In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the most water scarce region in the world, it is predicted that per capita water availability will fall by half by 2050. And scarcity is only one of the water-related challenges that MENA countries are currently facing--altered rainfall patterns due to climate change, shifting demand structures, and rising industrial and urban pollution all complicate efforts to efficiently manage water resources. However, a recent report by the World Bank argues that water scarcity need not constrain economic and social progress in the region if a multi-sectoral approach to water sector reform is adopted.
Aridity Zoning in MENA
Source: World Bank, 2007.
The Most Arid Region in the World
With an average of only 1,383 cubic meters of renewable water resources per person per year in 2006, the MENA region falls far below the global average of 8,462. Environmental problems resulting from water issues cost MENA countries between 0.5 and 2.5 percent of GDP every year. People and economies also suffer from the consequences of droughts, floods and water-related public health issues. The region has responded to these water challenges with some of the best hydraulic engineers in the world, who have pioneered sophisticated irrigation and drainage systems as well as cutting edge desalinization technologies.
Percentage of Total Renewable Water Resources Withdrawn by Region (1998-2002)
Source: World Bank, 2007.
Improving Water Management to Reduce Scarcity
According to the World Bank report Making the Most of Scarcity: Accounting for Better Water Management Results in the Middle East and North Africa, MENA countries need to shift away from securing new water sources to improving overall management of the water sector. For example, public spending on water (roughly one to three percent of GDP per year) must be made more efficient, yet politics frequently block needed reforms. The World Bank discusses three issues that must be incorporated into future water planning processes:
- Water management reform is inherently political and will require "political as well as technical champions."
- Non-water policies, such as those relating to agriculture, trade, energy, and overall economic diversification, have important implications for the water sector.
- Government agencies and water service providers must be transparent and accountable to the public.
The Critical Role of Agriculture
As is typical in all corners of the globe, agriculture accounts for the vast majority of water use in MENA countries. In fact, household, commercial and industrial uses account for only 10 to 15 percent of water needs. This statistic indicates that every MENA country has sufficient water resources to supply its population with drinking water, even in light of rapid urbanization. Whether or not this potential is realized, however, depends largely on agricultural policies and choices. In particular, decisions regarding what crops to cultivate and how much food to import are crucial to MENA's water outlook.
Data and statistics in this post are sourced from:
The World Bank, 2007. Making the Most of Scarcity: Accountability for Better Water Management Results in the Middle East and North Africa. Washington, D.C.: World Bank.
RELATED LINKS:
World Bank, Middle East and North Africa Region
International Water Management Institute
EarthTrends
Water Resources and Freshwater Ecosystems Searchable Database
Map: Projected Annual Renewable Water Supply Per Person by River Basin, 2025
