Jordan. UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme. Progress Report. Period of activity: 1/1/ /12/2003. UNESCO/EOLSS Chair in Wadi Hyrdology

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1 Jordan UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme Progress Report Period of activity: 1/1/ /12/2003 UNESCO/EOLSS Chair in Wadi Hyrdology Report established by: Professor Muhammad. R. Shatanawi, UNESCO Chairholder I. Activities 1. Education/Training/Research A. Training: Title: The Fifth International Course on Wadi Hydrology; Watershed Modeling System (WMS): Hands on Training. Expected results: Trainees get acquainted with the use of WMS in the analysis of watershed problems. Duration: Two weeks (2-9 July 2002) Public administrators working in the area of water resources in some Arab countries; Graduate students from the University of Jordan; Employees from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Ministry of Agriculture and local NGOs. 1. University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. 2. Ministry of Water and irrigation, Amman, Jordan 3. UNESCO Office, Cairo 4. Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization, ALECSO. 5. Brigham Young University (BYU), Utah, USA Geographic Coverage: For Partners: International (UNESCO). Regional (ALECSO), National (Ministry of Water) and North America (BYU).

2 For Participants: Arab states, namely; Jordan, Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan. - Training Material Mathematical Model - CD B. Research: B.1 Title: Virtual Laboratories for Drying Lake in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia-Dead Sea case study. Expected results: 1. Identification of informatics group and research scientific group in Jordan. 2. Carry out scientific research through VL facilities. 3. Set up server and needed equipment to enhance local and international connectivity. 4. Develop software for connectivity. 5. Conduct national seminar to evaluate the situation of the Dead Sea. 6. Prepare a technical report including Red-Dead Sea project. International Scientists; Decision Makers; International Agencies such as UNESCO, World Bank; International Donors and Government; Politicians; Public. 1. UNESCO HQ, Amman Office and Cairo Office 2. University of Jordan 3. Ministry of Water and Irrigation 4. Philadelphia University 5. Arab Potash Company 1. Technical Report 2. Website for the project 3. Follow up project 4. Establishment of VL including facilities for connectivity 5. Establishment of Evaporation Measurement Station. B.2 Title: Sustainable Management of Scare resources in Coasted Areas (SMART). Expected results: 1. Policy guidelines for the management of water resources in Aqaba. 2. Develop models to optimize the use of water resources. 3. Develop a set of social and technical indicators 4. Utilize hydrodynamic models to predict the effect of wind, tides and point source pollution on sea water movement. 2

3 Public administration and decision makers; Researchers; Funding agencies. 1. University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 2 Marine Science Station, Aqaba, Jordan 3 Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority 4 Institutions from Portugal, France, Austria, Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Tunisia Geographic Coverage: The Coastal area of the Mediterranean. 1 Progress Reports 2 Final report 3 Website for the project 4 Dissemination plan in conferences and papers B.3 Title: Improved Management Tools for Water-Limited Irrigation (IRRIMED Expected results: 1. Integrated information system for irrigated agriculture in the Jordan Valley. 2. Establish a set of data in reference evapotranspiration over selected crop. 3. Derive maps of ETR from high resolution satellite images use simple and robust software to estimate ETR. Irrigation engineers; Farmers; Researchers; Decision makers. 1. University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan 2. National Center for Agriculture Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT) 3. The Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Amman, Jordan 4. Institutions from: France, Netherlands, Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon and Syria. Geographic Coverage: Jordan Valley. 1. Progress Reports 2. Final report 3. Website for the project 4. Brochure 5. Software development 3

4 2. Conferences/Congresses/Meetings A. Title: The Second International Conference on Wadi Hydrology (1-4 July 2003) Some expected results: 1. Exchange of knowledge and information about the state of art research on the integrated management of scarce water resources in arid areas with emphasis on the Wadi Hydrology. 2. Emphasis the concept of wadi system as a unique hydrological unit for sustainable water resources management in arid and semi-arid region 3. Encourage and support the implementation of technical and practical pilot studies in the arid and semi arid regions through the announcement of scientific awards for researchers and research institutions. Regional wadi hydrology studies and experience exchange is of a high importance; Researchers and Scientists; Water Resources Engineers; NGOs; Graduate students; Decision makers. 1. University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. 2. Ministry of Water and irrigation, Amman, Jordan 3. Ministry of Education, Jordan 4. Badia Research and Development Program. Amman, Jordan 5. The Arab Center of Studies for Arid Land. (ACSAD). Damascus, Syria. 6. UNESCO: IHP programme, UNESCO Cairo Office, UNESCO Amman Office. 7. Arab League, Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) 8. Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Participants: 120 persons from Syria, Algeria, Bahrain, Belgium, Egypt, Lebanon. Morocco, Netherlands, Palestine, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Switzerland, Turkey, Yemen, USA and Jordan. Geographic Coverage: Global Output 1. Final report of the Second International Conference on Wadi Hydrology 2. Abstract Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Wadi Hydrology 3. Conference proceedings on CD 4. Conference proceedings (under preparation by UNESCO) B. Title: The National Seminar on the Restoration of Drying Dead Sea 4

5 Some expected results: 1. Exchange of knowledge and information about the Dead Sea level. 2. Creating dialogue at the international and regional level. 3. Develop common research topics that will address the water balance and resources of the Dead Sea. Researchers and Scientists; Water Resources Engineers; NGOs; Graduate students; Decision makers. 1. UNESCO Amman Office 2. UNESCO Cairo Office 3. University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan. 4. Ministry of Water and irrigation, Amman, Jordan 5. Arab Potash Company 6. Philadelphia University 7. Friend of Earth Middle East (NGO s) Participants: 14 persons from partner institutions and UNESCO. Geographic Coverage: Jordan Output 1. VL tool kit 2. The WEB site 3. Final technical report 4. Establishment of monitoring station 5. Preparation of project document 3. Missions / Travels abroad A. Title: The 5 th International Symposium on water, Cannes, France; June, 2003 Purpose: Participate and Present two papers on (1) Restoration of the Drying Dead Sea and (2) The role of Women in Water Management in Jordan. Duration: June Strengthen the Mediterranean Water Network 2. Expose the international water community to situation of the Dead Sea. B. Title: UNESCO IHE meeting of UNESCO Water Group (family) in Delft, Netherlands. Purpose: 5

6 1. A review of Water Educational Capacity Building (WECB) challenges after the Kyoto World Water Forum; an introduction to the UN decade of Education for Sustainable Development and how WECB fits within the decade and other UN and UNESCO mandates such as the Millennium Development Goals. 2. A discussion of donor's perspective on capacity building and sustainable development. 3. A discussion of the ethical imperatives to share knowledge, including the inauguration of GOUTTE (Global Observatory of Units for Teaching, Training and Ethics) of Water. 4. A discussion of the overall strategic positioning of the Institute in water education and training. 5. A discussion of existing curricula and whether existing programme educational models need to be changed (within the context of the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development); a discussion of delivery mechanisms. 6. A discussion of networking within the WECB field, including best practices and possible tools to enhance quality assurance Duration: four days: July, Prepare a strategy for UNESCO-IHE 2. Prepare regional projects for potential support of UNESCO. 3. Develop an action plan for next six month for UNESCO IHE institution C. Title: World Forum of UNESCO Chairs, UNESCO HQ, Paris, France Purpose: Asses the Main progress achieved by the participants to the program in UNESCO various field of competence and to provide guidance to the involved partners with regards to new orientation and priorities. These guidelines have been established by member states. The forum is intended to serve as a prime means of capacity building through the transfer and sharing of knowledge in the spirit of academic solidarity among higher education institutes throughout the world. Duration: November Adoption of general report 2. Creating a theme of Academicians without border 4. Visiting professors / Fellowships The chair holder has attracted many colleagues in the field of water to visit the University of Jordan in order to conduct refreshment training course for their graduates or prepare joint research project. Examples: a. Dr. Jose Ortega from the EU visited the University of Jordan in April 2002 to have discussion with the University professors on how to apply for the new 6

7 call for proposal of INCO-MED and INCO-DEV. He also gave a seminar on potential support by EU to Jordan. b. Professor Masahiro Murakami from Kochi University of Technology, Japan visited the University of Jordan on 10 th of December 2003 to discuss potential cooperation between the two universities in the area of water resources. He discussed also the proposal of the Ph.D. student who is jointly supervised between him and Prof. Shatanawi. 5. Information and documentation activities a. Establish a web site for the Chair b. Produce a proceeding for the Second International Conference on Wadi Hydrology 1-4/7/2003. c. Produce brochures in English and Arabic about the Chair d. A set of project reports and documents are available upon request e. Establish a Web Site for the Dead Sea case study of the VL. f. An informatics officer is in charge of information and documentation 6. Others The chair holder is a member of: a. IHP national committee which act as an advisory body for the Ministry of Water and irrigation. b. He is a member of the founding committee of the Arab World Council c. Member in the Wadi Hydrology Network and Ground water protection network of the Arab States. d. Member of the Thematic Advisory Committee to the International IHP, UNESCO. e. A member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of River Basin Management (JRBM). II. Impact The Second International Conference on Wadi Hydrology which was held in Amman (1-4/7/2003) was a good opportunity for hydrologists and water resources specialists around the globe to discuss the state of art in hydrological modeling with emphasis on Wadi System as a unique hydrological unit for sustainable resources management. Stress was given on adopting the integrated water resources management approach in arid and semi arid areas with focus emphasis on water harvesting and artificial recharge. Networking among regional and international institutions is encouraged to exchange technical and practical experience in the field of Wadi Hydrology. The Global Network on Water Information Development in Arid Zone (G-Wadi) will be a good model for participants to consider. The participants in the conference have requested that the Arab League establish a research unit to support joint research project in the area of Wadi Hydrology and water management in arid area. 7

8 The training course on water modeling system using an innovative modeling approach has familiarized the trainees with the modern tools necessary to get the most out of GIS data for watershed modeling. They learned how to use digital watershed data with hydrological models, how to perform automated watershed delineation using DEM and TIN, and how to perform flood plain delineation from digital elevation and stream stage. The trainee has evaluated this course highly in terms of quality of lecturing, material and topic covered. The national seminars on managing water resources in the semi-arid region of Jordan has created awareness among public and decision making on the necessity to utilize wasted flood water for the purpose of water harvesting and artificial recharge. The results of the research project on the conjunctive use of surface and groundwater as related to artificial recharge in terms of potential amount and sites will be put under implementation by the concerted authority. The involvement of the chair holder in the new Arab networks on Wadi Hydrology and ground water protection has created awareness among Arab States to have project on shared basin. Participation in the international activities has strengthened the knowledge and experience of the Jordanian Scientist in the field of Wadi Hydrology. The participation in the 5 th International Water symposium which was held in Cannes, France (23-27/6/2003) was a good forum to present the case of the Dead Sea as one of the important heritage sites of the world. A paper entitled Restoration of the Dead Sea was presented in the Water and Great Lakes session. Finally a Virtual Lab was established at the University of Jordan within the frame work of a UNESCO cross cutting theme project entitled Virtual Laboratories for Drying Lake in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia-Dead Sea case study. This project will draw the attention on the importance of the restoration of the Dead Sea. Academic, public, private and non governmental institutions are involved in this project in working together and exchanging information about the Dead Sea. 8

9 III. Forthcoming activities 1. Carry out a project entitled Optimization for Sustainable Water Resources Management (OPTIMA). The project will be carried out jointly with institutions from Austria, Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Italy, Turkey, Tunisia, Palestine, Morocco and Malta. The Jordan case study will be about Zarka river basin. 2. Carry out a project entitled Deficit Irrigation for Mediterranean Agricultural Systems (DIMAS). The project will be carried out jointly with institutions from: Spain, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey. 3. Continue working on the on going EU projects of SMART, IRRIMED, WASAMED and MEDCAOSTLAND. 4. Prepare a follow up project on the Dead Sea to be submitted to the UNESCO for potential donors. 5. Participate in the celebration of the national water day on 22/3/2004. This activity will be carried out jointly with Ministry of Water and Irrigation, National IHP Committee, the UNESCO Chair, and local NGO s. 6. Organize a National Seminar in protecting the resources in coastal area of Aqaba within the frame work of SMART project. The seminar will be jointly organized by: Friends of the Earth Middle East, Marine Science Station and Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. 7. Organize a one-day seminar at the Hashimite University on 11/5/2004 in the field of ground water protection in Jordan. The seminar will be jointly organized by the UNESCO Chair, the National IHP Committee and Hashimite University. 8. Participate in the UNESCO workshop on: integrated water resources management water indicators in the Arab region which is held in Beirut, Lebanon, 16-19/3/ Participate in the Regional Conference on Arab Water 2004: Action plan for integrated development which will take place in Cairo during April, Supervise four Ph.D. students working in the areas of hydrology of river basin, water resources economics, sustainable management, desalination and irrigation management. One of the students is Japanese and is supervised jointly between Dr. Shatanawi and Dr. Murakami. 11. Participate in the Arab Network on Wadi Hydrology and Groundwater Protection workshop which will be held in Amman in July Organizing the Sixth International Course in Wadi Hydrology which will be held in July,