3rd International Conference on Water and Climate: Basin management, key to adaptation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

About the event

This year, at the invitation of the Moroccan authorities and in partnership with the Ministry of Equipment and Water of the Kingdom of Morocco, the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) and the World Water Council (WWC), the 3rd International Conference on Water and Climate (ICWC 3) was held on 6 and 7 July 2023 in Fez, Morocco.

With the main theme “Basin management, key to adaptation and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals”, this 3rd edition of the ICWC will ensure the link between the United Nations Conference on Water (22-24 March 2023) and the COP28 on climate (30 Nov. – 12 December). 

State representatives, UN agencies, international organizations, bilateral and multilateral donors, basin organizations (national and transboundary), regional and local authorities and other stakeholders interested in basin management are invited to participate in the event and to share their experiences in the folowing sessions:

• Session 1 Innovation and Technologies for Water Saving
• Session 2 Groundwater Management: Challenges and Prospects
• Session 3 Water Governance: For a Better Intersectoral Coherence
• Session 4 Water Resources Mobilization : How to take into account the real cost of water?
• Session 5 Commitments by and for basins for the implementation of the Water Action Agenda 2030

Program

Thursday 6th July

8:30-10:00: Welcome of participants

10:00-10:40: Official opening ceremony 

Master of Ceremonies: Mr Boucetta, journalist

• Mr Aziz Akhannouch, Head of Government, Kingdom of Morocco
• H.E. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water of the Kingdom of Morocco, INBO Chairman
• Ms Leila Benali, Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr Mohamed Sadiki, Minister for Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr Loïc Fauchon, President, World Water Council (WWC)

10:40-10:50: 10th World Water Forum – Focus on the Basin Segment

• Mr Dadang Rukmana, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Indonesia

10:50-11:00: Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for a High-Level Political Segment dedicated to Basins – 10th World Water Forum

• H.E. Nizar Baraka, President of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)
• Mr. Loïc Fauchon, President, World Water Council (WWC)
• Mr. Dadang Rukmana, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Public Works and Housing, Indonesia

11:00-12:30: High-level panel: what commitments on water resource management at basin level to accelerate adaptation to climate change and the achievement of the SDGs? 

12:30-13:30: Lunch

14:00-15:45 :  Session 1 Innovation and Technologies for Water Saving

Introduction: Mr. Luciano Elhy De Princy, Director General of the National Water and Sanitation Authority, Madagascar
Rapporteurs
Mr. Ramiro Martínez, General Coordinator, Mediterranean Network of Basin Organisations (MENBO)
Mr. Abderrahmane Mahboub, Project Manager, Water Research and Planning Directorate, Kingdom of Morocco
Moderator
Dr. Asma El Kasmi, Director of Cooperation and Communication, Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable, Kingdom of Morocco

Keynote speaker
Ms. Isly Issac, Deputy Director, Central Water Commission, Ministry of Water, India

Panel

• Mr. Mohamed Chtioui, Director of the Agence de Bassin Hydraulique de Tensift and Mrs Nadia El Hilali, Managing Director of the Régie Autonome de Distribution d’Eau et d’Electricité de Marrakech, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Philippe Bourdeaux, Director, Africa Middle East, Veolia, France
• Mr. Zakaria El Yacoubi, Head of Division, Hydro-agricultural Resources, Directorate of Irrigation and Agricultural Spatial Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fishing, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Rachid Khattate, General Secretary, Centrale Danone, Morocco
• Mr. Miguel Polo Cebellán, President of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation (CHJ), Permanent Technical Secretary of REMOC, Spain

Questions and answers
Conclusion
Dr. Asma El Kasmi, Director of Cooperation and Communication, Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable, Kingdom of Morocco

16:15-18:00: Session 2 Groundwater Management: Challenges and Prospects

Introduction: Mr Manuel Sapiano, Water Director, Energy and Water Agency (EWA), Malta

Rapporteurs: Ms. Narjis Lamarti Sefiani, Director of the Moulouya Hydraulic Agency, Kingdom of Morocco
Mr. Kamal Yaalaoui, Head of the Water Resources Division, Directorate-General for Hydraulics, Kingdom of Morocco
Moderator: Mr. Edouard Boinet, Head of project “international cooperation”, International Network of Basin Organisations (INBO)
Keynote speaker: Mr. Issakha Diop, Minister for Flood Prevention and Management, Ministry of Water and Sanitation, Senegal

Panel

• Mr. Abdelaziz Zerouali, Director of Water Research and Planning, Ministry of Equipment and Water, Kingdom of Morocco
• Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, Executive Secretary, Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS)
• Mr. Jan Møller Hansen (Senior Director, International Programme, Ministry of the Environment, Denmark) & Mr. Anders Pytlich (Geologist, Danish Environmental  Protection Agency)
• Mr. Péter Kovács, Head of the Department of River Basin Management and Water Protection, Ministry of the Interior, Hungary
• Mr. Michael Kizza, Deputy Executive Director, Nile Basin Initiative

Questions and answers
Conclusion
Mr. Marc García Manzana, Commissioner, Hydrographic Confederation of Júcar (CHJ), Secretary General of the Mediterranean Water Institute (IME)

Vendredi 7 juillet

9:00-10:45: Session 3 Water Governance: For a Better Intersectoral Coherence 
Presidency: Ambassador Almotaz Abadi, Deputy Secretary General for the Water, Environment and Blue Economy Division, Union for the Mediterranean 
Rapporteurs
Ms. Filali Zainab, Head of Water Planning Division, Directorate-General for Hydraulics, Kingdom of Morocco
Ms. Zo Aina Angelica Ramaherison, Projects and Partnerships Coordinator, Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Madagascar
Moderator: Mr. Mustapha El Haiba, Independent consultant in Water Resources Management
Keynote speaker: Dr. Imam Santoso, Chairman of NARBO (Network of Asian River Basin Organization)

Panel

• Mr. Aissam El Rherari, Head of Division, Water and Extreme Phenomena Management,
• Directorate of Water Research and Planning, Ministry of Equipment and Water, Kingdom of Morocco
• Juan Bocel, Head of Monitoring and Evaluation, Lake Atitlán Basin Authority (AMSCLAE), Guatemala
• Mr. Guy Fradin, Advisor to the President, World Water Council (WCW)
• Ms. Dorcas Adwoa Paintsil, Executive Secretary, Water Resources Commission, Ghana
• Mr. Alejandro Rodríguez, Commissioner, Guadalquivir Hydrographic Confederation, Spain

Questions and answers 
Conclusion Mr. Sylvain Tusanga Mukanga, Executive Director, Lake Tanganyika Authority

Videos 
Ms. Barbara Pompili, Chair of the Water Governance Initiative, OECD

Presentation of the Paraná River Joint Commission (COMIP)

Intergovernmental Coordinating Committee of the Countries of the La Plata Basin (CIC Plata)

11:15-13:00: Session 4 Water Resources Mobilization : How to take into account the real cost of water?
Introduction: Ms. Ratoussian Aline Kaboré, Director of Studies and Information on Water, General Secretariat, Ministry of Environment, Water and Sanitation, Burkina Faso
Moderator: Mr. Abdeddaim Lahmouri, Water Resources Expert
Keynote speaker: Mr. Mohammed Belghiti, Director of local public services, Directorate of Irrigation and Agricultural Spatial Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fishing, Kingdom of Morocco
Rapporteurs: Mr. Moulay M’hamed Slimani, Director of the Guir Ziz Rhéris Water Basin Agency, Kingdom of MoroccoMr. Asief Alli, Programme Manager, Rand Water Academy, South Africa

Panel

• Mr. Mustapha el Habti, Director of Water and Sanitation, Ministry of the Interior, Kingdom of Morocco
• Ms. Rafatou Fofana, Director of the Volta Basin Observatory, Volta Basin Authority (VBA)
• Ms. Michéla Adin, Director General, Office de l’Eau de Martinique (ODE) 
• Dr. Anne Chaponniere, Project Manager, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Morocco
• Ms. Carolina Dominguez Torres, Senior Water and Sanitation Specialist, World Bank

Questions and answers
Conclusion: Mr. Khalid Tahri, Technical and Engineering Director, Office National de l’Electricité et de l’Eau Potable, Kingdom of Morocco

14:30-16:15: Session 5 Commitments by and for basins for the implementation of the Water Action Agenda 2030
Rapporteurs: Mr. Abdellah Ezzaouini, Director of the Loukkos Water Basin Agency, Kingdom of Morocco Mr Salaheddine Dehbi, Director of the Oum Er Rbia Water Basin Agency, Kingdom of Morocco
Chair and moderator: Dr. Eric Tardieu, Secretary General of the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO)
Keynote speaker: Mr. Mauricio Abijaodi, Director, National Agency for Water and Basic Sanitation (ANA), Brazil

Panel

• Mr. Abdellah Bourak, Director, Agence du Bassin Hydraulique du Sebou, Kingdom of Morocco
• Ms. Dinara Ziganshina, Head of the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Water in Central Asia (SIC ICWC), Uzbekistan
• Dr. Fawcett Ngoatje, President of the Randwater Institute, South Africa
• Mr. Ababacar Mbaye, Director of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Organisation for the Development of the Senegal River (OMVS)
• Mr. André Viola, President of the International Relations Commission of the Adour-Garonne Basin Committee, France

Video: Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, Director General, Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRC)

Questions and answers
Conclusion: Mr. Eugène Wonnan Yéo, Director General of Water Resources, Ministry of Water and Forests, Côte d’Ivoire

16:45-17:45: Official closing ceremony