer will provide glass-reinforced plastic piping and fittings for the low- to medium-pressure process lines. Further information on EMWIS website.

18- Results from a LIFE-funded agronomy project comprising Spanish and Italian partners has developed good farming practice methods using cross-bred almond crops to help improve soil quality on Mediterranean hillsides. Climate change impacts continue to manifest themselves around Europe and these are becoming particularly acute in the Mediterranean region. Here, hotter and drier weather patterns represent very real risks for key environmental resources such as biodiversity, water supplies and soil quality. Many Mediterranean areas have suffered a long history of poor soil quality and this phenomenon is often exacerbated by soil erosion. Various factors are associated with Mediterranean soil erosion including land use trends and the spread of arid environments. Erosion impacts are especially severe in areas with steep slopes that are cultivated and tilled by intensive agriculture systems. Nevertheless, solutions do exist to help protect these areas from erosion pressures and a popular method involves growing more strains of permanent crops, which requires less tillage and helps boost the organic matter content of hillside soils. The main challenge involved in this type of sustainable soil management solution centres around finding suitable commercial crops that are able to grow in arid hillside conditions. Further information on EMWIS website.

19- The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed a EUR 50 million loan with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management of Republika Srpska (one of the two entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina) aimed at the construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation infrastructure in the country. This will help to improve the quality of life of the country’s citizens and meet Bosnia and Herzegovina’s needs regarding future compliance with EU environmental legislation. The project purpose is the protection of public health and the environment from water pollution, while maintaining a balanced development of water supply and sanitation as well as safeguarding the financial and operational viability of the water companies. The EIB loan will cover up to 50% of the total costs of the planned projects that will be co-financed by the budgets of the Republika Sprska, EU Instrument for Pre-Accession and bi-lateral funds. Further information on EMWIS website.

20- LIFE support to a partnership of western Balkan beneficiaries has helped strengthen sustainable management approaches for the Sava River basin flood plains. Project works here have successfully built trans-boundary cooperation capacities, designed a coherent network of biodiversity buffer zones and established functional ecological corridors. As an important Danube tributary, the Sava River is one of the largest water courses in the Western Balkans and contains a major complex of high nature value alluvial floodplain wetlands. The Sava’s mosaic of natural floodplains provide vital environmental functions as well as serve as cultural landscapes and natural defences against flood waters in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia. No real coordinated management systems had been developed for the entire Sava prior to 2005, when the International Sava River Basin Commission was established. It was set up with a mandate to roll-out an integrated river basin management plan (RBMP) for the Sava, in accordance with the EU Water Framework Directive principles and LIFE TCY was engaged to help. Some €601 210 of LIFE support was awarded to assist the RBMP process in 2007 for a three year project which focused on securing a sustainable balance between the region’s essential economic development needs and the wise use of natural resources in the Sava River basin. The project also received useful co-finance from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Further information on EMWIS website.

21- Water & environment management remains a national priority in Morocco, said the Moroccan Secretary of State for Water and Environment, Abdelkebir Zahoud in Casablanca, last October 5th, 2010. Thanks also to the policy of dams and the establishment of an institutional and legal framework system for the Integral Management of water resources, Morocco has become a major water infrastructure and expertise in the areas of water and environment, he said in a speech read on his behalf at a seminar on water, held on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of the Moroccan-Dutch economic relations. The cities of Casablanca and Rotterdam, Netherlands, reinforced their bilateral cooperation in the field of water management with the signing, of an amendment to the agreement signed between the two cities in 2005. This partnership is very beneficial, given the large-scale projects launched in Casablanca notably in terms of drinking water, sewage disposal and the protection against floods according to the Mayor of Casablanca Mohamed Sajid. For his part, The Mayor of Rotterdam Mr. Ahmed Aboutaleb expressed satisfaction with the reinforcement of cooperation through this agreement which aims to improve the citizens' living conditions and prevent floods. The city of Rotterdam boasts a longstanding experience in water management, he added, voicing hope to see cooperation between the two cities bolstered at all levels. Representatives from nearly twenty of Dutch companies were involved in this specialized seminar, whose work will revolve around several themes including: ''the strategy of the Moroccan water sector'', ''management of water and sanitation,'' ''climate change'' and ''irrigation and agriculture.'' Further information on EMWIS website.

22- The International Atomic Energy Agency (AIEA) will continue supporting Morocco to end its projects on  drinking water, the environment and nuclear electricity, the AIEA’s Director General Yukiyo Amano informed reecntly. This was announced during a meeting with Morocco’s Minister of Energy, Mines, Water and the Environment Amina Benkhadra on the sidelines of the 54th IAEA’s General Conference. Amano pointed up Morocco’s key role in offering training to French-speaking Africans. Benkhadra highlighted the support given by the IAEA in setting up a centre for nuclear studies near Rabat, in addition to its assistance in the fields of water, health, and the environment. Further information on EMWIS website.

23- The project will finance significant infrastructure investments in water supply production, transmission and distribution systems. The objective of the Regional Potable Water Supply Systems project (1,740 million MAD supported by a US$175 million equivalent IBRD Loan) is to increase access to potable water supply for selected local communities in the provinces of Nador, Driouch, Safi, Youssoufia, Sidi Bennour and Errachidia. The “Oum Er Rbia” Sanitation project has two objectives, the first is to increase access to sewerage servicesand reduce wastewater-related pollution.The second objective is to pilot non-conventional technologies for wastewater collection and treatment and the implementation of gap filling measures required for the use of Morocco’s Environmental and Social framework for Bank’s funded project. The water and sanitation sector was one of the four pillars of the 2005-2009 Country Assistance Strategy which contributed to « the improvement of water management and the access to water and sanitation services ». The recently approved Country Partnership Strategy 2010-2013 between the Kingdom of Morocco and the World Bank confirms the importance of this sector through the renewed commitments for the establishment of equitable and sustainable water supply and sanitation services, at affordable prices, particularly to underserved segments of the population. Further information on EMWIS website.

24- The Tunisian government announced on 30 August 2010 that Société Nationale d'Exploitation et de Distribution des Eaux (SONEDE), the national water agency, had developed a plan for the creation in 2011 of three water desalination plants in the Gabes region at a total cost of more than TND 14 million (US$ 9.4 million). These projects will benefit the people of Zarrat, Matmata and Manzel Habib, aiming to meet the growing need of the population with drinking water, especially in summer, and improve quality. In July this year, the € 70 million Djerba desalination contract was awarded by SONEDE and the Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources to the Groupe Princesse Befesa. It covers design, construction and operation of the plant for 20 years on the island of Djerba in the Gabes gulf. Further information on EMWIS website.

25- With authorities warning of a possible heat wave this season, some people might be in a worse situation than others, as certain regions are suffering from scarce water supplies. In the southern coastal city of Sidon and in the northern villages of Dinnieh and Bsharri, water has been limited throughout July, not only threatening the people’s daily routines but also their livelihood. Many reasons were attributed to the problem in Sidon, including rationing, technical problems and malfunctioning of water pumps, but the outcome is the same according to the locals: Poor people pay the price. Nonetheless, authorities insist there are reasons behind the problem. An official from the South Lebanon Water Authority mentioned repairing damages, routine maintenance work and rationing. “The crisis will be over soon,” he added. Further information on EMWIS website.

26- Cities of Istanbul, Kayseri and Trabzon will participate in a ground breaking collaborative project between international and Turkish water experts and local ministerial experts to create an integrated, more sustainable model for urban water management. The Turkish Ministry of the Environment and Forestry and theInternational Water Association (IWA) have today agreed to implement IWA's Cities of the Future Programme with the three partner cities over a three year period. Experts from the Istanbul Technical University, the Bogazici Institute of Environmental Sciences, other Turkish university collaborators and IWA international experts will provide models, technologies and approaches that meet the highest global standards in urban water management. The project will culminate in an international Cities of the Future Conference in Istanbul in 2013. Further information on EMWIS website.

27- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has instructed the government to expand its seawater desalination initiatives and step up efforts to discover additional sources of groundwater, according to Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Mohamed Nasr Eddin Allam. “The aim is to meet Egypt’s future water needs in light of the decreasing annual per capita water consumption rate to less than 700 cubic meters,” Allam explained, pointing out that this rate could be expected to decline even further as the population increases. “Our quota of Nile water quota is 55.5 billion cubic meters a year, which was sufficient for Egypt’s 1959 population of 24 million,” he added. “Today, the national population stands at 80 million.” “The amount of arable land, meanwhile, has risen from six million acres in 1959 to nine million acres today,” the minister said. “And all this requires irrigation.” Further information on EMWIS website.

28- Libyan water technology company El Zulal announced on 21 July 2010 that it has signed a sales and marketing agreement with Hitachi of Japan to distribute Hitachi's membrane bioreactor (MBR) product range in Libya. El Zulal currently offers packaged sea- and brackish-water reverse-osmosis desalination and wastewater treatment plants. Iftikhar ul Haq, CEO of El Zulal, noticed the growing need for MBR packaged solutions in Libya and has for some time been seeking the ideal product solution for his clients. He chose Hitachi's MBR line for its superior quality and reliable compact flat membranes with ease of operation and low maintenance, as it offers the highest levels of technology, quality and value. Further information on EMWIS website.

29- A ministerial team, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Nayef Qadi, recently checked on the water situation in the northern governorates of Ajloun, Jerash and Irbid in Jordan. Citizens, particularly Ajloun and Jerash residents, have complained of repeated water disruptions over the last months, many having to buy water by the gallon to meet their daily requirements. During the tour, Qadi stressed the government’s commitment to come up with practical solutions to address the water shortage and improve the water distribution system. In Jerash, the ministerial team was briefed by Jerash Governor, who underlined the need to revisit the water distribution programme to ensure a fair distribution of water. In Ajloun, Qadi emphasised the importance of implementing plans to increase water allocations for the governorate and secure tankers to transport water to hilly areas. He stressed the need for strict measures to safeguard water networks and underlined the importance of coordination between the electricity company and water departments to ensure that water distribution is not impacted by scheduled power cuts. While in Irbid, Qadi said reports of a water shortage in Irbid were over stated, stressing that the main obstacle to supplying water to residents is distribution. Further information on EMWIS website.

30- The World Bank Board of Directors approved today an additional financing grant of $7 million for the North Gaza Emergency Sewage Treatment (NGEST) project. The grant will support the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant under the second phase of the project and will provide a long term solution to the treatment of wastewater in the Northern Governorate of Gaza. The project benefits a population of about 250,000 people living in the communities of Jabalya, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Um Al Nasser. The primary objective of the first phase of the project was to mitigate the immediate health and environmental safety threats to the communities surrounding the effluent lake at the old Beit Lahiya wastewater treatment plant that was first designed to serve a population of 50,000. The effluent lake has been drained and the wastewater is being managed at the new site pending completion of the new treatment plant. The NGEST is the fourth in a series of water and sanitation projects supported by the World Bank, through the Trust Fund for Gaza and West Bank, since 1993. World Bank contribution to the project has totaled $26.8 million. Further information on EMWIS website.

31- The UAE spends nearly Dh11.8 billion per year on the production of desalinated water to ensure its fast growing needs of drinking water and offset its dwindling reserves, the semi official Arabic language daily Alittihad reported recently. The investments cover nearly 70 sea desalination plants, accounting for around 14 per cent of the world's total output of desalinated water, it quoted Mariam Al Shannas, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Water and Environment, as saying. "The costs of production of desalinated water in the UAE are estimated at Dh11.8 billion annually, an average Dh7.16 per cubic metres," she said. Her figures showed Abu Dhabi, the main oil producer in the UAE, accounts for nearly 67 per cent of the country's desalination capacity. Around 18 per cent is produced by Dubai, 10 per cent by Sharjah and the rest by other emirates. Shannas said desalination production in the UAE and other Gulf oil producers accounts for nearly 41 per cent of the world's total desalinated water output. Water consumption in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is the highest in the world because of the hot desert climate. Given their scarce natural water resources and rapid population growth, GCC nations rely heavily on sea water desalination facilities, which require massive funds for production and maintenance. Further information on EMWIS website.

32- The UN adopted last 30 September 2010 an important resolution on the Human Right to Water. This decision puts an end to controversies on the Right to Water. Through resolution A/HRC/15/L14 -1 passed, the U.N. Human Rights Council has achieved a landmark that clarifies the meaning of the Right to Drinking Water and Sanitation as well as the responsibilities of States and other parties towards right-holders. This is real progress towards making these Rights a reality for the people who need them. The resolution clarifies three key points: 1) Duties - States (public authorities) have the primary responsibility to ensure realisation of this Right, irrespective of the operators, internal or external, that they use to deliver it. 2) Means - Public authorities have the possibility to choose “non-State” actors, (private companies, entrepreneurs, NGOs, community-based organizations and State-owned companies) to provide safe drinking water and sanitation as they see appropriate. Their responsibilities when using any of these service providers are the same. The resolution: 6. Reaffirms that States have the primary responsibility to ensure the full realization of all human rights, and that the delegation of the delivery of safe drinking water and/or sanitation services to a third party does not exempt the State from its human rights obligations; 7. Recognizes that States, in accordance with their laws, regulations and public policies, may opt to involve non-State actors in the provision of safe drinking water and sanitation services and, regardless of the form of provision, should ensure transparency, non-discrimination and accountability; and 3) Legal Framework - Further to the recognition of the Right by the UN General Assembly in July and the work of the UN in Geneva over the last decade, the legal basis of the Right to Water and Sanitation is made explicit. Further information on EMWIS website.

33- Despite the problems, some policy priorities remain clear if developing countries are to cope with water insecurity in a changing climate. The first is the need to prioritise the management of water resources. This may seem obvious, but many countries have no long-term water policies. Policies will need to integrate all the sectors that rely on water, from agriculture and fisheries to manufacturing and municipal water use. Improving watershed and resource management is also vital. The IPCC has advocated integrated water-resources management as a framework for adapting to climate change across socioeconomic, environmental and administrative systems. This requires a better understanding of water-based livelihoods in the developing world and their vulnerability to climate-related hazards and the impacts of water security on food and livelihood security. Addressing gaps in our knowledge about climate change and water is also a priority. Field data are sparse and, in many cases, observational networks are shrinking. The IPCC has highlighted the "need to improve understanding and modelling of climate changes related to the hydrological cycle at scales relevant to decision-making". It also says that information about the water-related impacts of climate change is inadequate. Without further investment in data collection and knowledge building, the uncertainty associated with predicted changes will remain high, and estimates of hydrological change will remain inaccurate. Until we can better predict the change, we will be poorly equipped to plan for the future. Further information on EMWIS website.

34- About 80% of the world's population lives in areas where the fresh water supply is not secure, according to a new global analysis. Researchers compiled a composite index of "water threats" that includes issues such as scarcity and pollution. The most severe threat category encompasses 3.4 billion people. Writing in the journal Nature, they say that in western countries, conserving water for people through reservoirs and dams works for people, but not nature. They urge developing countries not to follow the same path. Instead, they say governments should to invest in water management strategies that combine infrastructure with "natural" options such as safeguarding watersheds, wetlands and flood plains. The analysis is a global snapshot, and the research team suggests more people are likely to encounter more severe stress on their water supply in the coming decades, as the climate changes and the human population continues to grow. They have taken data on a variety of different threats, used models of threats where data is scarce, and used expert assessment to combine the various individual threats into a composite index. The result is a map that plots the composite threat to human water security and to biodiversity in squares 50km by 50km (30 miles by 30 miles) across the world. Further information on EMWIS website.

35- During the months of July and August 2010, heavy rains hit numerous regions over the world, the northern Pakistan being the most devastated, followed by some EU countries, namely Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. In the framework of both the International Charter Space and Major Disasters and GMES, data from a range of Earth Observation satellites have been used to generate essential maps of the flooded areas in order to support rescue operations on the ground. Radar imagery was acquired by the Envisat's 'ASAR' instrument, as well as optical imagery by the Envisat's 'MERIS' instrument and the French Spot 5. Furthermore, the German TanDEM-X has provided its first crisis assistance, while the ESA’s SMOS mission acquired data of the water content in the soils of the affected area, both through interferometric techniques. Further information on EMWIS website.

36- Water resources in Spain are subjected to rising pressures, related to the socioeconomic activities of an increasing human population, expressed by accelerated land use changes, and the specific climate characteristics of Mediterranean countries. The main panels on climate change predict a future scenario of increasing frequency of floods and extended droughts in the Iberian Peninsula, mostly in the Mediterranean basin. This will certainly add to the currently existing problems, and will probably affect the available water resources, their quality, the functioning of associated ecosystems, especially rivers and their aquifers, and the ecosystem services they provide. SCARCE is a project that aims to describe and predict the relevance of global change impacts on water availability, water quality and ecosystem services in Mediterranean river basins of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as their impacts on the human society and economy. SCARCE will study different aspects of SEDIMENTS such as sediment transport dynamics, rivers´s morphosedimentary structure and physical habitat, comparison of sedimentary processes and chemical quality parameters under water scarcity. Further information on EMWIS website.

37-Robert B. Zoellick, President of The World Bank Group gave a speech last September 29, 2010 at the Georgetown University, and among other issues he mentionned that Even “good performers” can be blown far off course by natural events that are individually unforeseen but collectively predictable. We need more climatic and hydrologic data and analysis to calibrate drought and flood warning systems; more financial “insurance” tools to assist with specific recoveries while avoiding dangerous macro-setbacks. He also insisted on the need of more analysis of food security, agricultural productivity growth, improved seed- varieties, and climate-resilient agriculture as we prepare to feed the additional 3 billion people expected by 2050. Further information on EMWIS website.

38- Conventional wisdom holds that plants should thrive when temperatures warm and the growing season lengthens under a changing climate. A 2003 study showed that plant growth indeed increased as temperatures warmed between 1982 and 1999. But when researchers at the University of Montana updated the study for the last decade, 2000–2009, they discovered that even though the decade was the warmest since instrumental recordkeeping began, plant growth slowed. The study is significant because plants soak up carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. As growth slows, the amount of carbon plants take up slows as well, leaving more carbon in the atmosphere to contribute to climate change. It is also a warning that a warming climate could bring a decrease in food and biofuel production. Researchers Maozheng Zhou and Steven Running published the work in Science on August 20, 2010. They used data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite to monitor plant growth and calculate the total amount of carbon plants store as they grow, a value called net primary productivity. Their results are illustrated in this image, which shows the change in the amount of carbon consumed by plants between 2000 and 2009. Green areas show where plants grew more (and consumed more carbon), and brown areas show where they grew less. The deeper the color, the stronger the trend. It is too early to tell if the recent decade marks the beginning of a longer term trend in plant growth related to long-term climate change. Climate is defined by patterns seen over longer periods of time, at least 20-30 years. In the previous 20 years (1982–1999), plant growth and the related carbon uptake increased as much as six percent. Regardless, the observed decrease in plant growth between 2000 and 2009 helps researchers better understand how plants might respond to a changing climate. Further information on EMWIS website.

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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39- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued on October 3rd, 2010 Decree No. 425, appointing Dr. George Malki Soumi as Minister of Irrigation. Dr. George Malki Soumi was born in al-Qameshli in 1943. An expert in irrigation and land reclamation, he received a PhD in technical sciences of irrigation and land reclamation from the Moscow Institute for Irrigation and Hydrotechnik in 1975. He occupied the position of Director of the Irrigation and Water Uses Directorate at the Ministry of Agriculture from 1986 to 2003. In his career, he was a member of the board of trustees of the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), member of the Higher Committee for Water, and chairman of the Arab team for guidance of water use in Arab agriculture at the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD). He is also a UN expert in integrated management of water resources, an expert at the State Planning Commission, and a consultant at the Irrigation Committee at the People's Assembly, in addition to working with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Dr. Soumi has more than 265 published works in water research and uses. Further information on EMWIS website.

40- Senior Programme Officer, Water Management Specialist, South Asia Region, IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre, The Netherlands [deadline 18 October]. IRC is seeking a Senior Programme Officer further expand and lead the local Water Management programme in the South Asia region. Further information on EMWIS website.

41- First Spain National Young Water Professionals Conference Award: With the paper “Measurement of Oxygen Transfer to a Subsurface Horizontal Flow Constructed Wetland - Comparing Different Retention Times”, Lina Tyroller from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) is announced as winning author of the best full paper within this first Spain National Young Water Professionals Conference. She hold the award of a trip to Australia, where she presented her paper at the International Young Water Professionals Conference in Sydney on the 5-7 July this year. The Spain National Young Water Professionals Conference is a countrywide forum that provides a platform for young professionals and postgraduate researchers from Spain to present their research related to water and wastewater. This initiative aims to encourage and support, as well as create professional development opportunities for students and researchers within the Spanish water and wastewater industry. Further information on EMWIS website.

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PUBLICATIONS
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42- The first issue of the MEDSTAT III Newsletter, is available now in English, French and Arabic. The 3rd Phase of MEDSTAT Euro-Meditteranean Statistical Cooperation was launched in Spring 2010 for a duration of 2 years during which this newsletter will be issued every 2-3 months to highlight project activities. In this first issue, you will find the actual project team contacts and useful links to the European Commission's official information on this programme, and to the website dedicated to the results of the previous phase (MEDSTAT II). Further information on EMWIS website.

43- The 2010 GWP Consulting Partners meeting with the theme “Exploring the role of Water Security in Regional Economic Development”, was held in Stockholm, Sweden on 3-4 September 2010. Participating GWP Partners recommended actions to be taken for the direction of the network as set out in the GWP 2009-2013 Strategy.  Further information on EMWIS website.

44- Sustainable development requires multi-stakeholder partnerships. That is one of the key messages of a new report on water security in Africa published by the Global Water Partnership (GWP). The report, Water Security for Development: Insights from African Partnerships in Action, outlines the lessons of a five-year program to develop Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) plans in 13 African countries. Further information on EMWIS website.

45- The World Bank has released the tenth edition of its Little Green Data Book, which provides evidence of the last decade's achievements - or lack of progress - on the road towards sustainable development. The Book reports, for example, that urban air pollution declined in most countries between 2000 and 2006, with the greatest progress in low-income and lower middle-income countries. The Little Green Data Book also finds that during the past decade, the world has become drier as water resources per capita have diminished under the pressure of a fast-growing population, while forest cover has fallen in Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Book contains sections on, inter alia: agriculture; forests and biodiversity; energy; emissions and pollution; and water and sanitation. Further information on EMWIS website.

46- During the World Water Week, held in Stockholm, Sweden, from 5 to 11 September 2010, UN-Water convened a dialogue session on ‘Sick water is threatening the MDGs: A stakeholder dialogue to address capacity development and communication needs’.  A video highlighting key points of the dialogue session is now available online. Further information on EMWIS website.

47- The overall budget for bilateral EU assistance to partner countries in the framework of the European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) has been made known through the National Indicative Programmes (NIP) 2011-2013, released by the European Commission. The NIP, a Commission assistance programming document, refers to developments in bilateral relations and in the country itself, as well as the pace of implementation of agreements, while it goes into detail about the goals of each priority agreed. They have been drafted by the European Commission in consultation with the partner country governments, Member States and other international donors and civil society organizations, following the Mid-Term Review of the Country Strategy Papers (CSP). Further information on EMWIS website.

48- An EC manual combining Natura 2000 and the Water Framework Directive: The aim is to simplify the application of its directives on nature and the Water Framework Directive. Detailed responses to the most frequently asked questions are provided. Specifically, the manual will explain, for example, which directive has priority in which case, what are the points in common and the differences between the directives, and how to make sure that projects comply. A draft version is now complete. The public version will probably be finished this autumn. Further information on EMWIS website.

49- The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Environment Outlook (GEO) Regional Consultation for Europe took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 23-24 September 2010. The principal output of these consultations is a final report for each region containing the outcomes of the meeting, including key recommendations, regional priorities, agreed goals and target audiences. Further information on EMWIS website.

50- As part of its regular activities, the Monitoring Agricultural ResourceS Unit (MARS) of the European Commission published on 4 August 2010 a forecast for the main crop yields throughout the Union for 2010 and an analysis of the areas most affected by stress conditions. According to the forecast, the total cereal production in 2010 should be close to the average from the last five years, the yield per hectare will be 5% above average, while overall cultivated areas have decreased. In addition to the forecast, the Commission published a Memorandum which provides supplementary information, maps and graphs, as well as crop yields forecast for Russia. The forecast indicated that Russia was threatened by critical weather conditions that will lead to a significant yield reduction, in particular along the Volga River. Further information on EMWIS website.

51- The report "Water Storage in an Era of Climate Change: Addressing the Challenge of Increasing Rainfall Variability" argues against overreliance on single solutions like big dams, proposing instead an integrated approach that combines large- and small-scale storage options, including the use of water from natural wetlands, water stored in the soil, groundwater beneath the earth’s surface and water collected in ponds, tanks and reservoirs. Further information on EMWIS website.

52- Sustaining Water for All in a Changing Climate, a recently released study by the World Bank emphasizes the importance of better information and a more integrated approach to water management. “We can’t properly tackle global priorities of food security, renewable energy, adaptation to climate change, public health and urbanization unless we manage water better,” said Julia Bucknall, water sector manager for the World Bank and the Bank’s representative on the GWP Steering Committee. Further information on EMWIS website.

53- New Titles CRC Press/Balkema: Water Engineering and Management through Time: Learning from History; Urban Flood Management; Advanced Simulation and Modelling for Urban Groundwater Management; Recursive Streamflow Forecasting: A State Space Approach ; Practical Channel Hydraulics: Roughness, Conveyance and Afflux; Integrated Urban Water Management: Humid Tropics: UNESCO-IHP ; Water and Agricultural Sustainability Strategies ; Capacity Development for Improved Water Management. Further information on EMWIS website.

54- The hydria project: www.hydriaproject.net is a bilingual webpage on water technologies of the past, existing around the Mediterranean. HYDRIA was undertaken by MIO-ECSDE/MEdIES in 2008-09 and was funded by the UNESCO Participation Programme, MIO-ECSDE and the GWP-Med. Further information on EMWIS website.

55- SedNet Newsletter September 2010 is available online. Further information on EMWIS website.

56- The Capacity4dev web site has just published all the presentations of this week seminar in Brussels “ Regional Water Seminar EC – EIB ”. Further information on EMWIS website.

57- [Bibliotheca Alexandrina - CSSP ] NewsLetter (Monday, August 02, 2010). Further information on EMWIS website.

58- The Fifth International Biennial Conference, BioVisionAlexandria 2010 (BVA2010) organized by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, was held during the period 12-15 April 2010. Within the scope of this year’s theme “New Life Sciences: Future Prospects”, the conference focused on three major themes: Health, Environment, Food and Agriculture.   BVA2010 presented representatives of the greatest minds in the realms of industry, science, policy-making, media and civil society. Preceding BioVisionAlexandria2010, the TWAS/BioVisionAlexandria.NXT(BVA.NXT) Conference took place from 10 to 11 April 2010, under the theme “Publishing Scientific Papers in the Developing World”. Check the BVA 2010 conference website for more updates on the conference (speaker’s presentations, photo gallery, ...etc: www.bibalex.org/bva2010.

59- Eckstein, Gabriel, Water Scarcity, Conflict, and Security in a Climate Change World: Challenges and Opportunities for International Law and Policy," 27 Wisc. Int'l L.J. 409 (2010): Further information on EMWIS website.

60- International Journal of Remote Sensing: Volume 31 Issue 14 - Special Issue:Satellite-Based Observations of Hydrological Processes is now available online. Further information on EMWIS website.

61- The Proceedings of the 1st Meeting of the Franco-Maghrebi Sustainable Cities held in Agadir (Morocco) last 10 and June 11, 2010 (Cities and Climate Change) are now available online. Further information on EMWIS website.

62- The proceedings of the conference: 'The Challenges of Quality in the Water and Sanitation Sector in Algeria, Contribution of Nuclear Techniques: EQSEAATN'2010' which took place in Tipaza (Algeria), 11-12 / 05/2010, are now available online. Further information on EMWIS website.

63- The French National Agency for Water and Aquatic Environnements (ONEMA) commissioned the International Office for Water (OIEAU) to carry out an assessment of changes in the quality monitoring of rivers, which was measured monitoring efforts carried out over several decades, and the different approaches for assessing water quality (chemical, ecological). This study has been the focus of another issue of the series "The syntheses Eaufrance", whose objective is to enhance the data acquired under the Water Information System (SIE) by 'ONEMA and its partners, is available now. Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR TENDERS and PROPOSALS
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64- "ENPI-MED CBC: call for strategic projects announced": The Joint Management Authority announced that the call for proposal on strategic projects for Cross-Boarder Cooperation in the Mediterranean will be launched in December 2010. These projects will involve a minimum of four partners representing four different countries, of which at least one EU Mediterranean Country and one Mediterranean Partner Country. Their budget range from a minimum of € 2 million up to a maximum of € 5 million. Budget announced for this call about € 37 million. Water management will be one of the priority topics with 2 sub-themes: i) Quantity and quality of supply, with a focus on alternative water supplies and wastewater re-use; ii) Efficient use of water resources, with a focus on agricultural use. The following partner countries have signed a Financing Agreement with the European Commission : - Egypt - Israel - Jordan - Lebanon - Palestinian Authority - Syria - Tunisia. These countries are now fully eligible to receive Programme funds. All the Financing Agreements have been countersigned by the Joint Managing Authority. Further information on EMWIS website.

65- December 2010 ENPI CBC-MED call for proposals on standard projects: Call for proposals on standard projects (one-step open procedure) focusing on the four Programme Priorities.  Indicative launch date: December 2010. Indicative amount allocated: € 33 million. Further information on EMWIS website.

66- Adaptation H2O: IDRC’s Graduate Research Awards on Climate Change and Water (Call for proposals 2010−2011): Deadline: Friday October 15, 2010 (before 4pm Ottawa time). Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) supports research in developing countries to promote growth and development. The result is innovative, lasting local solutions that aim to bring choice and change to those who need it most. IDRC’s Climate Change and Water Program (CCW) helps developing country researchers to understand the consequences of climate change on water resources and to find ways to improve the ability of citizens and governments to adapt to the changing environment. The purpose of CCW’s Adaptation H2O Graduate Research Awards is to build the research capacity in developing countries by providing awards to graduate students working on subjects related to climate change and water. A maximum of seven awards, each with a maximum value of CA$15,000, are available this year. The award covers field work expenses for graduate students who are citizens of a developing country and who are enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at a Canadian or developing country university. A maximum of two awards, each with a maximum value of CA$15,000, are also available this year to cover field work expenses of Canadian citizens (or permanent residents of Canada) who are graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian university. The award covers the field work period, which must be at least three continuous months and no more than 12 months in duration. The awards are only meant to cover research expenses and not university tuition or affiliation fees. Further information on EMWIS website.

67- Proposal for a EC Recommendation on a Joint Programming initiative on "Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change": A new coordinated approach would be implemented through close cooperation between national research programmes. This should help identifying and responding more effectively to common challenges in the area of Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change. Member States would engage in the definition, development and implementation of a common Strategic Research Agenda to address the combined challenges of food security against the continuous threat represented by various scenarios of climate change, global population, and food and non-food demand. However, the set up of a management structure by the participating countries is expected by the end of 2010. Several Member States have already started working jointly towards a common research agenda and will continue to do so during the time necessary to adopt this Recommendation. Further information on EMWIS website.

68- FP7 Framework Programme call for proposals - Environment (including Climate Change) Calls: FP7-ENV-2011: Budget: € 155 000 000. Deadline: 16 November 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time). Among the research activities to be funded under this call: ENV.2011.1.3.2-2 Vulnerability andincreased drought risk in Europe. ---> Collaborative Project (smallor medium-scale focusedresearch project), ENV.2011.2.1.2-1 Hydromorphology andecological objectives of WFD.---> Collaborative Project (largescale integrating project), ENV.2011.3.1.1-1 Technologies for waterscarcity mitigation in Latin American context.---> Collaborative Project (small or medium-scale focused research project) for specific cooperation actions (SICA) dedicated to international cooperation partner countries (focus on Latin America). Further information on EMWIS website.

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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69- Call for abstracts for the 2nd International Scientifc Congress of Engineering - CCII-11: The activity of this second congress aims to bring together the state of research and innovation in different subjects of interest between universities and research centers of the Mediterranean environment, to create links that favor the development of technical solutions the main future challenges facing the area. Themes: • Protection and exploitation of water resources. Current status, evolution and development of options and priorities in the management and use of water. • Clean energy. Renewable energy, energy conservation and efficiency as a contribution to sustainable development. • Sustainable management of the transport chain: modality. Efficiency of transport systems, its efficiency, services and sustainable development. • Information Technology and Communications for human development. Access tools and innovation knowledge, information and communication. Abstracts submission deadline: December 31, 2010. Further information on EMWIS website.

70- Join the contest: Water, Climate and...Action! On the occasion of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP16), the United Nations World Water Assessment Programme and TheWaterChannel.tv, with the support of the Mexican National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the Mexican Consejo Consultative del Agua, A.C., invite you to share your experience and your messages about climate change and its impacts on water and on your life. Tell us your story with a max 3-minute video! Show us what climate change means to YOU and your community and tell us how you deal with it! Entries, in the form of short videos or animations in English, French, or Spanish, will be accepted from 22 September to 15 November 2010. Of the 10 best films chosen by the Organizational Committee, an international jury will select the three best entries. Selected films will be projected during a side-event on water and climate change at the COP16, webcasted real-time in 120 locations around the world thanks to the Global Development Learning Network, and used as supporting material to convey the message to policy and decision makers that we must act now to adapt to the effects of climate change! No fees will be charged at any stage of the contest. Further information on EMWIS website.

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TRAINING
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71- Erasmus Mundus-UNESCO-IHE Scholarships: New Erasmus Mundus Masters Course on Flood Risk Management: The programme is offered by a collaboration of 4 leading European Institutes namely UNESCO-IHE (lead), Technical University of Dresden (Germany), Technical University of Catalonia (Barcelona, Spain) and University of Ljubljana (Slovenia). The first semester will be provided at Dresden, 2nd semester at UNESCO-IHE, 3rd at Catalonia and Ljubljana, and 4th semester will be thesis research at one of the Institutes. Successful students will receive 3 MSc degrees from UNESCO-IHE, TU Dresden and UPC Barcelona. A number of attractive fellowships will be available, which will cover tuition fees and living expenses. Further information on EMWIS website.

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EVENTS (Full Agenda)
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BRIEF EMWIS SITE MAP
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ABOUT EMWIS (Priorities, Activities, Objectives, Structure, Funding, Team)
WATER in the EURO-MED PARTNERSHIP (MEDA programme, Key dates, European Neighbourhood Policy)
EMWIS NATIONAL WEBSITES: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Cyprus, Malta, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Austria, Greece, Belgium, Luxembourg
EMWIS WATER MULTILINGUAL THESAURUS (Available in English, French, Arabic, Spanish & Italian)- Water glossaries
WATER PROJECTS DATABASE (MEDA-NIPs, MEDA-Water, LIFE, SMAP, INCO-MED, FP4-FP6, INTERREG, etc)
DOCUMENTATION (EMWIS meetings, Documentary database, Funding for water, Key documents, Water Legislation)
WHO DOES WHAT IN THE WATER SECTOR (By contacts, organisations & information sources)
PARTNERS & SPONSORS (OIEau, CEDEX, SOGESID, EC, INBO, IME, GWP-Med, MED-EUWI, SMAP-RMSU)
MEDA-WATER PROJECTS (ADIRA, EMPOWERS, EMWater, IrWA, ISIIMM, MEDAWARE, MEDROPLAN, MEDWA, Zer0-M)
WATER INITIATIVES (MED-EUWI, WFD, INCO-MED, LIFE, MEDSTAT, SMAP, EXACT, UNEP-MAP, MSSD, HORIZON 2020, Union for the Mediterranean) & Mediterranean Water Information Mechanism
FORUM ; FAQ ; TOPICS (MedWIP, Water scarcity, groundwater, wastewater reuse, desalination, satellite data, etc)
SEARCH EMWIS WEBSITE
EMWIS SITEMAP
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CONTACT US
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