Tripoli, Libya: National Dialogue on Conjunctive Management of Surface Water and Groundwater in Libya.
February 24-25, 2025 – In the presence of Mr. Eric Falt, UNESCO Representative to the Maghreb States and Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for the Maghreb in Rabat, and Mr. Omar Sharif, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Focal Point at the Ministry of Environment, His Excellency the Minister of Environment, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Arabi, inaugurated the National Dialogue on Integrated Surface and Groundwater Management Solutions. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Environment at its official headquarters in cooperation with the Ministry of Water Resources, implemented by UNESCO's Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), and funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
The national dialogue included several discussion sessions and interactive workshops where local and international experts presented detailed overviews of global best practices in water resource management and innovative solutions for surface and groundwater management.
The event brought together representatives from international environmental organizations, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Oil Corporation, the Great Man-Made River Authority, academic research institutions and centers, the private sector, civil society activists, and various officials and decision-makers. Attendees engaged in the exchange of perspectives and experiences, and deliberated on potential technical and policy approaches to address water management challenges in Libya. The agenda also prioritized an assessment of the current state of the Jiffarah Plain basin, outlining its primary issues and challenges. Furthermore, participants discussed both short-term and long-term practical solutions, alongside the development of a strategic management plan tailored specifically for the Jiffarah Plain basin. This dialogue is part of the government's efforts to enhance water governance and achieve a sustainable balance between consumption and the preservation of natural resources, thereby contributing to environmental and economic development in the country.
This national dialogue is one of the key outcomes of Component (2) related to the management of coastal groundwater aquifers and associated ecosystems, under Sub-project No. (2.1) titled "Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Water Security, Climate Change Adaptation, and Natural Habitat Protection" within the Mediterranean Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/Global Environment Facility.