Irbid, Jordan – November 21, 2024

The Water Diplomacy Center (WDC) successfully launched its 2024 Webinar Series with the first session held via Zoom, bringing together around 39 participants from across the MENA region. This event marked the beginning of an initiative to foster knowledge sharing, collaboration, and engagement among graduate students and professionals in water diplomacy. Supported by the Blue Peace Middle East Capacity Development Project, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the series provides a platform for WDC fellows to present their thesis research and engage in meaningful discussions.

The inaugural session featured presentations by two WDC fellows:

• Ismail Alsir from Sudan, a Ph.D. candidate at Sudan University of Science and Technology, presented his research titled “A Cooperative Water Resource Management Framework for Equitable Water Sharing between Sudan and Its Neighbors"
• Behnam Andik, a Ph.D. candidate in water resources at the University of Tehran, Iran, shared insights on his thesis titled “Analysis of the power-oriented Approach in the hydropolitical conflicts transformation (A Case Study of Hawizeh Marshes)"

The session was moderated by Dr. Wasim Barham, creating an interactive environment for discussion.

Prof. Mutawakil Obeidat, Director of the Water Diplomacy Center, commenced the session with a warm welcome, emphasizing the center's mission to strengthen regional cooperation over shared water resources. He highlighted WDC's role as the implementing arm of the Blue Peace initiative, with activities spanning capacity building, research, networking, and policy engagement.

Prof. Obeidat reaffirmed the WDC's commitment to fostering water diplomacy in the MENA region, citing its focus on empowering professionals and advancing sustainable water management solutions.

In his presentation, Ismail Alsir, a fellow from Sudan, introduced a cooperative water resource management framework for the Nile Basin, focusing on the pressing challenges of unequal water distribution, climate change, and inefficient agricultural practices. Ismail's research highlighted the need for a fair and sustainable water-sharing agreement among riparian countries. He proposed principles of equity, efficiency, and sustainability, emphasizing the importance of developing data-sharing mechanisms, conflict resolution strategies, and facilitating technology transfer to foster collaboration among the countries in the basin. His recommendations aim to improve regional cooperation and mitigate the tensions arising from the current water management system.

Behnam Andik, a fellow from Iran, discussed the complexities of hydropolitics and the need for conflict transformation in transboundary water management, particularly in the Tigris-Euphrates Basin. His work integrates international relations theories with water resource management to address power imbalances and the role of external actors in influencing regional water conflicts. Behnam stressed the importance of local agency in driving cooperation and emphasized that building trust among stakeholders is critical for meaningful progress. By focusing on transforming conflicts rather than merely resolving them, Behnam advocates for a long-term, inclusive approach to regional cooperation on water issues.

The webinar concluded with an engaging and interactive Q&A session, where participants, including experts such as Ana Elisa Cascão and Eng. Mufleh Al Alween from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), posed critical questions to the presenters. The discussions delved into pressing issues, such as the role of Sudan in ongoing Nile Basin negotiations, challenges in establishing mechanisms for data sharing among riparian countries, and the feasibility of adopting conflict transformation strategies in the Middle East's complex hydropolitical landscape. These exchanges underscored the importance of trust-building, inclusive dialogue, and tailored regional solutions in addressing the multifaceted challenges of transboundary water management.

The WDC Webinar Series will continue with additional sessions in the coming months, featuring presentations from other WDC fellows. The series is a vital platform for fostering dialogue and enhancing the visibility of research addressing transboundary water challenges in the MENA region.

The WDC fellows expressed their gratitude for this unique opportunity to showcase their work and connect with peers and professionals in the field of water diplomacy.

About the WDC Webinar Series

The WDC Webinar Series promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing among graduate students and professionals in water diplomacy. By addressing critical challenges in transboundary water management, the series aims to foster regional cooperation, enhance research visibility, and build a network of informed stakeholders committed to sustainable water solutions.