First Palestine International Forum 2018

 First Palestine International Forum 25-28 is the first international special forum in the water sector in Palestine

Under the auspices of President ‘Abbas, the Water Authority organized on June 25-28, the First Palestine international forum with the participation of 20 foreign and Arab countries. The forum was held under the theme” Techniques and Modern Practices to apply integrated administration for Water sources”, considered the main methodology used to encounter existing water challenges, and to manage this valuable resource in order to achieve water security. The forum succeeded in positioning the name of Palestine in the context of the international water agenda as an efficient platform, succeeded in attracting international experts, and efficient recommendations which are considered joint solutions for the most pressing water issues.

Forum’s goals:

The forum achieved a number of goals which had important reflections on the development of the Palestinian water sector on one hand, and to contribute to find solutions for the world water issues on the other hand. Among them:

1. To develop future recommendations for water issues applicable and practical, and be able to yield tangible change in improving the water reality at the local and international levels.
2. To present success stories at the local and international levels in the domain of water sector,  as lessons learnt and apply them to serve the goals of water sector
3. To mobilize international support to water issues in Palestine, and to advance the Palestinian water sector through steering the world’s interest to the issue of water in Palestine, being the core conflict issue. The international support is needed to encounter the huge challenges so as to improve the quality of water services, to optimally use water resources, and provide adequate wastewater system, and as a result achieving a sustainable water security.
4. To assist authorities and institutions working in the domain of water on a holistic future and planning approach in a better manner, and to develop their work to manage this vital sector.
5. Exchanging global expertise through demonstrating the international trends and developments for the water sector, discussing them and targeting specialists able to offer consultancy, in the domain of modern techniques to raise the water reality locally and internationally.
6. To open dialogue and initiate research in several topics, such as finding unconventional suitable water sources, and develop mechanisms to raise awareness in using alternative sources.
7. To encourage innovation, promote best practices, and strengthen cooperation to provide tangible solutions to pressing water issues.
8. To provide opportunities to establish new strategic companies, and to communicate with decision makers at the Arabic and international level.
9. To open space to engage all economic sectors and those related to water as agriculture, tourism, energy, and address their issues and find practical solutions.
10. To engage educational institutions, and foremost among them universities to encourage scientific research, training programs and capacity development in the domain of water sciences, techniques and spreading interest in water sciences.

 

Forum events

First day: (Opening)

The forum opening witnessed a wide participation from foreign guests, and a high representation from governmental organizations and representation of allied countries, donor parties, NGOs, private sector and international organizations.

The Operetta “Rain ropes” specially produced for the forum, was performed by distinguished Palestinian artists who have a big role in employing Palestinian art and culture to convey water messages to the world.  The opening ceremony concluded with a Palestinian dinner, showcasing traditional hospitality, heritage, and the authentic flavors of Palestinian cuisine.

Second day (Scientific sessions and exhibition opening)

As a major activity at the forum, a scientific conference was held with an agenda consisting of 14 sessions, during which 98 scientific papers and research were presented. The forum’s sessions aimed at identifying the progress achieved in the practices of integrated management for water resources, modern technology developed recently to assist in applying the principles of the methodology through demonstrating success stories and experiences, and transferring knowledge relying on modern techniques and practices, and discussing them.

The forum’s sessions addressed four major issues represented in 4 major pillars:

First pillar: Sustainable development for water resources.

Second pillar: Governance of water sector and enhancing water management.

Third: pillar: Achieving sustainable development goals .

Fourth pillar: Climate change and drought mitigation.

 

Exhibition Opening
The Water exhibition successfully provided a unique opportunity for the participation of local and international companies, and institutions to show their products and services. It also offered attendees the chance to explore modern and advanced solutions and technologies in the field of water and wastewater.

Day Three (Field visits in Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate and the closing session):

During this day, the discussion of scientific papers and research were completed during the past two days.

The closing session was held for First Palestine International Forum for Water, as it included 14 research sessions featuring 7 research papers, as the total was 98 papers. The researchers demonstrated their research and studies on modern techniques to apply on integrated management for water sources to achieve water security.

Delegations from various Arab countries participated such as (Morocco, Tunis, Egypt, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait and Jordan) and 13 foreign countries such as (Germany, Canada, France, Ireland, Italy and Mexico).

Field visits were also organized within Ramallah and al-Bireh Governorate for the participants to (Mahmoud Darwish Museum, the Yasser Arafat Mausoleum, and the Palestinian Institution for Cultural Exchange)."

Fourth day

 Field visits were organized in Jerusalem and Beitlehem (Irtas and Battir) in the context of introducing the guests to the culture and history of Palestine, and several water projects. These visits succeeded in conveying the daily sufferance from the occupation practices to the countries of the world with different languages of the delegation.  

Recommendations

The forum concluded in several recommendations for water issues capable of creating a tangible change in improving the water reality locally and internationally, these are as follows:

1. Enhancing local and international cooperation.

2. Managing and developing water sources to achieve water security.

3. Adapting to climate change: Risks and disaster management 

4. Water, energy and food nexus.

5. Efficient governance for water sector: Improving political decisions, civic participation, efficiency and administration.​