UNDRR ROAS highlights the importance of strategic water resources management in enhancing community resilience at Cairo Water Week
Cairo, Egypt, 14 October 2024 – The UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States (ROAS) participated in the session titled “Strategic Water Resources Management in Enhancing Community Resilience” at the Water Week held in Cairo. This session emphasized the critical role of effective water management in building resilience against increasing climate variability and water-related disasters, which account for 90% of global disasters.
During the session, UNDRR ROAS addressed the urgent need to tackle water-related challenges exacerbated by climate change, highlighting that mitigation strategies are essential to save lives and protect development. The session aligned with global frameworks such as the Sendai Framework and the Water Action Decade, reiterating the global recognition of water’s central role in enhancing resilience, as affirmed during the UN 2023 Water Conference.
Key insights shared by UNDRR ROAS included system-wide strategy for water and sanitation, discussing the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to manage water resources effectively, considering land use changes and climate impacts. Furthermore, case studies in resilience building were presented, such as Sudan, which focused on data collection for risk assessments and supporting flood mapping efforts, highlighting the need for partnerships to increase risk-informed investment in water; while Egypt case addressed the critical impacts of sea-level rise and extreme weather on the Nile Delta, home to 25% of Egypt's population, stressing the importance of climate change adaptation strategies; Yemen case explored traditional farming practices and governance modalities, such as terracing and rainwater harvesting, as vital solutions to the nation’s historical water scarcity challenges; and UAE’s Water Security Strategy 2036 discussed sustainable water access and management programs aimed at reducing total water demand and increasing water productivity while ensuring resilience in both normal and emergency conditions.
UNDRR ROAS underscored the current challenges, including insufficient investment in risk-informed adaptation, misalignment of financial systems with climate realities, and the exacerbation of existing inequalities by climate change and disasters, and recommendations for action, such as mobilizing political leadership and momentum for comprehensive disaster and climate risk management, engaging communities and promoting innovative investments in water resource management, and driving behavioral change through science and effective communication.
UNDRR is collaborating with UN-Water members to fulfill the commitments under the Water Action Agenda, aimed at enhancing countries' resilience. The session concluded with a call to action for stakeholders to collaborate on innovative strategies and tools that enhance community resilience through sustainable water management practices.