Marrakech Summit Aims to Enhance Water Management through Collaboration
Marrakech, Morocco, is currently hosting the inaugural Arabophone Academic Summit on Water, a significant event aimed at fostering collaboration between universities, institutions, and experts in the Arab-speaking world to address the pressing challenges of water management. This summit is taking place at the Mohammed VI Museum for the Civilization of Water (AMAN) and is driven by the NGO, the Water Embassy, in partnership with AMAN, Cadi Ayyad University, and the Water Embassy Africa.
The core objective of this summit is to promote scientific cooperation and knowledge sharing as key responses to water-related challenges. The Arabic language and a shared hydraulic heritage are seen as foundational elements for developing collaborative projects among the participating countries. Jeannette Pretot, the president and founder of the Water Embassy and coordinator of the summit, emphasized the need for sustained engagement. The aim is to bring together scientific expertise and institutional actors to build collective responses while highlighting the unique water management experiences within the region.
Addressing the summit remotely from Barcelona, Sanaa Zebakh, director of the PRIMA Foundation, underscored the importance of research partnerships and innovation. She advocated for interdisciplinary approaches that consider the interconnections between water availability, energy production, agriculture, and the preservation of ecosystems. The social dimension of water access also took center stage in the discussions. Pedro Arrojo-Agudo, speaking from Geneva, reminded the participants that access to water is a fundamental right, stressing the need for policies driven by equity, solidarity, and the protection of vulnerable populations.
The summit sessions are set to cover various topics, including hydraulic heritage, cultural mediation, and how collaborative water management can contribute to peace. Experiences from several Arab-speaking countries will enrich the dialogue between research, public action, and field practices. Upcoming discussions will focus on the establishment of a permanent Arabophone academic network on water and the development of international partnerships. Additionally, the program will include approaches that link water, energy, food, and ecosystems.
This initiative, held under the patronage of UNESCO, aims to culminate in the Marrakech Declaration, which will lay the groundwork for sustainable scientific cooperation concerning water resources, involving institutions, researchers, and the younger generations.
As reported by infomediaire.net.
