IFC in the Middle East and North Africa Develops First Regional Strategy to Address Water Scarcity
IFC investment, advisory, and environmental and social specialists gathered in Egypt to devise a strategy to address one of the Middle East and North Africa's (MENA) most persistent challenges: water scarcity.
With the population expected to grow from around 300 million today to around 500 million in 2025, per capita water availability in MENA is expected to fall by half by 2050, with serious consequences for the region's already stressed aquifers and hydrological systems.
“MENA is the most water scarce region in the world, says Gulrez Hoda, MENA Associate Director. “A water strategy will help us focus our investment and advisory services products to address investment and regulatory gaps in the water sector.”
The objective of the strategy is to locate water issues and define a role that allows IFC to address these issues in a strategic and effective way.
As part of strategy, the regional team mapped four countries -- Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Yemen -- and researched various factors, including their different water stress levels, legal frameworks, and country capacities.
The research focused on ways to improve efficiency on both the supply and demand sides.
Recommendations included:
- improvement of water utilities
- increased waste water treatment
- addressing the regulations that deal with water abstraction
- creation of informal water markets
- increasing demand for water saving technologies by raising awareness of the cost benefits and providing financing mechanisms
“MENA´s efforts fit perfectly with IFC’s global strategy to deliver the benefits of private sector innovation, efficiency and investment in the water scarce regions," said Usha Rao-Monari, IFC Senior Manager, Infrastructure.
