The Launch of Food-Land-Water Policies Coherence in Egypt
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Date
15.10.24
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Time
02:00 pm > 03:30 pm UTC+02:00
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Location
Cairo, Egypt
Background
The interconnectedness between food, land, and water resources is evident where the use of one resource could generate externalities for others. The uncertainties around global markets challenge economies in the global south and climate change further exacerbates the urgent need for integrated management of natural resources and optimized investments and interventions. Moreover, the interconnections of natural resources and the biophysical environment influence the livelihoods and income of land and water users. Therefore, the partial or complete absence of coherence between sectoral public policies and inter-institutional linkages hampers the ability to address key interdependencies between food, land, and water resources and the three pillars of sustainable development: environment, economy, and society.
In this regard, the OECD has defined “coherence” as a key policy evaluation criterion to evaluate the interconnectedness between two or more policy areas in order to maximize the benefits and mitigate trade-offs that might impede the development of one sector over the other (KNOMAD et al., 2020; OECD, 2016). Hence, the goal of policy coherence in FLW systems is to attain simultaneous natural resource securities by:
- Altering the current institutional arrangement towards effective cross-coordination mechanisms;
- Moving towards integrated policy processes planning and implementation; and
- Shedding light on political and economic determinants, and current and expected investments (Hoff et al., 2019).
The Objective of the Session
This side-event will present the main learnings on pathways for enhanced policy coherence toward improving water productivity in the context of climate change. The session will shed light on the methods to measure policy coherence and the mechanisms in place that enhance policy coherence in two forms: horizontal (across sectors) and vertical (across different levels of actors). It will present learnings from the CGIAR National Policies and Strategies initiative in Egypt and other contexts. Finally, this session should identify the recommendations to accelerate policy coherence, in terms of policies, institutions, and investments.
After participating in this session, the attendees should:
- Document case studies on policy coherence application;
- Compile policy recommendations to enhance sectoral public-policy making, institutional coherence at the national and local levels, and integrating investments and domestic funding opportunities.
- InternationalWater Management Institute
- WorldFish
Panelists:
| Name | Position | Organization |
| Dr. Rabab Gaber | General Director of the Water Resources
Department, Planning Sector |
Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation |
| Dr. Ahmed Nasrallah | Country Representative | WorldFish |
| Dr. Oriana Romano “Virtual Participation” | Head of Unit, Water Governance, Blue and Circular Economy | OECD
Water Governance Initiative Chair |
| Mr. Mustapha Abderrafik | Head of Statistics and Strategies Division | Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and
Water and Forests of Morocco |
| Dr. Hammou Laamrani | Economic Affairs Officer | UNESCWA |
| Dr. Almotaz Abadi | Deputy Secretary General, Water, Environment, and Blue Economy | Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) |
Session Structure
| Timeline | Description | Moderator |
| 10 mins
[14:00 – 14:10] |
Session Kick-Off and welcoming words by the moderator:
· Brief introduction of the session’s theme and objectives. · Introduction of the moderator and main speakers/panelists. · Mentimeter “ranking” Keynote speech (3 mins): · Dr. Rabab Gaber: best practices and learning on how the ministry is pushing for strengthened policy coherence of agrifood systems across different sectors and institutions. |
Dr. Youssef Brouziyne |
| 10 mins
[14:10 – 14:20] |
Policy Coherence Globally – How is IWMI supporting policymakers in other regions to enhance policy coherence between food, land, and water systems?
· Dr. Alan Nicol “Co-Lead of NPS – Principal researcher at IWMI”. |
|
| 10 mins
[14:20 – 14:30] |
Findings and Recommendations for building policy coherence of food, land, and water in Egypt at times of scarcity
· Ms. Fayrouz Eldabbagh “Political Scientist at IWMI” |
|
| 25 mins
[14:30 – 14:55] |
Panel Discussion (Round 1) (4 mins per speaker)
Discuss the practices and cases from Africa or MENA that support policy coherence in managing food, land, and water systems during scarcity. Detailed Panel Discussion Questions: · Dr. Almotaz Abadi: o Can you please tell us how the UfM is advancing its water agenda in the Mediterranean region, specifically related to building policy coherence across sectors? Can you share one or two best practices or key learnings? · Dr. Hammou Laamrani: o zooming into the Arab region: in light of the inter-ministerial committee formed between agricultural and irrigation ministries as part of the Cairo Declaration, what stands out the most? Key learnings from institutional coherence assessment led by UNESCWA. · Dr. Oriana Romano: o In light of the Water Governance Initiative chaired by the OECD, what is the significance of policy coherence in the work of WGI shedding light on multi-stakeholder platforms (MSPs) and documenting cases globally? · Mr. Mustapha Abderrafik: o What are the current mechanisms for cross-coordination that the Moroccan government has put in place to enhance agricultural productivity during periods of drought? |
Dr. Alan Nicol |
| Please reflect on 2 key learnings on what stands out the most and had an impact on policy decision-making processes and policy implementation.
· Dr. Ahmed Nasr-Allah: o Aquaculture is a major source of food security and one of the sectors that depend on land and water: Can you please elaborate on one successful case or shed light on existing horizontal coherence that supports building policy coherence between food, land, and water through fish farms? |
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| 25 mins
[14:55 – 15:25] |
Panel Discussion (Round 2) (4 mins per speaker)
In times of natural resource scarcity, recommendations for scaling policy coherence across sectors and governance levels, including financial coherence. · Dr. Ahmed Nasr-Allah: o In your view, how can the current policy support the water, land, and food nexus for the sustainability of the aquatic food supply? · Mr. Mustapha Abderrafik: o What are your recommendations for scaling policy coherence across food, land, water, and environment, including financial coherence? Who is needed to engage, why, and how? · Dr. Oriana Romano: o In your opinion, what is still needed to foster integrated policies and institutions across food, land, water, and environment systems in times of scarcity? What can WGI offer for the next three years? · Dr. Hammou Laamrani: o What are the priorities to strengthen institutional cross- coordination at national or decentralized levels in the Arab region? What are the political and economic determinants for a strengthened institutional coherence? · Dr. Almotaz Abadi: o What is needed to foster coherent policies and institutions in the Mediterranean region? What are your recommendations, specifically for water, employment, and migration nexus which address the sociological coherence of agrifood system policies? |
Dr. Alan Nicol |
| 5 mins
[15:25 – 15:30]
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Concluding remarks:
· Q&A · Final results of Mentimeter |
Dr. Alan Nico |
Photo credit:
Hamish John Appleby (IWMI)
