MENA NWC
Research Impacts
ACWUA
13 JANUARY 2016
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Impact
• Impact is defined as ‘any effect on, change or
benefit to the economy, society, culture,
public policy or services, health, the
environment or quality of life, beyond
academia’
COMMERCIALIZATION
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
RESEARCH
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Water efficiency and productivity
Groundwater
Non-Conventional water
Water supply and sanitation
Water-Energy-Food nexus
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
BUILDING CAPACITY
• Water Innovation Fellowships (WIF) and Young
Water Scientists (YWS) grants.
• Approximately ten scientists annually will be
designated Fellows and receive U.S. $15,000
to $25,000 in flexible research grants
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
KNOWLEDGE SHARING
• MENA NWC has launched seven Communities
of Practice in technical and management
arenas, reflecting key issues facing the region
• MENA NWC Biennial Congress
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
So far
1. The Network has members from 19 national
and 5 regional/international water centers
and 14 affiliates in Europe and the United
States.
2. The Network links water research centers in
13 countries in the Middle East and North
Africa
3. The Network has disbursed $5.8 million in
research funding to research partners in 9
countries
4. Network-funded researchers have
collaborated with 63 government agencies
responsible for water & agriculture. MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Cont’d
5. Network-funded research projects have
engaged with 30 private sector companies
6. 53 young researchers—below age 35—are
engaged in Network-funded research
projects, and more than half are women.
7. 84 women are currently engaged in Networkfunded research projects.
8. At its first biennial Congress, the Network
convened 79
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Few examples
1. Solar energy for desalination of groundwater to grow cash
crops (Jordan and Palestine).
2. NRW and toolbox for master planning (Morocco, Lebanon
and Jordan).
3. Access to sanitation (Morocco and Jordan).
4. RADAR probing to monitor groundwater (Oman, Tunisia and
Jordan) extended to Qatar, Kuwait, .
5. Best irrigation management practices (irrigation manual in
Jordan, Tunisia and Morocco).
6. NRT (UAE-ICBA, Tunisia, Oman, Jordan and Yemen).
7. Green Nanotechnology to produce membranes (Morocco
and Jordan ).
8. Toilet flushing ...... Xylem
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
To Do
1. Make the impact case studies freely available
in a form and format that will enable any
researcher to carry out analysis, using a
range of techniques and methods.
2. Carry out a qualitative and quantitative
analysis of the impact case studies, to extract
common themes and messages that will form
evidence of the broad impact of research on
wider society.
SURVEY
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Looking for
1. Projects that have potential up scaling to serve
communities.
2. Projects that are doable within certain time
frame.
3. Projects that attract private sector partners.
4. Projects offer capacity building in particular for
young scientists, also create platform for young
scientists to team with seniors managing large
grants.
5. Win-win situation
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Questions
MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa
Network of Water Centers of Excellence