Promotion of cultural dialogue and local governance

Improvement of governance processes at local level

Priority 4

Measure 4.3

WATER Development Resources Opportunity Policies for the water management in semi-arid areas

Water-DROP

Project in briefPopulation growth, rapid urbanization and industrialization, the expansion of agriculture and tourism, as well as climate change are all factors which put water under increasing stress. The scarcity of this vital resource for human and social development has placed water at the top of the agenda of many Mediterranean countries. Most of the water problems are due to the mismanagement of water resources and to the incoherency among different policies impacting water conservation. In addition, the dialogue between water stakeholders, users and central governments shall be fostered in order to ensure more integrated approaches to developing and managing water resources. To address these challenges, the Water-DROP project has been designed on the assumption that the main issues to be tackled for efficient water management concern technical-methodological, capacity-building, and normative aspects.

Beneficiary ENEA - Italian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development. Technical unit for sustainable development and innovation of agro-industrysystem (Italy, Lazio)

Partnership1. University of Nicosia (Cyprus) 2. Region of Tuscany - DG Territorial Policies, Environment and Mobility (Italy, Toscana) 3. Union of Municipalities of Hermel, Planning and Development Agency (Lebanon) 4. National Council for Scientific Research (Lebanon)5. Palestinian Hydrology Group (Palestine) 6. International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for West Asia (Jordan, Amman) 7. Haliéus - Organization for cooperation on fishery, aquaculture, research, development and environment (Italy, Lazio)8. Assembly of Cooperation for Peace (Spain, Comunidad Valenciana) 9. ARCS-ARCI Culture and Development (Italy, Lazio)

Specific objectiveTo develop an integrated water cycle management approach at the Mediterranean Sea Basin level for managing the related cross-sector issues through the enforcement of multi-stakeholder partnerships, in particular with public and private actors

Expected results• A Decision Support System integrated by a Geographical Information System (DSS-GIS) for the water cycle management adopted and implemented in the four target areas • Normative proposals on water management developed leading to the progressive harmonization of the legislation on the issue at Mediterranean level • A better Water Cycle Management achieved in the target areas including: reused water in Palestine, economically improved management of the Italian “Torre Flavia” area (Rome), more efficient water use in three Jordan communities of the Al-Balqa governorate and reduction of water pollution risk in selected Lebanese rivers and sea-related areas

Main activities• Elaboration of a database on the water cycle management • Training courses for technicians of the water sector • Awareness-raising activities dedicated to teachers and schools • Organisation of national roundtables and drafting of road maps for transferring the results to concerned stakeholders • Setting up a Mediterranean Task Force for the water management normative harmonization

Target groups • National and local authorities responsible for water cycle management, protection of the environment, and legislation improvement• Public and private scientific institutions• Local and national environmental NGOs

Final beneficiaries• Water management local stakeholders• Communities of the target areas

Duration24 months (December 2013 - December 2015)

Budget• Total budget: € 1.989.519• Programme contribution: € 1.790.567 (90%)• Project co-financing: € 198.952 (10%)

Websitewater-drop.enea.it

Contact person Riccardo Ceccarelli Project managerENEA riccardo.ceccarelli@enea.it - waterdrop@enea.it +39 06 304 83 509

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