WaPOR 2 inception workshop in Pakistan was held on 4 March

WaPOR 2 inception workshop was held in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Monday 4 March 2024.

The workshop was attended by 51 participants from different fields and all over the country, including 4 provinces. The participants were actively involved to enhance the understanding about the application of WaPOR data for sustainable agriculture and water management in Pakistan. 

H.E. Henny Fokel de Vries, Ambassador of the Netherlands in Pakistan, and Capt. (R) Asif Mehmood, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research of Pakistan, appreciated the initiative in their opening remarks.

The participants addressed the necessity of capacity building within WaPOR Phase 2. This involves collaborative efforts with partners to empower stakeholders at different levels to effectively use the WaPOR database, improving land and water productivity, and informing policy-making and water management. Participants emphasized the significance of capacity building within their institutions for:

1. Providing training at decisional, technical, and operational levels, encompassing agricultural practices for farmers.
2. Conducting data modeling and interpretation.
3. Integrating WaPOR data with other datasets.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in fruitful discussions exchanged ideas and laid the foundation for successful collaboration. Furthermore, the workshop also highlighted the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders and set the stage for the project's next steps.

The workshop achieved high attendance and gathered valuable insights, particularly focusing on the needs and demands of the country concerning the implementation of the WaPOR project. The outcome of the inception workshop is pivotal in shaping the project implementation plan.