Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation for Water, Energy and Food Security in the MENA Region


3 June 2022; 9:30 - 11:00 AM

Venue: Tonino Lamborghini International Convention Center Sharm El Sheikh (Suez Canal Hall)



Overview:

IsDB Member countries (MCs) show an alarming trend in water stress. Since 1997, water stress in MCs has continued to increase and currently stands at 33%. This level is quite alarming, not only because of the increasing trend, but also because, comparatively, this level is much higher than other world regions.

Climate change adds to the pressures on this challenging context. A shock to water sector induced by climate change will directly affect agriculture and food security in MCs, where agriculture is known for being water intensive.

To worsen the situation, the on-going Russia-Ukraine conflict is driving the food prices up, as these two countries are among the top global exporters of wheat, maize, rapeseed, sunflower seeds and sunflower oil to countries in MENA.

In addition, increase in fuel prices will further exacerbate the increases in agriculture production costs, thus making the sector more vulnerable.



Key issues to be addressed:

Interactive discussions during the session will help address the following issues: 

  1. What financial instruments are available to support MCs in addressing their adaptation and mitigation challenges in the water sector?
  2. What type of support can development partners provide to assist governments at regional, national and local levels to address climate-related water stresses, and to ensure food security, within a critical geopolitical international context?
  3. What solutions are available to countries to adapt and mitigate climate change while addressing key SDG related development challenges in the Food-Energy-Water nexus?
  • Speakers
    • Amer Bukvic

      Acting Director-General of Global Practice & Partnerships,IsDB. He leads IsDB’s product organization and strategic direction in partnerships, public and private financing, co-financing, and knowledge products. Mr. Amer also previous served as the CEO of Bosna Bank International for 15 years. 

    • H.E. Ali El Moselhy

      Is the Egyptian Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, a position which he has been assuming since 2017. He was previously the head of the economic committee in the Egyptian Parliament, and the former Minister of Social Solidarity during the period 2006 to 2011. Ali was also the former CEO of the National Post organization.

    • Rola Dashti is the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)

      Rola, a long-time champion of women’s rights and gender equality, served as member of the Supreme Planning Council in Kuwait, and among other responsibilities was Minister for Planning and Development and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the State of Kuwait.

    • Abdul Hakim Elwaer, Assistant Director- General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, FAO

      Elwaer, a national of Libya, holds a Ph.D. of Philosophy in Environmental Chemistry from Sheffield University, the United Kingdom, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Organizational Leadership from the Gestalt Centre of Organizations and Systems Development in the United States, and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering and Science Technology from the University of Sabha in Libya.  

      Elwaer served as Secretary of Environmental General Authority (Minister of Environment) of the Government of Libya in Tripoli and was elected President of the African Ministerial Congress on Environment (AMCEN) from 2004 to 2006.  

      Prior to joining the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), he served as Adviser to the President on Global Advocacy and Partnerships at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he also served as the IsDB Spokesperson and Director of Cooperation, Partnerships, Regional Integration and Resource Mobilization from 2014 to 2017. He was further appointed IsDB’s Sherpa at G20 and Heads of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

    • Eman Sayed

      Is the Head of planning sector at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, Egypt.  Eman is a Senior Water Resources Specialist with more than 25 years- experience in hydrology, water and natural resources planning and management, modelling of climate change, flood forecasting and early warning systems, as well as decision support systems for water management. She has led the organizing of international water conferences in Egypt and elsewhere.

    • Dina Saleh

      is the Regional Director of the Near East, North Africa and Europe Division (NEN) in IFAD.

      Prior to joining IFAD in 2007, Dina  worked at the United Nations Office for Project Services in Nairobi, Tunis and Rome and with private sector companies. She has over 20 years’ international experience in development projects and programmes in various parts of the world.

    • Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u

      is Lead Strategic Coordinator in the Front Office of the Director General, Global Practice and Partnerships in the Operations Complex of IsDB. 

      Prior to joining IsDB, Jameel was the Managing Editor of Africa Policy Journal at Harvard Kennedy School and was also a former journalist at the BBC World Service, London, and onetime British correspondent for the Hausa Service of Deutsche Welle, Germany.