The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently participated in a pivotal technical workshop organized by the Union for the Mediterranean (UFM), PRIMA, and GWP-Med. The workshop, titled "Digital Transformation for Advancing Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea Continuum," aimed to address water scarcity challenges through the integration of digital technologies within the WEFE Nexus framework.

Dr. Abdul Hakim Elwaer, along with his team from the Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI), visited the Egyptian Space Agency (EgSA) Space on the 9th of June, 2024. This visit aimed to strengthen ties and explore collaborative opportunities in agriculture and water management, both within Egypt and across Africa and the Middle East.

On May 22, 2024, the Asia-Pacific Water Scarcity Programme hosted the Southeast Asia Water Scarcity Synthesis Session at the 10th World Water Forum. Moderated by Fany Wedahuditama from the Global Water Partnership, the session focused on the region's growing water challenges due to population growth, industrialization, urbanization, and climate change. Tim Goodes from Australia’s Murray Darling Basin Authority opened the session with remarks that set the stage for the discussion. Caroline Turner from FAO emphasized the need for better water management and allocation to support agriculture. 

The FAO has been awarded King Hassan II Great World Water Prize for its innovative efforts in sustainable water management. Recognized at the 10th World Water Forum, FAO's groundbreaking projects enhance water efficiency in agriculture, crucial for global food security.

The recent Technical Preparatory Meeting for the Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) convened stakeholders both physically at FAO headquarters in Rome and virtually online. The meeting concluded with a resounding call to advance coherence across global and regional water initiatives and tools.

In a joint effort to bolster sustainable cropland and water management in Libya, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Libyan Centre for Remote Sensing and Space Science, have unveiled the "MerWat-Libya" Geospatial Platform.

The collaborative effort between FAO and IHE Delft underscores the commitment to supporting Countries in harnessing the benefits of cutting-edge technology for sustainable development. By empowering stakeholders with the necessary skills and resources, the workshop marks a significant step towards building resilience and enhancing water and food security in Colombia.

The seminar, organized by UNESCO, brought together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders from around the globe to deliberate on the theme of water as a catalyst for peace. Among the esteemed panelists was Mr. Marcelo Sadres, a renowned Regional Specialist in Water and Water Resources Management for Latin America. His participation added significant insights into the crucial nexus between water management and peace-building efforts in the region.

Water is a vital component for achieving the 2030 Agenda. As a result, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) promotes Dialogue and exchange within the framework of the Regional Action Agenda for Water to promote sustainable and inclusive water resources for all. 

In this regard, FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr. Mario Lubetkin had the opportunity to participate in the 4th Edition of the Water Dialogues organized by ECLAC on March 11.

The workshop discussed the AWSAMe compendium on indigenous drought resilient crops and the adoption of these crops by Cabo Verde, Malawi, Morocco and South Sudan in a pilot phase in view of their upscaling to other regions through four global project proposals which are being formulated.

Training on saline agriculture on 3 sites in Uzbekistan was organized in 18–22 March 2024, using the published WASAG Farmers’ guidelines on soil and water management in salt-affected areas.

In commemoration of World Water Day 2024, Lifeng Li, Director of the FAO Land and Water Division, highlighted the critical importance of water in promoting peace and stability worldwide. Li underscored the interconnectedness between water, peace, and sustainable development. He emphasized that access to clean water is not only a basic human right but also a key factor in ensuring food security, economic prosperity, and environmental sustainability.

In a collaborative effort led by the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (FAO RAP), a groundbreaking e-learning course titled "Measures for Coping with Soil Salinity" has been launched. Developed in partnership with the FAO e-learning Academy, China Agricultural University, Wuhan University, the Inner Mongolia Water Conservancy Science Research Institute, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, the course aims to address the pressing issue of soil salinity affecting agricultural lands.

Discover how countries are enhancing their water data capabilities and utilizing innovative approaches to meet SDG 6.4 targets. The workshop is scheduled to take place on December 13-14, 2023, and aims to strengthen capacities, boost response rates, and contribute to a water-secure NENA. 🌐💧

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched today the Water Scarcity Programme (WSI) in the Near East and North Africa Region, which has been collectively developed and will be implemented jointly with five international core partners, namely, ESCWA, ICARDA, ICBA, IWMI and UNICEF.

Water scarcity is one of the most pressing development challenges of our time. Today, 2.4 billion people live in water-stressed countries. Many are smallholder farmers who already struggle to meet their daily needs for drinking water, nutritious food and basic services such as hygiene and sanitation. This year the World Food Day was organized on October 16, 2023, under the theme "Water is Life, Water is Food, Leave No One Behind." This year's focus highlighted the critical role of water in achieving food security, promoting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring that no one is left behind in the quest for a hunger-free world.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) co-launched “Water Quality in Agriculture: Risks and Risk Mitigation” at the Rome Water Dialogue on October 5, 2023. This landmark publication, by a team of international experts, offers a comprehensive look at risk assessment and mitigation, with an emphasis on technical solutions and good agricultural practices. The guidelines cover crop and livestock farming, as well as fish farming or aquaculture. 

In an effort to address the pressing challenges surrounding groundwater resources in the Arab region, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) convened a high-level expert meeting on groundwater in Cairo, Egypt. The two-day event, held from September 27 to 28, brought together leading specialists, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss sustainable management and preservation strategies for groundwater in the Arab region.