19.12.2011: First Mediterranean Water Forum

Marrakech, Morocco – Start date: 19.12.2011 to date: 20.12.2011

Within the framework of the Mediterranean cross-continental Process for the 6th World Water Forum, a big mobilization of the Mediterranean Water Community will be made across a regional event. The First Mediterranean Water Forum will be held on 19 and 20 December 2011 in Marrakech, Morocco and will bring together the stakeholders of the Mediterranean Water community committed to deliver strong and targeted messages and reach the consequent objectives for the sustainable development of the region.
This forum is carried out through an organized dialogue of representatives of all stakeholders in the Mediterranean region, namely: decision-making bodies and leaders, local and regional authorities, parliamentarians, donors, representatives of the private sector and experts, regional networks, other civil society stakeholders and State representatives.
A Steering Committee has been set-up to prepare this event and the Mediterranean process of the WWF6, which the UfM Secretariat takes part in. At the 1st Mediterranean Water Forum, discussions will be organized around the 4 priorities and 8 targets defined for the WWF6 with the objectives to present concrete solutions for Water issues in the Mediterranean in Marseille.

Priorities and preliminary Targets in this cross-continental process

– By 2015, each Mediterranean country has set its own national objectives for water use efficiency in the various using sectors and for water allocation between the different uses (productive and environmental) and defined/implemented “efficiency plans” for achieving their short-, medium- and long-term objectives.

– By 2015/2020, Mediterranean country has set its own national objectives for improving the water productivity of rainfed and irrigated agriculture, in the framework of an integrated water and food-security strategy, and defined/implemented measures for achieving their objectives in the short, medium and long term

– Water resources planning in all the countries of the Mediterranean region should include the assessment and contribution of non conventional resources, considering possible impacts on the environment, economy, health and energy

– Furthermore, a regulatory framework must be developed, considering the singular geo-climatic features of the region, their specific problems of droughts and scarcity, and the need to include non conventional resources within the integrated water resources planning of the countries.

– In the medium term (by 2020), every Mediterranean country – supported by multi-stakeholder national dialogues and in view of achieving cross-sectoral water resources management – has in place operational and applicable national IWRM Plans and Water Efficiency Strategies and has developed and/or substantially advanced river basin management plans, all of which are linked/align with National Development Strategies, National and/or Sectoral Financing Strategies, National Adaptation Plans and, where applicable, National Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans and International Agreements regarding the protection of transboundary water bodies.

– In the medium term (by 2020), every Mediterranean country has activated and operationally implemented mechanisms for effective stakeholder participation throughout the different components of integrated water resources management and has in place a functioning articulation between central and decentralised levels.
– By 2020, every Mediterranean country has put into force a rule supervising the discharge of industrial waste in the collective sanitation systems, and by specifying the technical, financial and monitoring modalities.
– By 2015, each Mediterranean country has defined a strategy of sustainable cost recovery (SCR) for sanitation services through the use of tariffs and fees, public subsidies and international financial assistance to ensure economical sustainability, equitable access for all and pollution control