Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region

Transcription

1 Joint conference of the Arab International Women s Forum & The Center for Mediterranean Integration Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region CONFERENCE BOOKLET & SESSION PROGRAMME September 2018 Kempinski Hotel, Amman, Jordan

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3 Conference Organiser Message from the Arab International Women s Forum Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani Founder & Chairman, Arab International Women s Forum Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative 2017 Commissioner, ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work As Founder & Chairman and on behalf of the Board of the Arab International Women s Forum (AIWF), it is my great privilege and pleasure to welcome you to Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region, which we are proud to be hosting in Amman, Jordan in partnership with the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), and with the valued support of the Union of Arab Chambers, PepsiCo, PwC and CIHEAM-Bari. The AIWF / CMI Women, Water & Youth initiative is unique in that it takes an intersectional approach to three key development challenges in the MENA region water scarcity and food security, women s economic participation, and youth unemployment. Our conference today will be addressing these critical environmental and empowerment issues with a focus on identifying sustainable, long-term solutions through innovation, partnership, private sector development and social enterprise, ultimately creating new opportunities for economic growth and progress benefitting women and young people in the Arab world. Over the next two days, we will examine water scarcity in the MENA region, which has been described as a hotspot of unsustainable water use. Over 60% of the MENA population lives in high or very high water stressed areas (compared to 35% for the rest of the world). Roughly 70% of the region s economic activities are produced in areas of high or very high water stress, more than three times the global average of 22%. We will examine the factors behind the low representation of female leadership in the water and agricultural sectors, as well as the low economic participation of women in the region overall, where women are bearing most of the burden of unpaid household and care work and are more inclined towards the informal economy than formal employment or entrepreneurship. Enhanced leadership and entrepreneurship opportunities for women in these sectors would contribute, at least partially, a vital solution to the youth unemployment crisis in the region. Youth unemployment rates in the Arab States and North Africa regions have been the highest in the world for the past 25 years and continue to rise. Furthermore, existing development issues in the Arab world have in recent years been compounded by the urgent and unprecedented refugee crisis resulting from wars and conflicts within the region, creating further strain on land and water resources in many Arab States, as well as on the infrastructure and resources of receiving countries such as Jordan, the second largest refugee-hosting country in the world according to UNHCR. 3

4 Conference Organiser Message from the Arab International Women s Forum Each of these challenges presents us today with an opportunity to take personal ownership of the future of the Arab region; to lead the way forward in identifying, creating, and promoting viable, sustainable, long-term solutions; to inspire each other in our research, our philanthropy and our working lives; to collaborate and innovate across borders and across cultures; and importantly, to ensure that the voices of women and young people most affected by water challenges, food insecurity, armed conflict and displacement, and reduced economic opportunity, are brought into the conversation. AIWF is proud to have this opportunity to work closely with the CMI, the Union of Arab Chambers, PepsiCo, PwC and CIHEAM-Bari to highlight the profound importance of protecting the Arab world s most precious resources its land, its water and its people. Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region provides a powerful platform to voice and examine critical issues of global and regional concern that deeply impact women s lives, their livelihoods and their security and prosperity. Today, we have an opportunity to collectively conceptualise innovative solutions to environmental and sustainability challenges, whilst simultaneously promoting women s economic participation and the importance of female leadership, and addressing our most serious concerns for youth empowerment, social mobility and job creation across the region. Our Guest Speakers are all prominent and accomplished thought leaders, change agents and key actors whose expertise spans the most critical sustainability issues in the MENA region and globally. They come from diverse sectors spanning non-profit organisations and private sector corporations in addition to our distinguished partners at the CMI and the World Bank, these include: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; the International Labour Organisation; the FAO; the United Nations Development Programme; ESCWA; CIHEAM Bari; and the Water Authority of Jordan (among others), all represented here today. We are also delighted to welcome such a distinguished and exceptional calibre of delegates and participants to Women, Water & Youth, and we especially look forward to connecting established global leaders in the water, agricultural and international development sectors with the region s young rising stars who are meeting the challenges of food, water and energy security in the MENA region head on through the use of transformative technology and innovative projects, platforms and initiatives. We welcome all our distinguished speakers and valued guests who will bring our conference objectives to life by sharing their knowledge, learnings and expertise. All six panels in the Women, Water & Youth programme have been designed to be highly interactive and discussion-based, to deliver key recommendations and impactdriven action points which AIWF shall follow up on in future programmes and initiatives in collaboration with our Conference Partners and all AIWF Global and Institutional Partners. We hope that your participation in today s conference will be an informative, valuable and interactive experience for you, and we look forward to welcoming you to future AIWF events and initiatives in the Arab world, the UK and internationally. 4

5 Conference Organiser Message from the Center for Mediterranean Integration Dr Blanca Moreno-Dodson Manager, Center for Mediterranean Integration As the Manager of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), it is our great pleasure to be hosting the Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region conference alongside the Arab International Women s Forum (AIWF). For the CMI, women, especially young women are the cornerstones to building a better future for the Mediterranean region. Therefore, we have been centering our work on integrating them in all of our programs, including in reference to water. Since 2017, our water program took a great leap towards a more youth-inclusive and female empowering approach. In the most water-scarce region in the world and one of the most vulnerable to climate change and extreme weather events, the CMI water program currently gathers, through its Mediterranean Youth for Water (MedYWat) network, around 100 young professionals from both rims of the Mediterranean and has been working on encouraging more female participation through targeted campaigns to promote the importance of women participation in fighting water scarcity and promoting effective water management in a context of climate change. At the CMI, we truly believe that, if we are to change the unsettling reality of the Mediterranean region, we need to trust and invest in women, since early age, to unlock their true potential as well as further expand our outreach efforts to other segments of society in an inclusive manner. We also believe that this is a goal that can only be achieved in collaboration with others and through partnerships, such as the one we enjoy with the AIWF. In fact, the CMI is a multi-partner platform where development agencies, Governments, local authorities and civil society from around the Mediterranean convene in order to exchange knowledge, discuss public policies, and identify the solutions needed to address key challenges facing the Mediterranean region. Members of the CMI include Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, Provence- Alpes-Côte d Azur Region, City of Marseille, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank Group, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) as an observer. By acting as a technical center that links knowledge to operations and reforms on the ground, the CMI complements the work of regional partners providing lending and research. Our conference, Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region, falls exactly within this approach. Our collaboration with AIWF presents the perfect opportunity to directly address the role of women in water governance in the region and to focus deeper on building youth capacity in the water sector. 5

6 Conference Organiser Message from the Center for Mediterranean Integration Recognizing that water is at the heart of societies resilience in the Mediterranean region, the CMI enjoys the technical and financial support of the World Bank and has a long-standing history of creating multiple collaborations with organization such as the French Development Agency, Plan Bleu, the UFM, and others working in the water sector. We attempt to capture dimensions related to preventing water shortages, encompassing measures designed to use water efficiently as well as defining water allocation rules and mechanisms across sectors such as agriculture, energy, industry, etc. These collaborations allow us to be the link that joins together water professionals, scholars and stakeholders to promote an exchange of experiences and expertise, demonstrating a desire to share the power of knowledge. In conclusion, I firmly believe that the Mediterranean holds more hope than it does obstacles. The region s wealth lies with its women and youth, eager to learn and exchange, to be empowered and play a more important role in society. I see it as our duty to help them change the face of the region. Today s conference is only an example of what our joint efforts could achieve. At the CMI we remain committed to building beneficial partnerships to working towards empowering Mediterranean populations to unleash their potential for a transformation of the region. 6

7 Conference Supporting Partner Message from PepsiCo Omar Farid President, PepsiCo Middle East and North Africa With upward trends of female participation in higher education in the Arab World and GCC governments encouraging greater participation of women in the workforce, there is great promise for women s empowerment and increased gender equity in the region. However, there is still a long way to go according to the United Nations, there are twice as many unemployed women as men in the Middle East. Addressing this matter, along with the development of the youth population and environmental challenges such as water scarcity, will help us to drive economic prowess and prosperity across the Middle East. PepsiCo is proud of its role in driving change in these key areas, as a long-term supporter of the Arab International Women s Forum (AIWF) and a participant at the Women, Water and Youth initiative. Having been in the Middle East for more than half a century, PepsiCo has a lasting investment in the countries and communities we live and work in. We apply our Performance with Purpose philosophy to our actions across the region. Performance with Purpose, or PwP as we call it, is our vision for delivering sustainable long-term growth while leaving a positive imprint on society and the environment. It s our way of helping others thrive, while paving the way for our company s growth. Providing equal opportunities has been a focus of PepsiCo s for many years now. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in particular, we have made considerable progress towards increasing the participation of women in our workforce. We recognize the immense potential of gender diversity in the workplace as a means for societal transformation women who are able to earn fair wages can contribute financially to the growth of their community and the wellbeing of their families. In addition to creating opportunities specifically for female employees, such as the women-only lines in our factories, and providing financial support for our female colleagues to earn their first Saudi driving license, we have recently launched the region s first Million Women Mentors (MWM) chapter in Riyadh. MWM is a global movement designed to support the engagement of millions of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) mentors, both male and female, in order to increase the interest and confidence of girls and women to persist and succeed in STEM programs and careers. In support of youth in the region, we ve partnered with two leading entities. In the UAE, we work with Emirates Foundation in support of its youth in STEM initiatives, in alignment with UAE Vision 2021, as well as partnering with them to launch the Art of Zayed competition, and on various volunteering projects. In Saudi Arabia, we work with MiSK Foundation on its internship program, enabling us to play our part in the realization of Saudi Vision Our PwP commitment is not only to the community, but to the environment as well. Water is a major component of our manufacturing process, from the 7

8 Conference Supporting Partner Message from PepsiCo fields farmers grow our crops in to the creation of our products in our factories. As significant quantities of water are required by our operations, we have taken great measures to ensure that our consumption is as ecologically friendly as possible. For example, in Jordan between we reduced our water consumption per liter by 42%. In 2015, PepsiCo saved 900 million liters of water in our snacks production process in KSA, with our Riyadh plant achieving the best in class for water performance ratings across the Middle East. While there is still much to do to address these pressing issues, we feel that the region is on the right track. On behalf of PepsiCo, I wish the participants of Women, Water and Youth a successful and productive forum, with tangible outcomes that will contribute to the future growth and economic prospects of the Middle East. 8

9 Conference Supporting Partner Message from PwC Hani Ashkar Territory Senior Partner Middle East, PwC At PwC Middle East, developing a diverse and inclusive firm is a key priority to sustain our growth in the region and deliver on our purpose of building trust in society and solving important problems. With women making up a third of our regional headcount, and increasing steadily, we continuously work to provide our female colleagues with solutions to balance their career and personal lives. FlexTime, remote working, 3+3 maternity leave, eliminating any bias in promotions and pay, driving graduate diversity and leadership sponsorship of high potential colleagues are some of the policies we have in place, and there s more to do. Our partnership with AIWF comes from our genuine belief in the mission that AIWF stands for. We all want to create a better future for our society and more opportunities for women and upcoming generations. The world around us continues to change, at PwC we refer to these changes as megatrends be it demographic changes, shifts in economic power, technological breakthroughs, climate change and resource scarcity and rapid urbanization. The implications of the megatrends are already upon us, and as a firm we are working through these with a framework we call ADAPT - Asymmetry, Disruption, Age, Populism and Trust. Our aim with ADAPT is to think through solutions that make sense for the long term. We are focusing on solving today s pressing problems, using the mindset of the future, rather than the assumptions of the past. Using this framework, we can address the three outlined development challenges for our region: female economic participation, water scarcity and youth unemployment. Challenges and opportunities are so closely intertwined that they are often interchangeable. The consequence of the world going through resource scarcity and a shift in economic powers, is that there is greater asymmetry in wealth than we ve seen in a long time. Eight people are worth as much as half of the world s population, today. This is causing an erosion of the middle class, which directly affects the development challenges for our region. Another important consequence of the megatrends, specifically relating to demographics, is that the world is getting older. This is especially true as more and more people move out of the workforce, causing strains on the system. In the Middle East, however, young people are the fastest growing segment, with some 60 per cent of the population under 25 years old, making us one of the most youthful regions in the world with a median age of 22 years compared to a global average of 28. 9

10 Conference Supporting Partner Message from PwC Unfortunately, however, youth currently constitute approximately 30 per cent of total unemployed in the region, nearly twice the world s average. This presents a huge opportunity for us as a region to usher growth and prosperity, but we have to make the investment and the time to secure this double dividend. Operating for more than 40 years in the Middle East, we are especially proud to be associated with AIWF / CMI Women, Water & Youth initiative, facilitating dialogue around the challenges we are facing as a region and ways we can work together to address them moving forward. We are committed to continue to work in partnership with the AIWF in creating a better future for our region and more opportunities for our women and our future leaders. 10

11 Conference Supporting Partner Message from CIHEAM-Bari Maurizio Raeli Director of CIHEAM-Bari Women represent 43% of the agriculture labor force. They ensure food security for their communities and build resilience, but when it comes to owning land, accessing agricultural inputs, financing and technologies, they are left far behind men. Almost 88% of the world s 1.2 billion youth live in developing countries. They are overrepresented among the working poor and in vulnerable employment, informality and self-employment. Agricultural practices are experiencing significant innovations that redefine the work of farmers. Agricultural entrepreneurship is likely to provide the new generations with a rewarding and remunerative employment, a more competitive food production and economic wealth while struggling against food insecurity and reducing food imports. Water is key to food security and nutrition. How can the world ensure food and nutrition security given increasingly scarce water resources and the increasing competition for water uses? Safeguarding water for the dignity, health, food and nutrition security of everyone, is one of the biggest challenges that humanity currently faces. It is a fundamental dimension of the Sustainable Development Agenda. This development is only possible with the involvement of women and younger generations and a deep change in the perception of these issues that are crucial for the future. Failure to exploit the opportunities provided by the youth and women not only shuts down a key economic window to national development, but predisposes society to political and social instability. In this perspective, over a third of the 169 SDG targets highlight the role of young people and the importance of their empowerment, participation and well-being. Twenty targets across six SDGs are strongly focused on youth: Zero Hunger, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Reduced Inequalities and Climate Action. Achieving gender equality and women s empowerment is integral to each of the seventeen goals. In adopting the 2025 Strategic Agenda in 2016, in line with the SDGs, CIHEAM committed itself to Combating Triple Waste (Knowledge and Know-how, Natural Resources and Energy and Food), Boosting Sustainable Agriculture and Food, Investing in New Generations and Fragile Territories and Preventing Risks and Managing Tensions. Gender equality is mainstreamed through all the activities of the CIHEAM. Social and economic empowerment, education and capacity building, enhancement of women s and youth role in the field of poverty reduction and in crises prevention, are key items of the CIHEAM Action Plan for the Mediterranean. Given the pressing challenges, this high-level meeting brings government representatives, the private sector, civil society, women and youth together to innovate solutions for the food and water crises in the MENA, and better understand how these challenges impact the lives of the most vulnerable. It invites parties to give impetus to equality and inclusion and to the respect of the rights of women, girls and youth. It is a great opportunity which enables us to join efforts toward the fulfillment of our ambitious agenda. 11

12 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies In order of appearance Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani Founder & Chairman, Arab International Women s Forum Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative 2017 Commissioner, ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani is the Founder & Chairman of the Arab International Women s Forum and is well known in international government and business circles as a high-impact change agent focusing on leadership in cultural and gender issues. A development economist and graduate of the American University of Beirut and Oxford University, she brings a wide range of skills and experience to her personal mission of encouraging greater cultural understanding between Arab and international communities, supporting a strong role for women in that process. Mrs Al Kaylani holds senior roles in several cultural, commercial and educational UK and international organisations. These include: Board Member, The Women s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School; Advisory Board Member, The Middle East Institute, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London; Board Director, EastWest Institute; Board Member, The Arab British Chamber of Commerce in London. In August 2017, Haifa was invited to join the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work, as the only Commissioner from the Arab world to contribute to this timely and valuable Centenary Initiative to realise the vision of a future working world that empowers young people to progress and prosper, which is in her view vital to global security. Mrs Al Kaylani also served on The Commission on Global Security, Justice & Governance, became the first Honorary Member of the Euro Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development (2012) and serves as a Freeman of the City of London. In January 2017, Haifa Al Kaylani was invited to become a Fellow of the Advanced Leadership Initiative at Harvard University to join 45 global leaders selected for an intensive, multi-disciplinary program and yearlong Fellowship to research and address significant social problems. While at Harvard, Haifa was able to pursue her keen interest as a development economist in Food, Water, Energy and Security challenges which are of great concern to many developing regions in the world and in particular to the Arab world, and in 2018 launched a groundbreaking project in Amman, Jordan that provides an innovative model for sustainable agriculture in the MENA. Haifa Al Kaylani has received numerous awards in the UK, the Arab world and internationally. In July 2017, she was featured in Forbes Middle East s LeaderBoard: Standing Out list of High Achievers and commended for her leadership of AIWF. In February 2018, Haifa Al Kaylani was included in the Muslim 100 Parliamentary Review and in March, she was honoured by the American University of Beirut and named amongst the leading women alumni recognised in the book For All Conditions of Men: Stories of Women at AUB. 12

13 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies HE Hala Bseisu Lattouf Minister of Social Development, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Hala Bseisu Lattouf has over 20 years of experience in development and public sector work having held several posts with the Jordanian Government starting at the Ministry of Tourism, and appointed as Secretary General for the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Public Sector Reform Ministry and Senior Advisor for Public Sector Reform at the Prime Ministry. She was recently appointed as a Minister of Social Development, a post she has held for over three years in the past. In her capacity as Minister of Social Development, Ms Lattouf chairs the National Aid Fund which is the main Government mechanism for providing cash payments for the poor. Prior to her job as a Minister, Ms Lattouf was the Office Director for Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah; she also worked with UNDP as head of the poverty and gender team and with the World Bank as a project director. Ms Lattouf obtained her experience regionally working as the Executive Director for a Regional NGO, World Links Arab Region (WLAR), which specializes in providing specifically-tailored programs to improve educational outcomes, economic opportunities and global understanding for youth in the Arab region. She has experience working in Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Egypt and Palestine (West Bank and Gaza). Ms Lattouf started her career working in banking sector at the Jordan Investment Bank and the Arab Bank. Ms Lattouf currently serves on the Boards of Trustees for the Royal Society of Fine Arts, and the Royal Institute for Interfaith Studies. She heads a local women s empowerment NGO that provides scholarships for Jordanian young women to continue their post graduate education (JEWELS). She is also a founding member of the International Women Forum (IWF) chapter in Jordan. Ms Lattouf holds a Master s degree in Accounting and Finance from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), London (full scholarship). 13

14 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies HE Ali Subah Secretary General, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Engineer Ali Subah is the Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI). He holds a Master s degree in Water Resources Management from Delft-IHE Institute in Netherlands and a Bachelor degree in Hydrogeological Engineering from Belgrade University. Eng Subah is a leading authority on Jordanian water issues, ranging from geology, hydrogeology, and water engineering, to water management and planning as well as strategy and policy design and implementation. His expertise in dealing with a wide range of international projects and interventions is rich through his long experience in the field due to the vast level of involvement and magnitude of implemented projects. He has represented the Jordanian water sector in many important local and international events such as conferences and seminars as well as governmental negotiations. Eng Subah started his work in the water sector as a hydrogeological Engineer at the Water Authority of Jordan in 1995 and he became the Director of Groundwater Protection Studies Unit in In 2009 he was appointed as the National Water Master Plan Director in addition to his former position and was awarded the Employee Excellence Certificate. In 2011 he was appointed as SGA for Technical Affairs, when he became SGA for Strategic Planning after the restructuring of the Ministry in He was appointed the Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in December

15 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies Dr Blanca Moreno-Dodson Manager, Center for Mediterranean Integration Blanca Moreno-Dodson is currently the Manager of the Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI), World Bank satellite office in Marseille, France. She is an experienced development economist with about twentysix years of World Bank service, including operational work worldwide, with deeper regional expertise in Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. She is accomplished in macroeconomics and fiscal policy for developing countries, with a focus on growth, inequality and poverty reduction. She is skilled in public expenditure analysis, fiscal sustainability, public finance, tax policy reforms and transfer pricing. Previously, she worked as junior economist at the European Union (European Commission and European Parliament). She has published three World Bank books: Reducing Poverty on a Global Scale, 2005; Public Finance for Poverty Reduction, 2007; Is Fiscal Policy the Answer? A Developing Country Perspective, 2012; and a book on Winning the Tax Wars by Wolters Kluwer. She has also published numerous articles and papers on macroeconomics, public expenditures, tax policy and growth, and other development issues, at the National Tax Association Journal, Banca d Italia Fiscal Policy Annual Volume, Hacienda Pública Española Journal, Bulletin of Economic Research, and the World Bank Working Papers series. She has been guest lecturer at the Duke University Executive Program and at John Hopkins University, and a frequent speaker in a variety of international development conferences and workshops. She is currently a member of the Steering Committee of the Navarra Center for International Development, Spain. Blanca obtained her PhD and DEA (Diplôme d Etudes Approfondies) in International Economics and Finance from the Aix-Marseille II University in France, and her Masters in Economics from the Autónoma University of Madrid, Spain. She also obtained postgraduate degrees on Public Enterprise Management and Growth for Development at the Kennedy Business School of Government at Harvard University, USA. She is fluent in Spanish, French, English and Portuguese. 15

16 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies HE Nael Al Kabariti Chairman of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture for Arab Countries and the Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce and Aqaba Chamber of Commerce HE Nael Al Kabariti is the President of the Union of Arab Chambers, the Chairman of the Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of Aqaba Chamber of Commerce. His Excellency is also a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab Renewable Energy Commission and a Member of the Private Sector Energy Technology Cooperation. He is a Member of the Jordan Senate, and a Member of the Legal Committee within the Jordanian Senate, a Member of the Financial and Economic Committee in the Jordanian Senate, and a Member of the Economic Policies Council in the Royal Hashemite Court. He is a member of several joint Arab and foreign Chambers of Commerce, and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture. HE Nael Al Kabariti is dedicated to promoting local economies in Jordan, honouring the vision of His Majesty King Abdullah II to boost relations between Jordan and other countries in all commercial sectors. He holds a Bachelor s Degree in Engineering Technology from the United States (1983). 16

17 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies Professor Fadia Kiwan Director General, Arab Women Organization, Egypt Dr Fadia Kiwan was appointed Director General of the Arab Women Organization for She is Professor of Political Science, Director of the Institute of Political Science at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Founder and Director of the Observatory of Public Service and Governance , and Founder of the Institute of Political Science in 2002 at the same university. She is the holder of a PhD in Political Science from the University of Paris I Sorbonne, and a CAPES in Philosophy and Psychology from the Faculty of Pedagogy at the Lebanese University. Professor Kiwan was Advisor to the Minister of National Education and Fine Arts and to the Minister of Culture and Higher Education She has been appointed as expert in many programs of the World Bank and UNESCO. In 2007, she was nominated member of the United Nations University Council until Professor Kiwan is the Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee of UNESCO s Most Social Research Program, and has been member of the National Commission of UNESCO in Lebanon and President from She is member of the Executive Board of the National Commission of the Lebanese Women and representative of Lebanon in the Permanent Council of Francophonie. Dr Kiwan enjoys a distinguished scientific and cultural background and is a visiting Professor at several universities in France, Italy, Spain, Egypt and Tunisia. She has published many research papers in the fields of civil society, good governance, good governance of political parties, women s issues, political systems in a comparative perspective, and has authored books and hundreds of articles as a leading advocate for human rights, quality of education, democracy and sustainable development. 17

18 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies Dr Fares Braizat Chairman, NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions, Jordan Fares A Braizat holds a PhD in Political Science and an MA in Political Sociology from the University of Kent at Canterbury in the UK. In February 2016, he founded NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions as the Chairman of the company. Previously he served as Senior Adviser / Director of Strategic Studies and Evaluation at the Office of His Majesty, Royal Hashemite Court, Jordan between Jan 2012 Feb In September 2017, Dr Braizat was selected as a member of the External Advisory Board (EAB) of TRIVALENT Project as an expert representing the Middle East at a High-Level Evaluation Panel, evaluating the findings of the TRIVALENT project on countering radicalization and Terrorism in Europe. Dr Braizat is a leading analyst and survey expert on domestic and foreign affairs, with a particular focus on security, radicalization and terrorism in the Arab world. Dr Braizat founded, headed, and coordinated a few international and regional survey research projects including the Arab Barometer, World Values Survey, Global Barometer, and the Public Opinion Program at the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies , Senior Polling Adviser for the International Republican Institute USAID on Lebanese elections of 2009, and he was the founding head of research at the Social and Economic Survey Research Institute at Qatar University He was Fulbright/ APSA Senior Fellow at the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington DC. He also served on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs at the United States Congress and taught at the University of Jordan, where he was Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Studies. His recent publications include Determining Youth Radicalization in Jordan, the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism, Georgetown University (2017), The Social Origins of Legitimacy Loss In Yemen, ACRPS, October 2011, a paper on Sudanese Public Opinion after the Separation of the South, ACRPS, July 2011, a paper on Jordanian Elections: Concentration of Power Without Democracy, ACRPS, March 2011, a book on Islam, Muslims and Liberal Democracy, Lambert Academic Publishing, 2010, The Meaning of Democracy: What Arabs Think in Journal of Democracy, John Hopkins University Press, October 2010, and a co-authored book chapter on The Impact of Arab Satellite Channels on Public Opinion, in Mahjoob Zweiri and Emma Murphy eds., The New Arab Media: Technology, Image and Perception, Ithaca Press, In addition to his academic publications, Dr Braizat wrote extensive newspaper articles about public opinion since He comments on political issues for many media organization including Skynews Arabia, Al Arabiyya, Al Jazeera Arabic and English channels, CNN, Fox News, CBS, ABC, BBC Arabic and English TV and Radio, France 24, and National Public Radio NPR. His comments were published in various newspapers including New York Times, Washington Post, and The Times.

19 Opening Session Guests of Honour Keynote Biographies Tessa Terpstra MENA Regional Envoy for Water and Energy Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Jordan Tessa Terpstra is the first Dutch Envoy for Water and Energy Security for the MENA region. She is based in Jordan since the summer of 2016 and deals with climate change and the water-energy-food nexus in the Middle East and North Africa. In her capacity as Regional Envoy, Tessa focuses on regional cooperation towards sustainable governance of natural resources, in light of ever growing resource scarcity due to climate change. Tessa is currently working on establishing a regional water center of excellence in Jordan, to share best practices of water supply and reuse in agriculture. With the Dutch Development Bank FMO she works on access to finance for startups by women and youth in sustainable water, energy and agriculture in the Middle East. Prior to coming to Jordan, Tessa worked on international energy policy and renewable energy as part of the Sustainability Department of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague for five years. Tessa served as a diplomat in Cairo from 2006 to 2011, worked in Afghanistan for an American refugee organization and in Ethiopia and India as a researcher. Her spare time she divides between her husband and two kids, friends, hiking in Jordan and a lifelong study of Arabic. 19

20 Day One 26 September 2018 Panel 1 Women and water governance in the MENA Esther Griffies Weld Associate Banker, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Jordan Esther Griffies Weld is an Associate Banker at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). She is primarily responsible for the water sector portfolio in Jordan, managing investments, related advisory services and policy dialogue, including increasing the capacity of governments to foster private sector participation in service delivery. Esther leads on EBRD s Syrian refugee crisis response interventions in the region and manages donor relations specifically related to the Jordan Response Plan and more broadly across relevant sectors in Jordan. She worked in the municipal infrastructure sector for EBRD in Central Asia and the Western Balkans before moving to Jordan 3 years ago and is an alumni of Kings College London. Susan Kilani Advisor to the Minister of Water and Irrigation of Jordan Susan Kilani is currently and since 2013 the Advisor to the Minister of Water and Irrigation on Technical Affairs and Water Quality Management issues. She was appointed the Director of Water Resources Quality Protection ( ), Director of Laboratories & Quality Department ( ), the Assistant Secretary General for Laboratories and Water Quality Affairs (2010, 2011 & 2014). Susan Kilani has worked in the water sector for the last 32 years mainly in water quality management, total quality management, ISO accreditation, isotope hydrology and management of radiological aspects in water. During her career she led the adoption of risk assessment for preventative water quality management and contributed to national standard and guideline setting in close participation with the national stakeholders to support this direction. She joined the World Health Organization/ Regional Centre for Environmental Health Activities (WHO/CEHA) to work on climate change impacts on water security and scarcity, and was appointed the Jordan representative (Sherpa) in the preparatory meetings of the High level Panel on Water (HLPW) on Goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals. She is a Board Member of the Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JSMO) that developed the water related Jordanian Standards. In May 2017, Susan Kilani completed the Harvard Kennedy School Executive Education course, Women and Power, with around 60 female global leaders. She holds a Master of Science in Hydrogeology from the University College London (1997) and a Bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Jordan (1984). Her passion towards research earned her a scholarship to pursue her MSc in Hydrogeology (UCL/London) as a mother of three daughters. She has received many awards for distinguished contributions to the Jordanian Water Sector and has participated in many scientific papers and publications, the latest of which is Management of Radioactivity in Drinking Water with an esteemed World Health Organization experts from around the globe. 20

21 Panel 1 Speakers Lara Nassar Regional SuSanA Coordinator (WANA Region), Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association, Jordan Lara Nassar is an environmental scientist managing the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) Chapter of the global network The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSana). She holds an MSc in Environmental Management of Urban Land and Water from the UK and an Environmental Health BSc from the American University of Beirut. Lara has 10 years of experience in the environmental and water sector and has previously led and managed the sustainable development pillar at The WANA Institute in Jordan chaired by HRH Prince el Hassan bin Talal. Lara has before that worked at the IUCN Regional Office for West Asia, The GEF Small Grants Programme and UNDP on various environmental projects in Jordan and the region. Israa Alassa Deputy Coordinator of the Palestinian Water Authority Youth Committee, Palestine Israa Alassa is the Deputy Coordinator of the Palestinian Water Authority Youth Committee, Palestine. She has a Bachelor Degree of Earth and Environmental Science and a Master s degree in Environmental Studies from Al Quds University in Palestine. She has worked at the Applied Research Institute Jerusalem (ARIJ), the Soil and Hydrology Lab at Al-Quds University, and as Project Coordinator at Al- Quds University. Her thesis focused on the study of ecosystem responses to land use changes by soil quality index by assessing the impact of different management practices such as: tillage on the soil index, measuring the impact of land-use conversions on ecosystem functions and fauna diversity. She participated in the 7th Annual Conference of the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED) in 2014, and has regularly participated at the Festival of Science at Al-Quds University as well as numerous workshops in the field of environment and water. Panel 1 Women and water governance in the MENA 21

22 Panel 2 Gender equity in sustainable agriculture and food production Dr Roula Khadra Senior Researcher / International Officer, Land & Water Resources Management, CIHEAM-Bari, Italy Dr Roula Khadra is an International Officer, Senior Researcher and Lecturer at CIHEAM-Bari, a rural engineer with a MSc in Land and Water Resources Management, a PhD in Mediterranean Agriculture, and a Fulbright Post-Doc Fellow at UC Davis (2008). She is the author of several scientific papers and reports, and her main research integrates rehabilitation and modernization of large-scale irrigation systems tailored to the needs of Mediterranean countries, with a main focus on the waterenergy nexus, technology development and transfer, institutional capacity building and governance. This includes: strategic planning, modelling, preparation of national participatory irrigation management and transfer programmes, development of integrated technological and management solutions and DSS for irrigation and water distribution, Monitoring and Evaluation systems and dissemination, and outreach frameworks design and implementation. Dr Khadra has been involved in many research and cooperation projects, working intensively in the last 15 years in the Mediterranean Region to establish stable partnerships for Research and Innovation, comprising an active membership as CIHEAM representative in CMI-Water hub, and as a CIHEAM-Bari representative at the Arab Water Council board of delegates. Wafaa Al Dika Hamze Former Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, CIHEAM Board Member, National Commission for Lebanese Women, Agriculture and Rural Development Specialist, Lebanon Wafaa Al-Dikah Hamzé is currently a Senior Adviser for International Cooperation in Agricultural and Rural Development for FAO and donor countries programmes with the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture. She is also CIHEAM Board Member as official delegate of Lebanon since March She has been working as Independent Senior Consultant in gender equality, sustainable and rural development, and sustainable development agenda 2030 (SDGs) through programs implemented by UN and League of Arab States (2015-Present). In October 2004, she was Appointed as the first female Minister for Parliamentary Affairs in the Lebanese Cabinet (as one of the first two Lebanese women to be appointed as a Minister in the history of Lebanon). Ms Al-Dikah has previously held several senior level official responsibilities in the Lebanese public sector as Adviser for international cooperation, policy formulation and cooperatives development ( , 2013); in UN and international organizations, serving as Regional Adviser for Gender Equality and Women Advancement at UN- ESCWA ( ); and with EU, IFAD, and World Bank programmes, in addition to coordinating and designing FAO programs in Lebanon in her proactive role in establishing and leading the FAO National Committee ( ). She was elected as a member of the National Commission for Lebanese Women s Executive Board ( and ) and was promoted to Vice President of the Commission 22

23 Panel 2 Speakers in May She also contributed to establishing the Arab Women Organization under the umbrella of the League of Arab States. She is Founder and Director of the National Observatory for Women in Agriculture and Rural Areas (NOWARA), a leading initiative in Lebanon that aims to enhance the socio-economic status of Lebanese women in the agricultural, food and rural fields. She has been awarded the Lebanese National Order of the Cedars Commander (2015), and the Italian National Order Cavalier. She obtained her BSc degree in Agriculture (1996) and a MSc in Crop Production (1988) from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at American University of Beirut. Laurent Debroux Program Coordinator for AG, ENV, NRM and Climate Change, The World Bank, Lebanon Laurent Debroux coordinates the World Bank s Agriculture and Environment program in the Mashreq countries. Before starting this new assignment last July, Laurent fulfilled similar responsibilities with the World Bank in Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Laurent holds a PhD in Forest Management from the University of Liège, Belgium, and an Associate Degree from the University of Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium. Wafaa Ramadneh Programme Officer Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition, FAO Jordan Wafaa Ramadneh is a Programme Officer at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in the Jordan office. She assists the FAO Representative in programmes related tasks, the development of country programming framework and United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF), supports project managers in the implementation of projects, assists in the identification, formulation and preparation of programme and project proposals, coordinates budget and funding related activities, ensures appropriate recording and administrative process of requests and inputs, assists in promoting the image of FAO through advocacy of the Organization s mandate, supports the mandate of the organization within the sustainable development goals and is the gender focal point for the organization in Jordan. Wafaa s previous role with the Ministry of Agriculture in the international cooperation and as a field veterinarian provided her with the experience to manage programmes in relation with relevant partners. She has published different scientific articles in her technical background as a veterinarian. Wafaa holds a Master s degree in infectious diseases in veterinary medicine and a Bachelor s degree in veterinary medicine. Panel 2 Gender equity in sustainable agriculture and food production 23

24 Panel 2 Speakers Juan Antonio Sagardoy Former FAO Officer, International Consultant, Co-author of Passport to mainstreaming gender in water programmes, Spain Juan Antonio Sagardoy is an Irrigation Engineer born in Madrid (Spain) and resident in Rome (Italy). He has more than 50 years of professional experience and worked in more than 50 countries of Latin America, Asia and the Mediterranean Region. He worked for 30 years with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as Program Leader of the Water Management Section during the last 10 years. He worked 2 years with the European Commission (DG I and DG VIII) in Brussels as Senior Technical Administrator responsible for water resources development programmes in several countries of Asia and worked 18 years (from 2000 to 2018) as an independent consultant working for the following international organizations: WB, FAO, WMO, UNDP, IDB, USAID, CIHEAM. Juan Antonio Sagardoy s main areas of expertise include national programmes aimed at transfer of irrigation management responsibilities to water user organizations including institutional, management of irrigation systems, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems and water pricing issues; gender issues in relation to water management and rural development (he was Project Manager of a large EC project (GEWAMED) for gender mainstreaming in the water resources in the Mediterranean Countries, has acted as gender consultant for several projects and organizations including USAID, CIHEAM) and co-authored the FAO publication Passport to Mainstreaming Gender in Water Programs: key questions for interventions in the agriculture sector. He has published more than 75 books, conference papers, research papers and other technical documents Dr Souha Gamri Water Irrigation Systems, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat), Tunis Dr Souha Gamri is specialised in water scarcity issues and challenges, especially in developing countries, and has developed a particular interest for wastewater reuse for irrigation. She is particularly interested in the multidisciplinary dimensions of this practice (technical, social and economic). In this context, she has carried out a study to evaluate wastewater reuse potential in the central regions of Tunisia and conducted a technical study and an economic evaluation of an irrigation project using wastewater. Souha took the opportunity of a PhD program to focus on specific technical issues related to drip irrigation systems (clogging problems associated with the use of wastewater). This problem is a major constraint that reduces irrigation performance and results in additional costs to farmers, and which has to be solved to allow wastewater reuse development. Since her PhD graduation, Dr Gamri has been engaged in research and innovation related to the water sector as a young Arab leader in her field determined to meet the challenges of water resource management in the MENA region. 24 Panel 2 Gender equity in sustainable agriculture and food production

25 Panel 3 Building youth capacity to address water scarcity challenges in the Arab water sector through entrepreneurship and social enterprise Montgomery Simus Co-Founder AquaShares Inc; Senior Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative ; Board Member, Bayat Foundation (Afghanistan), United States Montgomery Simus is a graduate of Yale University (Bachelor of Arts, Environmental History) and Harvard (Master in Public Policy, International Development). He serves on the Board of the Bayat Foundation, Afghanistan s largest private philanthropic organization, and is the Co-Founder of AquaShares Incorporated, a California-based company that has pioneered the world s first online water savings market platform to help water agencies replenish local supplies by empowering farms, firms, and families to trade the water they save. Mr Simus also leads the private equity and impact investments of a US$250M frontier market-focused fund with offices in Afghanistan, India, United Arab Emirates, and the USA. In , Mr Simus served as an Advanced Leadership Senior Fellow at Harvard University, analysing issues arising from the complex nexus between water, energy, and food, and he is currently working in partnership with Harvard University s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences to complete research on boosting water security, alleviating poverty, and stimulating inclusive growth in developing / emerging countries. A frequent writer and speaker on issues of freshwater scarcity, the linkages between water and energy, and the application of technology to conservation ( networked nature ), Mr Simus when not working to restore Afghanistan s troubled Kabul River or structuring, growing and optimizing businesses in some of the world s most challenging frontier markets works from a water-scarce base in Las Vegas with his wife and son. Dr Amal Talbi Lead Water Resource Management Specialist, The World Bank, Lebanon Amal Talbi-Jordan, PhD is a Lead Water Resource Management Specialist at the World Bank. Dr Talbi-Jordan has over 15 years of experience in Water Resources Management and Development, and has worked in Africa, Middle East North Africa, and South Asia. Prior to joining the World Bank, Dr Talbi-Jordan completed a PhD in Hydrogeology and qualified as an environmental engineer. She is currently based in Beirut, Lebanon where she focuses on Water Infrastructure, and Management. 25

26 Panel 3 Speakers Lamis Qdemat Social Entrepreneur, Founder of Water Heroes app, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat), Palestine Lamis Qdemat is 26 years old and a social entrepreneur. She has a Master s degree in Water and Environmental Studies from Al Quds University and the Royal Institute of Science and Technology KTH/ Sweden. She is a MedYWat Coordinator and Communication Team Member (CMI / World Bank Platform), a Global Shapers Member (Ramallah Hub), the CEO and Founder of the Water Heroes Game, and a GIS Consultant with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). 26 Panel 3 Building youth capacity to address water scarcity challenges in the Arab water sector through entrepreneurship and social enterprise

27 AIWF / Center for Mediterranean Integration Conference Programme: Women, Water & Youth September 2018 Amman, Jordan Day Registration & Coffee Networking Opening Session (Prompt start at 0900) PANEL 1 AIWF Founder & Chairman s Keynote Address and An Introduction to Women, Water & Youth Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani Founder & Chairman, Arab International Women s Forum; Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative 2017; Commissioner, ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work Guest of Honour Keynote HE Hala Bseiso Lattouf Minister of Social Development, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Guest of Honour Keynote HE Eng Ali Subah Secretary General, Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Center for Mediterranean Integration Keynote Dr Blanca Moreno-Dodson Manager, Center for Mediterranean Integration, France Guest of Honour Keynote HE Mr Nael Al Kabariti Chairman of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture for Arab Countries and the Chairman of Jordan Chamber of Commerce and Aqaba Chamber of Commerce Guest of Honour Keynote Professor Fadia Kiwan Director General, Arab Women Organization, Egypt Women and water governance in the MENA Laws and regulations regarding water governance in MENA countries focus on the efficient use of water resources in order to protect water quality and conserve quantity, but do not make sufficient provision for the input or protection of women and citizens generally in decision-making on water governance, especially rural women or women working in the informal water economies. Women s involvement in managing water resources, with a focus on activism and awareness-raising through entrepreneurial ventures, could directly improve effectiveness and impact of water sustainability initiatives, informing community, corporate and government attitudes, behaviours and beliefs. This session explores the importance of entrepreneurship and economic diversification to directly address the water scarcity crisis and strengthen 27

28 the role of women in water governance in the MENA region. The session will examine multi-stakeholder frameworks and initiatives as well as private sector projects and entrepreneurial ventures in water resource governance, the creation of sustainable livelihoods in the water and agricultural sectors, and community-driven infrastructure development in informal water economies. Confirmed Speakers Panel Chair Esther Griffies Weld Associate Banker, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Jordan Susan Kilani Advisor to the Minister of Water and Irrigation of Jordan Lara Nassar Regional SuSanA Coordinator (WANA Region), Bremen Overseas Research and Development Association, Jordan Israa Alassa Deputy Coordinator of the Palestinian Water Authority Youth Committee, Palestine Tea & Coffee Break PANEL 2 Gender equity in sustainable agriculture and food production CIHEAM s Strategic Agenda 2025 covers 15 thematic priorities, which include protecting the planet by struggling against triple waste (sharing knowledge and defending knowhow), managing natural resources and energy (water, soil, forests, energy, and biodiversity), and reducing agricultural losses and food waste. In addition, CIHEAM is committed to inclusive development by investing in new generations and fragile territories through young employment and life-long learning, gender equality and the participation of vulnerable groups. Women in the MENA Region have historically always played an essential role in small-scale subsistence agriculture and pastoralism as well as food production, resource and household management as elsewhere in the world, but their involvement is far more limited in the modern agriculture and agribusiness and even when it takes place, their access to resources and services is highly restricted. According to the International Water Management Institute s January 2018 report on Gender-Equitable Pathways to Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Intensification : Increased gender equity in agriculture is both a practical and a social justice issue: practical because women are responsible for much of the production by smallholders; and social justice because in many cases they currently do not have rights over land and water resources, nor full access to markets, and often they do not even control the crops they produce. Strategies to promote gender equity must be tailored carefully to the social and economic context International Water Management Institute, Gender-Equitable Pathways to Achieving Sustainable Agricultural Intensification (January 2018), p 3

29 This session examines community-driven strategies to promote gender equity in the sustainable agriculture, water management and food production sectors to create more holistic, cost-effective and genderneutral infrastructure in the water economies. The session will discuss the roles and responsibilities of men and women in small- and large-scale agriculture and food production in the MENA region, a sector in which women often lack legislative or regulatory protection of their land or water resource rights or access to markets. Panellists will explore how best to improve gender equal access to support networks, technology, credit, information, education and training, in order to engage more women in the sector, strengthen their voices in collective action and decision making at the highest levels, and create employment generation for sustainable sectoral growth. Confirmed Speakers Panel Chair Dr Roula Khadra Senior Researcher / International Officer, Land & Water Resources Management, CIHEAM-Bari, Italy Wafaa Al Dika Hamze Former Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, CIHEAM Board Member, National Commission for Lebanese Women, Agriculture and Rural Development Specialist, Lebanon Laurent Debroux Program Coordinator for AG, ENV, NRM and Climate Change, The World Bank, Lebanon Wafaa Ramadneh Programme Officer Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition, FAO Jordan Juan Antonio Sagardoy Former FAO Officer, International Consultant, Coauthor of Passport to mainstreaming gender in water programmes, Spain Dr Souha Gamri PhD Water Irrigation Systems, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat), Tunisia Buffet Lunch & Networking PANEL 3 Building youth capacity to address water scarcity challenges in the Arab water sector through entrepreneurship and social enterprise This unique session engages young entrepreneurs at different stages of their ventures (successful, challenged and start-up / early stages of development) together with key stakeholders (government, private sector actors and civil society organisations) in frank and outcome-based dialogue on the current status of support provided to youth innovators addressing critical water scarcity challenges through entrepreneurship and social enterprise. It will showcase success and failure stories and explore key learnings from both, endeavouring to produce viable recommendations on how the dual challenges of youth unemployment and water scarcity in the Arab world might be addressed by equipping young people with the skills, training, investment and access to directly address environmental and sustainability challenges by 29

30 starting new ventures and social enterprises or by initiating new sustainability projects or campaigns that not only facilitate development of infrastructure but also provide income and training opportunities for rural women. Confirmed Speakers Networking Break PANEL 4 Panel Chair Montgomery Simus Co-Founder AquaShares Inc, Senior Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative , Board Member, Bayat Foundation (Afghanistan), United States Amal Talbi Lead Water Resource Management Specialist, The World Bank, Lebanon Lamis Qdemat Social Entrepreneur, Founder of Water Heroes app, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat), Palestine Building capacity for women and youth in the Arab water sector through smart technology and edtech innovation This session calls for increased co-operation and innovation between international, regional and local actors, Arab governments, the private sector, and civil society organisations, to first attract young people to the water and sustainability sectors and then dynamically build their capacities through sustained investment in training and education. The session examines how women and young people s capacity can be developed and matured with key skills, finance and access to support networks, but also looking beyond traditional education formats into social and cultural community-building using the power and influence of storytelling, harnessing new technologies, smart farming technologies, and digital innovation (including apps, MOOCs and other innovative online education technology platforms) to benefit women and youth in the rural and informal water economies. The session will also ask how technology and the development of smart farming infrastructure can build capacity and create much-needed jobs for young people and examine how technology can be used to empower women and girls in rural communities by facilitating access to education and vocational skills. Confirmed Speakers Panel Chair Reem Nejdawi Executive Director, ESCWA Technology Centre, Lebanon Dr Rana Dajani Rita Hauser Fellow, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University; Associate Professor Molecular Cell Biology, Biology Department, Hashemite University; Founder of We Love Reading, Jordan Dr Aida Al Awar PhD Environmental Sciences ( Funding intervention projects in the water and sanitation aid sector: Success by Design ), Imperial College London, United Kingdom 30

31 Dr Lahbib Latrach Founder & CEO of Green WATECH, young water entrepreneur and winner of the CMI 2018 Water Heroes Contest, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat) Heroes contest, Morocco Speakers & Partners Evening Networking Reception and Women & Water show led by women storytellers from the Maghreb region (winners of the CMI Water Heroes Contest) Day Registration, Coffee & Networking Opening Session (Day 2) PANEL 5 Founder Chairman s Welcome & Summary of Day 1 Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani Founder & Chairman, Arab International Women s Forum; Fellow, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative 2017; Commissioner, ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work Guest of Honour Opening Keynote Dr Fares Braizat Chairman, NAMA Strategic Intelligence Solutions, Jordan Guest of Honour Opening Keynote Tessa Terpstra MENA Regional Envoy for Water and Energy Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Jordan Impact of water scarcity in the MENA refugee and internal displacement crisis Armed conflict in Syria, Libya, Iraq and Yemen and the resulting refugee and internal displacement crises have created unprecedented strain on land and water resources in many Arab States, as well as on the infrastructure and resources of receiving countries such as Jordan, the second largest refugeehosting country in the world when compared to the size of its population, according to UNHCR. This session brings together leaders in public service and global advocacy to discuss the impact that the refugee crisis in the MENA region has had on water scarcity, food insecurity and future environmental stability in the region, and to provide insight into how these challenges can be overcome or mitigated through multi-level engagement and dialogue. Confirmed Speakers Panel Chair Patrick Daru Senior Skills and Employability Specialist & Coordinator for Amman Decent Work Country Programme, International Labour Organization, Jordan Dr Samuel Rizk Manager, Sub-Regional Response Facility (Syria Crisis), United Nations Development Programme, Jordan Kholoud Al Ajarma Programs Manager Lajee oon Center, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat), Palestine 31

32 Dr Fawwaz Ayoub Momani Associate Professor of Psychological Couselling, Director of the Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration Studies Centre, Yarmouk University, Jordan PANEL 6 Reflections on water scarcity, sustainability, environmental and development challenges in the MENA region This unique session will invite women leaders and young innovators to share reflections of leadership and common motivating factors as well as differentiating challenges in launching initiatives, projects and campaigns that directly address water scarcity, sustainability, food security, environmental and social development challenges in the MENA region. This session recognises leadership and innovation in addressing critical sustainability challenges and highlights the essential role that women and young people play in the development of sustainable approaches to natural resource management, stressing the need for women and young people to participate in environmental and sustainability decision-making at all levels. Confirmed Speakers Panel Chair Asma Bachikh Former President, World Youth Parliament for Water, Morocco Dr Janette Uhlmann Senior Operations Officer, Center for Mediterranean Integration, France Malak Issa Acting Head of Design Review Section / Technical Affairs Directorate, Palestinian Water Authority, Palestine Dr Hussam Hussein Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Kassel (Germany), Vice-Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Water Network, Jordan Maha Al Salehi Water professional (EMWIS, MedYWat Member) and Youth Activist, Yemen Closing Remarks delivered by Rania Rizk, AIWF Co-Chairman and Senior Vice President & General Counsel AMEA, PepsiCo Post-Conference Networking and Refreshments 32

33 Panel 4 Building capacity for women and youth in the Arab water sector through smart technology and edtech innovation Reem Nejdawi Executive Director, ESCWA Technology Center, Lebanon Reem Nejdawi works for the UN-Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) as the Executive Director of ESCWA Technology Centre, in Amman, Jordan and for over six years as the Chief of Food and Environment Policies Section in Beirut, Lebanon. She is a regional sustainable development and poverty alleviation expert. She has over twenty years of professional experience with established track record in supporting regional sustainable development policies and strategies particularly on issues related to food security, agriculture, environment, rural and women development and SME/microfinance programmes with special emphasis on green practices in the Arab Region. Reem Nejdawi has co-authored a number of reports and publications on various development issues, including on sustainable development, green technologies, and food security in Arab countries. Prior to joining ESCWA, she held various positions with NGOs, and social businesses working on areas related to small business services, rural development, and gender issues. She holds a Master s degree in International Trade from Eastern Michigan University, USA. Dr Rana Dajani Rita Hauser Fellow, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University; Associate Professor Molecular Cell Biology, Biology Department, Hashemite University; Founder of We Love Reading, Jordan Rana Dajani has a PhD in molecular cell biology, is a Harvard Radcliff Fellow, a Fulbrighter, Eisenhower Fellow, Associate Professor and Former Center of Studies Director, Hashemite University, Jordan, and a Yale and Cambridge visiting professor. She is a world expert on genetics of Circassian and Chechan populations in Jordan. Dr Dajani established stem cell research ethics law in Jordan and is an advocate for biological evolution and Islam. She has been a speaker at McGill University and MIT. She is Jordan team leader in studying refugee youth with Yale University and the epigenetics of trauma across generations. Dr Dajani is a higher education reform expert and a member of the UN Women Jordan Advisory Council. Dr Dajani received the King Hussein Cancer Institute for Cancer and Biotechnology Award 2009 and 2016 Global Changemaker Award IIE/Fulbright. Dr Dajani has developed a communitybased platform We Love Reading to encourage children to read for pleasure. She received the Synergos Arab World Social Innovators 2009, WISE Award 2014, King Hussein Medal of Honor 2014, IDEO.org best refugee education program 2015, the UNESCO International Literacy Prize 2017, and the World Literacy Council Award

34 Panel 4 Speakers Dr Aida Al Awar PhD Environmental Sciences ( Funding intervention projects in the water and sanitation aid sector: Success by Design ), Imperial College London, United Kingdom Dr Aida Al Awar is an Environmental Scientist who works on water resource management issues to increase availability and access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Aida recently graduated with a PhD from Imperial College London. Her research explored the application of a Needs Based Assessment to aid funding for water and sanitation projects, using Sub-Saharan Africa as a case study. Aida is passionate about her work and has chosen to concentrate her energy on development. Her project on the reuse of treated wastewater effluent for irrigation in water-stressed countries was driven by Aida s determination to find ways to increase water availability, particularly in the MENA region. Aida is a dual national (British-Lebanese) and has split her time between the UK and Lebanon. She is driven and focused on aiding countries and communities fulfil their potential. Aida has a minor in Public Health and a Teaching Diploma, achieved during her undergraduate studies in Lebanon. Aida holds a PhD and MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London, and a BSc in Environmental Health from the American University of Beirut. Dr Lahbib Latrach Founder & CEO of Green WATECH, young water entrepreneur and winner of the CMI 2018 Water Heroes Contest, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat) Heroes contest, Morocco Dr Lahbib Latrach is the Founder & CEO of Green WATECH social enterprise, a research scientist and an inventor. He has worked as a Researcher at the National Center for Studies and researches Water and Energy (Morocco), having graduated from the University of Cadi Ayyad with a PhD in Environment and Water. He trained on Water and Wastewater Management at the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, Shimane University (Japan). From 2013 to 2016, Dr Lahbib worked as an expert consultant at the International Institute for Water and Sanitation, where he was a member of international initiatives and cooperation projects with international organisms like USAID and JICA. In 2017, Dr Lahbib invented a new wastewater treatment technology called Multi-Soil-Layering system, which offers a new practical solution for wastewater management in unsewered communities in African and developing countries. Dr Lahbib has also contributed to the organization of more than 10 international conferences and workshops, and he is published in several scientific articles in the field of water and sanitation. In reconnaissance of his excellent entrepreneurship achievement, Dr Lahbib has received numerous awards around the world in Africa, Asia and in Europe. Recently, Dr Lahbib won the Mediterranean Water Heroes contest 2018 given by the Center for Mediterranean Integration, and the Green Africa Innovation Booster 2018 given by the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies. In 2018, Dr Lahbib was nominated as the Ambassador of the Next Einstein Forum in Morocco, an African initiative connecting science to humanity. 34 Panel 4 Building capacity for women and youth in the Arab water sector through smart technology and edtech innovation

35 Day Two 27 September 2018 Panel 5 Impact of water scarcity in the MENA refugee and internal displacement crisis Patrick Daru Senior Skills and Employability Specialist & Coordinator for Amman Decent Work Country Programme, International Labour Organization, Jordan Patrick Daru is the International Labour Organization Senior Skills and Employability Specialist for the Regional Office for Arab States since He previously managed the largest ILO project on youth employment in the Asia-Pacific region (in Eastern Indonesia). In the early 2000s, he managed two ILO regional projects on forced labour in South Asia and child labour in Eastern Europe, aiming at increasing the capabilities of at-risk populations. For 10 years before joining the ILO, he managed large scale projects related to forced displacement issues in Bosnia, Rwanda and the Russian Federation, with a strong focus on skills development. He has contributed to and coordinated the publication of numerous ILO research papers and manuals. Dr Samuel Rizk Manager, Arab States Sub-Regional Response Facility (Syria Crisis), United Nations Development Programme, Jordan Samuel Rizk is the Manager of the UNDP Arab States Sub-regional Response Facility (SRF). Previously he was Country Director for the United Nations Development Programme in Syria (July 2015-October 2017). From 2012 to 2015 he served as Senior Programme Advisor with the Regional Bureau for Arab States at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in New York. Previously he served as Peace and Development Advisor with UNDP in Sudan and prior to that as Conflict Prevention Advisor with UNDP Yemen. Living in Lebanon from 2002 to 2006, Samuel was a founding member and executive director of the Forum for Development, Culture and Dialogue - a regional NGO based in Beirut, working on issues of conflict resolution, community empowerment and interfaith relations in the Arab world. During that time, he helped establish and lead the Arab Partnership for Conflict Prevention and Human Security and coordinated its work in relation to the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC). Previous experience includes working with the Middle East Council of Churches in Egypt and Lebanon on issues of justice, peace and human rights, as well as with the Ibn Khaldoun Center for Development Studies in Cairo as editor-in-chief of the center s English-language newsletter Civil Society and Democratization in the Arab World. Samuel taught courses on Strategic Peacebuilding; Conflict Transformation Theory; and Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University s Center for Justice and Peacebuilding (Virginia, USA). His op-eds have appeared in the Hill, the Baltimore Sun, Search for Common Ground s CGNews, the Cordoba Initiative, and his academic writing and book reviews can be found in the series of Occasional Papers at Georgetown University s Center for Muslim Christian Understanding (where he was visiting researcher in ), Journal of Peace Education, and Journal of Peace and Change. Samuel Rizk holds a PhD in conflict analysis and resolution from the School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution (S-CAR) at George Mason University (2012) where his research focused on social capital and social relations in Egypt and the Middle East and their conflict preventive qualities during times of transition and instability. He holds an MA in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo (Cairo, Egypt, 2003) and a BA in Political Science from Hanover College (Indiana, USA, 1995). 35

36 Panel 5 Speakers Dr Fawwaz Ayoub Momani Associate Professor of Psychological Counseling, Director of the Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration Studies Centre, Yarmouk University, Jordan Dr Fawwaz Ayoub Momani is an Associate Professor of Psychological Counseling and the Director of the Refugees, Displaced Persons, and Forced Migration Studies Centre at Yarmouk University in Jordan. He has expertise in forced migration and has authored many distinguished publications in this field. He is a member of the T20 Task Force on Forced Migration and worked with an international team for preparing education needs in the context of forced migration, launched in Berlin and delivered by Chancellor Angela Merkel to the Summit of the G20. Dr Momani has participated in many international conferences and has several running grants with many international funding agencies for implementing projects related to refugees and host communities. Dr Momani has published twenty seven papers, including: Challenges of Refugees Education and Conflicting Priorities: Case of Syrian Refugees in Jordan (2017); Post-traumatic stress disorder among children of refugees Syrians disorder in Zaatari refugee camp (2017); and The predictive factors of psychological distress among Syrian refugees (2016). Kholoud Al Ajarma Programs Manager Lajee Center, Member of the Mediterranean Youth for Water Network (MedYWat), Palestine Kholoud Al-Ajarma is a Palestinian award-winning photographer, film-maker, and human right s advocate. She is a graduate of Media Studies, International Peace and Conflict Studies (MA) and Anthropology and Development Studies (Mphil). Al-Ajarma has various experiences developing and leading programs and projects for youth, women, and children in refugee communities mainly in Palestine. She has worked in the field of refugee and diaspora studies, international migration, gender studies, human rights, visual culture, knowledge production, and environmental justice in the MENA region, Europe and Latin America. In 2018, she was a winner of the Second Mediterranean Water Heroes Contest in recognition for her work in finding nature-based solutions to environmental needs of refugee communities in Palestine. Today, Al-Ajarma is completing her PhD studies in the fields of Anthropology and Comparative Study of Religion at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, in addition to her work developing innovative platforms for active youth participation within human rights research, media, conflict resolution, and environmental justice with refugee communities and youth-led organizations in Palestine and the region. 36 Panel 5 Impact of water scarcity in the MENA refugee and internal displacement crisis

37 Panel 6 Reflections on water scarcity, sustainability, environmental and development challenges in the MENA region Asma Bachikh Former President, World Youth Parliament for Water, Morocco Asma Bachikh, originally from Morocco, holds a Masters of Law in International Relations and Politics from Peking University and a graduate degree in International Commerce. In April 2015, Asma was elected as President of the World Youth Parliament, which advocates for youth participation in decision making in the water sector. Asma has worked in international organisations across a variety of sectors, from developing quality education in Sub-Saharan Africa to freedom of speech and media in the MENA region. However, she found her true passion in the water sector, and is currently a consultant for leading water institutions, focusing on developing their youth strategies. Asma has participated in the organization of multiple international water events including the world water forum in Brasília in 2018 where she was designated as the focal point for the planning and organization of youth activities. She is also pursuing a Masters of Science in Water Science Policy and Management at the University of Oxford. Dr Janette Uhlmann Senior Operations Officer, Center for Mediterranean Integration, France Janette Uhlmann is the Senior Operations Officer of the Center for Mediterranean Integration since December She currently leads the Mediterranean Water Knowledge and CMI Refugees and Host Communities program. Prior to this assignment, Janette worked as Senior Country Officer in the Middle East Department, and Central Africa Department at the World Bank for 6 years. Janette started her career with the German Technical Cooperation on a regional program promoting good governance in North Africa. Janette holds an MA in International Relations and completed a Postgraduate Program in International Affairs with a focus on the Middle East. Her PhD in International Comparative Politics discussed tradeoffs for European donors in Algeria s democratic transition process. 37

38 Panel 6 Speakers Malak Issa Acting Head of Design Review Section / Technical Affairs Directorate, Palestinian Water Authority, Palestine Engineer Malak Issa is the Acting Head of Design Review Section / Technical Affairs Directorate for the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA). Her role involves design review of water and wastewater projects; she is a Variation Orders Committee Member; a Projects Handover Committee Member; and a Member of the Steering Committee of The Palestinian Higher Green Building Council. Ms Issa has a BSc in Civil Engineering (structural design of buildings and tanks in WWTP, 2012), and a MSc in Water and Environmental Engineering (assessment of pollutants transport from surface to groundwater with Al-Faria Area as a case study on defining protection zones, 2016) from An-Najah National University. She has participated in the 8th World Water Forum as a speaker in Brazil on natural and engineered hydrological systems and on integrated solutions to avoid conflicts and facilitate cooperation among users (2018), worked previously at BTC as consultant (GIS expert) and participated in the Engineering Fellows Program implemented by Global Communities and EAJC under LGI program. Ms Issa is also a Member of the Middle East Environmental Leadership Program. Dr Hussam Hussein Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Kassel (Germany) and Vice-Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Water Network, Jordan Dr Hussam Hussein obtained his PhD degree from the School of International Development, University of East Anglia Norwich, UK. His PhD thesis investigated the discourse of water scarcity in the case of Jordan, and its impacts on transboundary water governance. After his PhD, Dr Hussein worked as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB), investigating hydropolitics in the Levant region. His research focuses on the role of discourses in shaping water policies in the Middle East, on transboundary water governance and critical hydropolitics, and on issues related to the political economy of water resources in arid and semi-arid regions. His research publications cover the construction of discourses, the role of textbooks in shaping and reproducing perceptions on water scarcity, and critical hydropolitics. Dr Hussein is a Visiting Fellow of the Water Security Research Centre School of International Development of the University of East Anglia (UK), and Vice-Coordinator of the Mediterranean Youth Water Network. Dr Hussein obtained his BA (2007) and MA (2009) in international relations and diplomacy from the University of Trieste Gorizia (Italy), studied Middle Eastern Studies at SOAS, University of London (2006/2007 Erasmus exchange programme), and obtained an MA in Interdisciplinary European Studies from the College of Europe (2010). He also worked for the Italian Embassy in Amman (Jordan, 2008), European Parliament (Belgium, 2009), and for the International Finance Corporation World Bank (USA, ). 38 Panel 6 Reflections on water scarcity, sustainability, environmental and development challenges in the MENA region

39 Panel 6 Speakers Maha Al Salehi Water professional (EMWIS, MedYWat Member) and Youth Activist, Yemen Maha is very passionate about development work; both environmental (such as sustainability and eco-innovation) and socio-political (such as youth empowerment, promoting women rights, and international relations). Currently, she is a project and communication manager at the Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector (EMWIS). At EMWIS, she works on several innovative research projects co-funded by the European Commission tackling issues related to water & climate change. She is also a team member of The Mediterranean Youth for Water network (MedYWat). In parallel, Maha has been active in addressing the humanitarian crisis that Yemen has been through via advocacy campaigns and events, such as Shughel Shabab campaign which focuses on the positive role of Youth in Peacebuilding related to UNSCR2250 (in partnership with UNESCO and UNDP) and Youth4Peace network. Panel 6 Reflections on water scarcity, sustainability, environmental and development challenges in the MENA region 39

40 Closing remarks delivered by Rania Rizk AIWF Co-Chairman and Senior Vice President & General Counsel, PepsiCo AMEA Rania Rizk is Senior Vice President and General Counsel for PepsiCo s, Asia, Middle East & North Africa (AMENA) Sector. In this role, to which she was appointed in 2015, Ms Rizk is responsible for all legal aspects of PepsiCo s vast portfolio of food, beverage and nutrition businesses across the AMENA sector. Prior to this role she was the Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel for Middle East & Africa (MEA) region at PepsiCo responsible for all legal aspects of PepsiCo s business in the region, a role she assumed in From 2005 to 2008, Ms Rizk was Head of Legal for PepsiCo s GCC and North Africa Business Units. Personally committed to functional excellence and the role of legal as business partner, Ms Rizk leads a strong and talented team of lawyers and paralegals based in twelve countries across the AMENA sector. She has played a pivotal role in shaping the Performance with Purpose strategy for PepsiCo s MEA region and has been executive sponsor of the diversity & inclusion agenda in the region. Prior to joining PepsiCo, Ms Rizk was in private practice in the US and Egypt from 1996 to She headed Legal Services for Andersen and Ernst & Young in the Middle East from and was a Visiting Lecturer at Cairo University Faculty of Law from Ms Rizk is a member of the Dubai Businesswomen s Council, a former member of the board of the American Business Council, and Co-Chairman and a member of the Board of the Arab International Women s Forum (AIWF). She holds a Juris Doctor (JD) degree with specialization in International Business Transactions from George Mason University School of Law (1996) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in International Relations from Boston University. 40

41 A leading development organisation for women and youth in the MENA region and internationally The Arab International Women s Forum (AIWF) is a non-profit development organisation that has members and contacts in more than 45 countries and links Arab business and thought leaders with each other and their counterparts in the international community to exchange knowledge, experience and develop their business potential. Founded in London in 2001, AIWF is today recognised in the international development community as a powerful advocate for women in business, entrepreneurship, academia and public service. AIWF s growing role to promote and advance legislative rights for the participation of Arab women has been distinguished by collaboration with, among others, the League of Arab States, the European Commission and European Parliament, UN organisations and agencies, the MENA-OECD Investment Programme, women s business councils in the Arab States, the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, International Chambers of Commerce and globally recognised institutes of higher and further education. International conferences have been held in London, Paris, Dubai, Doha, Damascus, Washington DC, Madrid, Brussels, Sharjah, Cairo, Amman, Beirut, Palestine, Kuwait and Morocco, examining strategies for job creation, inclusive sustainable growth, economic competitiveness, development of human capital, increased innovation and collaboration through public-private partnership and multi-stakeholder engagement and dialogue. AIWF s keystone initiative, the Young Arab Women Leaders Conference Series launched in 2011 by AIWF in partnership with Global Partner PwC, provides a platform for young aspiring Arab women to support, engage and network with mentors in political, economic and social leadership roles in the Arab world. AIWF is also pleased to partner with the International Bar Association Legal Practice Division (IBA/LPD) Initiative for Women Business Lawyers to develop and support women in commercial law in the Arab region and advance gender diversity in law and the professions. Supported fully by a global network of partners, the Arab International Women s Forum continues to build on its core mission and momentum to achieve sustainable empowerment for women and youth, and to champion a concerted drive at the highest levels to advance gender equality in the Arab world. 41

42 CMI is all about partnership for actionable knowledge The Center for Mediterranean Integration (CMI) is a multi-partner platform where development agencies, Governments, local authorities and civil society from around the Mediterranean convene in order to exchange knowledge, discuss public policies, and identify the solutions needed to address key challenges facing the Mediterranean region, thus furthering the Mediterranean public good debate. Members of the CMI include Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority, Tunisia, Provence-Alpes-Côte d Azur Region, City of Marseille, the European Investment Bank and the World Bank Group, and the European External Action Service (EEAS) as an observer. The CMI nurtures strong partnerships with a variety of institutions, among which: Agence Française de Développement (AFD), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Anna Lindh Foundation, Union for the Mediterranean (UFM), Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and others. Full list of partners on: By acting as a center for technical excellence that links knowledge to operations and reforms on the ground, the CMI complements the work of the Union for the Mediterranean, Mediterranean research institutes, and other regional partners. Strategic orientations Under the overarching umbrella and unifying theme of Mediterranean integration for development, the programs of the CMI are structured around three interrelated dimensions: Creating Economic Opportunities, Promoting Inclusiveness, and Empowering the Population, with an additional cross-cutting dimension of security and development. Focus on youth and water The CMI places youth and gender at the center of its work by adopting youth and gender as cross-cutting themes. CMI themes systematically integrate youth and gender components, as part of the Empowering the Population dimension, and also in connection with the refugees and water agendas. In this context, the CMI Water Program aims at to preventing water scarcity and supporting adaptation to and mitigation of climate change effects in the Mediterranean by providing capacity-building and green entrepreneurship opportunities (targeting youth) revolving around water, as a way to leverage untapped potential in the region with positive socioeconomic and environmental outcomes. Web: Facebook: CMI Marseille; 42

43 Conference Supporting Partner Union of Arab Chambers The Union of Arab Chambers, established in 1951, is an independent non-governmental, nonprofit regional legal entity with Beirut as the residence of the General Secretariat. The Union raises awareness of the importance of Arab business and regional cooperation to advance the Arab Economic Development and was the first Arab economic institution to work at the non-governmental level to promote the idea of economic cooperation and integration among the Arab Countries. The Union has played an important role in promoting trade cooperation between the Arab Countries in commerce and investment. The Union was the first to call for the foundation of the Common Arab Market and to develop general principles to achieve economic unity between the Arab Countries. The Union is considered to be the legitimate representative of the Arab private sector and its objectives are as follows: First: Achieving Arab economic integration within a comprehensive, effective and developed framework to cooperate with other economic blocs on an equal basis that guarantees the interests of all parties and contributes to global prosperity; Second: Representing all economic sectors on Arab, regional and International levels from the perspective of the Arab private sector, to coordinate and develop their positions towards various economic issues and policies and support their role in developing and integrating their national economies. Third: Enhancing the role of member chambers and their federations as representatives of business and private sector societies in their countries, and supporting their intellectual and administrative bodies and their technical and informational capacities to perform this role to the fullest extent; coordinating their opinions and positions at the regional and international economic bodies in addition to supporting specific efforts, projects and economic organizations whose activities serve the objectives of the Union. Fourthly: Increasing efficiency and effectiveness of programs, plans and development efforts in the Arab countries by providing adequate employment opportunities in addition to employing the pillars of market economy based on the freedom of competition, preventing monopolistic practices and ensuring equal opportunities in order to achieve social justice and balance which contributes in the process of launching production capacities and creation capabilities, and the optimal employment of technical developments when opening markets and attracting investments. Fifth: Striving to establish and develop the integrated developing partnership among the Arab countries on the one hand and fair participation of all society groups and sectors in developing efforts within each country on the other hand because of the positive and direct implications for peace, prosperity and stability substantiation in these countries and in the whole world. 43

44 Conference Supporting Partner PepsiCo Our Approach ABOUT PEPSICO PEPSICO HAS A PORTFOLIO OF BILLION DOLLAR BRANDS 22 that generated more than 1$ billion each in estimated annual retail PERFORMANCE WITH PURPOSE is PepsiCo s vision to deliver top-tier products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world. PEPSICO PRODUCTS ARE ENJOYED BY CONSUMERS MORE THAN 1 times a day. BILLION OUR PRODUCTS ARE SOLD IN THERE ARE MORE countries and territories around the world. 260,000 PepsiCo employees worldwide. 44

45 Conference Supporting Partner PwC Middle East PwC Global we bring the world to you PwC is a network of firms with more than 236,235 people operating from 158 countries across the globe, making us the largest professional services provider in the world. We are committed to delivering quality services in Assurance, Tax and Advisory (which includes our Consulting, Deals and Strategy& practices). In doing so we help to build trust in society, enable our clients to make the most of opportunities and solve important business problems. We work with an extremely diverse range of clients, from private individuals and familyowned businesses, to government organizations, right through to the world s most iconic brands. We are the professional services advisor of choice to more of the world s largest companies than any of our competitors. We have an active international mobility program which means our staff are understanding of different working practices and cultures and are well networked across our global firm. We are a market leader when it comes to environmental management, equality and diversity, and the training and development of our staff, and leading publications such as Fortune and The Times consider us to be one of the best companies in the world to work for. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at PwC Middle East you talk, we listen Established in the region for 40 years, PwC employs over 4,600 people and has 23 offices across 12 Middle Eastern countries: Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian territories, and the United Arab Emirates. Complementing our depth of industry expertise and breadth of skills is our extensive knowledge of local business environments across the Middle East region. Every day, our people will work with you to build the value you are looking for. You do the talking, we ll do the listening. Our tailored solutions will help you meet the challenges and opportunities of doing business in the Middle East market and worldwide. Oman will benefit from our global experience as an established, reputable professional services firm and from our boutique approach that centers on the needs of your organization, your people, and project goals. We will work hard to provide a tailored solution that fits your needs. Please see me for further details. PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity. Please see for further details. 45

46 Conference Supporting Partner CIHEAM-Bari We belong to CIHEAM Founded in 1962, the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM) is an intergovernmental organization including 13 Mediterranean member states: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Tunisia and Turkey. Its headquarters are located in Paris. CIHEAM promotes multilateral cooperation in the Mediterranean in the fields of agriculture, food, fishery and rural territories, aiming to respond to the needs of the States and of the agro-food actors. CIHEAM pursues this cooperation mission through specialized training, networked research, scientific diplomacy and political partnership. Thanks to its activities, CIHEAM therefore contributes to the elaboration of a global, structural and engaging vision for development in the Mediterranean. Providing concrete solutions, sharing experiences and promoting useful knowledge are among the main objectives of each one of its actions. Around 175 permanent officials and hundreds of consultants regularly work within the 5 headquarters of the Organization: the 4 Mediterranean Agronomic Institutes (MAI) based in Bari (Italy), Chania (Greece), Montpellier (France) and Zaragoza (Spain), the General Secretariat located in Paris (France). CIHEAM Bari is the Italian operating facility of CIHEAM, and it enjoys the privileges of extra-territoriality attributed to international organizations by the Republic of Italy. The commitment of CIHEAM-Bari toward women s empowerment and gender-related programs dates back to the year 2000 with the organization of the specialized conference on Gender and water resources management in the Mediterranean in Cairo. In 2005 and 2006 CIHEAM-Bari coordinated respectively two EU projects, INGEDI Integration of Gender Dimension in Water Management in the Mediterranean Region and GEWAMED Mainstreaming Gender Dimension in Water Resources Development and Management in the Mediterranean Region and is currently an active partner of the H2020 EU project Gender SMART Science Management of Agriculture and life sciences, including Research and Teaching. Among many other projects funded by the Italian Cooperation, CIHEAM-Bari had promoted in 2008 the establishment in Lebanon of a National Observatory for Women in Agriculture and Rural Areas NOWARA, and launched in 2017 the second phase of GEMAISA Enhancing Gender Mainstreaming for Sustainable Rural Development and Food Security project, building on the success of the first phase that involved Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia and Italy. In line with our Strategic Agenda 2025 which takes the challenge of inclusive development by investing in new generations and fragile territories, CIHEAM-Bari has developed a model to accompany young entrepreneurs in the agro-food sector and is expanding and sharing the experience with the Mediterranean countries through the Mediterranean Innovation Partnership for youth entrepreneurship and technology transfer in the agro-food sector. 46

47 AIWF Global & Institutional Partners The Arab International Women s Forum wishes to acknowledge our Global Partners who share the AIWF mission and whose endorsement, cooperation and participation helps AIWF to activate its agenda for business growth, change and development for women in the MENA region and beyond. AIWF is proud to have the confidence of our Benefactor Partner PepsiCo, and the support and commitment of all Global Partners for our work, on this occasion and on all other initiatives. AIWF Benefactor Partner AIWF Global Platinum Partners AIWF Global Diamond Partners AIWF Institutional Partners AIWF Global Communications Partner 47

48 AIWF Conference Programme Acknowledgments AIWF Conference Programme Acknowledgments The Arab International Women s Forum wishes to extend a special acknowledgment and deep appreciation to the Center for Mediterranean Integration for its valued partnership for the Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region conference in Amman, Jordan. AIWF wishes to acknowledge the World Bank and to express our deepest appreciation for its longstanding partnership and support for AIWF s initiatives and outreach on women s and youth issues in the Arab region and internationally. AIWF also extends its deepest thanks and appreciation to the Union of Arab Chambers for its partnership and valuable support of today s conference. AIWF acknowledges with kind thanks and warm appreciation the special support of AIWF Global Benefactor Partner, PepsiCo, for today s conference and all our work and programmes; AIWF Global Partner PwC for its valued partnership of this important initiative and on all AIWF initiatives over the years; and CIHEAM-Bari for its invaluable support enriching the conference discussions overall. AIWF wishes to convey its deepest appreciation for the valued participation of all our distinguished Guests of Honour Opening Keynote Speakers, our Panel Chairs, and Guest Speakers who have so generously contributed their time, expertise and experience to the deeply engaging and highly valuable panel discussions on Women, Water & Youth: Perspectives from the MENA Region. AIWF also acknowledges the special contribution and commitment of Louise Wayham, Senior Communications & Conference Programming Consultant to AIWF, and Meryem Benslimane, HR, Membership & Events Coordinator at the Arab International Women s Forum, for their dedication and valued efforts in the planning of Women, Water & Youth. 48

49 AIWF: Leading the Way Forward ( ) AIWF Initiatives, Programmes & Activities (commencing with most recent) September 2018: AIWF / CMI Women, Water & Youth Conference held in Amman, Jordan in partnership with the CMI, PepsiCo, PwC and the Union of Arab Chambers, examining critical intersectional development challenges of water scarcity and food security, women s economic participation and youth unemployment. 10 July 2018: AIWF Special Reception held in Beirut, Lebanon in honour of Saroj Kumar Jha, Regional Director of the Mashreq at the World Bank, highlighting key World Bank investment initiatives for Lebanon as announced at the CEDRE Conference in Paris in April December 2017: 10th Young Arab Women Leaders Conference on Women-Led Innovation in STEM held in London at the Royal Academy of Engineering in continued partnership with PwC, with the Royal Academy as Host Partner, and with the valued partnership of the World Bank, PepsiCo and Shell. 19 September 2017: IBA / AIWF Women Business Lawyers Initiative a third and highly successful joint one-day seminar by the IBA and AIWF on Advancing gender equality in law and the professions, held at AIWF Global Partner Boodle Hatfield s London Bankside offices. 24 August 2017: Haifa Al Kaylani appointed a Commissioner of the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work and the only Arab Commissioner to contribute to this valuable ILO Centenary Initiative. July August 2017: AIWF Lead Sponsor of the I AM art exhibition a contemporary East- West art exhibition celebrating the role of Middle Eastern women as dynamic individuals and guardians of peace, following its successful premiere at the National Gallery of Fine Arts in Amman, Jordan. 18 April 2017: 9th Young Arab Women Leaders Conference held in Morocco with the valued support of PepsiCo and in continued partnership with PwC Middle East, examining opportunities for Moroccan women in agribusiness, digital entrepreneurship and public life April 2017: AIWF Special Visit to Morocco provided a unique 5-day networking and business exchange opportunity, bringing business women leaders from the UK, Europe and the MENA region together with women leaders in Morocco. 15 January 2017: Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani becomes a Fellow of the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative for 2017 joining 45 global leaders on an intensive, multidisciplinary, yearlong Fellowship at Harvard University to research and address significant societal problems October 2016: 8th Young Arab Women Leaders: The Voice of the Future Conference in Kuwait was held on 20 October 2016 with the valued support of the Kuwait Ministry of State for Youth Affairs and in continued partnership with PwC Middle East. 27 July 2016: AIWF hosts Special Luncheon in Honour of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, UAE, Chairperson of Nama Women Advancement Establishment and Founder & Patron of Sharjah Business Women Council, on her visit to London. 49

50 27 July 2016: AIWF / Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) Seminar Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, AIWF and SBWC hosted a seminar at London s Royal Automobile Club, Partnership for Innovation in Entrepreneurship. 2 June 2016: AIWF 15th Anniversary Get Together Reception, held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel in London, provided AIWF with an opportunity to welcome members, Global Partners, guests and friends to commemorate the 15th Anniversary of AIWF, to network and receive an introduction to the 2016 Annual Programme. 26 April 2016: AIWF 15th Anniversary Celebration and Gala Concert held in April 2016 in London, featured an evening gala recital held at Kensington Palace under the theme, Building Bridges through Culture, highlighting the role of the AIWF leadership in the Middle East and internationally over the last fifteen years. 22 March 2016: AIWF Special Visit to Italy and High-Level Seminar on Women s Talent for Innovation brought together 50 Arab and European business leaders for high-level business visits and a one-day seminar on Women s Talent for Innovation, exploring collaboration between AIWF Members and European businesswomen. 3 March 2016: AIWF / IBA Women Business Lawyers Initiative Conference in Beirut, Lebanon held at La Maison de l Avocat in partnership with the Beirut Bar Association. The conference, Women in Commercial Law in Lebanon, brought together women lawyers to discuss standards and trends in international practice. 12 November 2015: AIWF / Arab British Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) Get Together Reception held at the ABCC s Headquarters for 120 guests warmly received by AIWF Chairman Mrs Haifa Fahoum Al Kaylani, and Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, Secretary General / CEO of ABCC and AIWF Board Member. 28 October 2015: 7th AIWF Young Arab Women Leaders: The Voice of the Future Conference Doha, Qatar was held at the Qatar Business Incubation Center in Doha, Qatar in partnership with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, Qatar Businesswomen Forum at the Qatar Chamber of Commerce, PwC and the Qatar Business Incubation Center. 7 September 2015: AIWF / International Bar Association Legal Practice Division Women Business Lawyers Initiative Amman, Jordan, Jordanian women in legal professions: challenges and opportunities Conference held in partnership with The Arab International Women s Forum and The Arab Women s Legal Network. 6 September 2015: AIWF Get Together Reception Jordan Chapter held at the Kempinski Hotel, Amman. 4 June 2015: AIWF Get Together Reception UK Chapter held at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London, UK. 24 October 2014: Connecting the Next Generation of Young Arab Women Leaders London, UK with host partner PwC. 23 October 2014: AIWF Official Gala Dinner Building Bridges Building Business between the City of London, the Arab World & the International Community, held at Mansion House, London, UK October 2014: AIWF Annual Conference From Partnership to Prosperity: Women in the Arab World, the United Kingdom & the International Community hosted by Willis International at its headquarters in the City of London, UK.

51 24 September 2014: AIWF First Get-Together and Reception hosted by Fattal Group in cooperation with PwC - Beirut, Lebanon. 8 June 2014: Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between AIWF & the Pearl Initiative to promote women in the GCC through the senior ranks. 20 May 2014: AIWF Get-Together and Reception hosted by Coutts London, UK. 23 October 2013: First Arab-German Women s Forum, From Partnership to Prosperity: Women in the Arab World, Germany & the International Community. 10 December 2012: Young Arab Women Leaders: The Voice of the Future Conference - Dubai, UAE. 20 September 2012: 2nd Young Arab Women Leaders: The Voice of the Future Beirut, Lebanon. 26 June 2012: Young Arab Women Leaders: The Voice of the Future Conference - Amman, Jordan May 2012: AIWF Annual Conference held May at American University of Sharjah. AIWF was in partnership with the Financial Times in the publication of their Special Report on The Arab Awakening. 21 March 2012: Arab international Women s Forum & the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce Joint Roundtable Dinner under the theme Common Vision for Sustainable Growth. 20 March 2012: Arab International Women s Forum & the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce Joint Reception held at the ABCC s London Headquarters. May 2011: AIWF 10th Anniversary Programme Building Bridges, Building Business: Emerging Economies, Emerging Leaderships held in London to mark AIWF s 10th Anniversary, comprising an Anniversary Dinner at Mansion House, Conference at Lancaster House, and AIWF / PwC seminar Emerging Arab Women Leaders May 2010: AIWF First Conference in Damascus, Syria: Prosperity through Partnership: Women Leaders in Modern Syria, the Arab World & the International Community. 22 February 2010: AIWF / ABCC Panel Discussion & Networking Reception at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce, London. 28 January 2010: AIWF New Year Reception at The Connaught Hotel, London & launch of 2010 Programme, Prosperity through Partnership. 4 January 2010: AIWF-PepsiCo Signing Ceremony Dubai of Memorandum of Understanding to make PepsiCo AIWF s first and only partner with Benefactor status. October 2009: Seminar on Directorship, Development and Diversity: Challenges for Women in Governance in Amman, Jordan. July 2009: Signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation and Understanding between AIWF & Arab British Chamber of Commerce in London, UK. March 2009: AIWF Paris Conference From Partnership to Prosperity: Women in the Arab World, France and the International Community Paris, France. 51

52 December 2008: AIWF Book Launch Domains of Influence at the ABBC in London, UK. June 2008: Conference at The World Bank - Washington DC, USA Partners for Change: Realizing the Potential of Arab Women in the Private and Public Sectors. February 2008: 10 Downing Street Reception in honour of AIWF in London, UK. December 2007: Powering the Future: Arab Business Women in a Modern Economy at The Dubai International Financial Centre Dubai, UAE. March 2007: Globalisation, Trade and Entrepreneurship: Enhancing Business Opportunities between the City of London, the Arab World & the International Community at Mansion House - London UK. January 2007: Women as Engines of Economic Growth: Moving Forward at The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, London UK. April 2006: Building Bridges, Building Business between the City of London, the Arab World and the International Community Dinner at The Mansion House - London, UK. September 2005: Report & Recommendations Women as Engines of Economic Growth in the Arab World at The Foreign and Commonwealth Office - London UK. June 2005: Ten Years after Barcelona: Women and Integrated Rural Development at the League of Arab States Cairo, Egypt. April 2005: Ten Years after Barcelona: Empowering Women as Catalysts for Economic Development at the European Parliament in Brussels. June 2004: Women in the Arab World, Partners in the Community and on the World Stage at The League of Arab States - Cairo, Egypt. October 2003: Women in the Arab World: Windows of Opportunity Opening Wider in Business & Public Life London, UK. July 2003: Arab Women in the 21st Century AIWF Conference - Madrid, Spain. April 2002: Women in the New Economic Order: The Increasing Role of Arab Women in Business and Society London, UK. 52

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54 54 Notes

55 Notes 55

56 Conference Organisers Conference Supporting Partners Arab International Women s Forum Berkeley Square House, Berkeley Square London W1J 6BD, United Kingdom Tel: Fax: info@aiwfonline.com