MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Monday, 9 November 2015
Day Theme: Network Accomplishments and Progress
8:00 – 8:30
Review room set up
8:30 – 9:00
Late Registration
8:30 – 9:00
Arrival & Coffee/Tea
9:00 – 9:15
Opening
Dr. Osman Abdulla, Director, Water Research Center
Sultan Qaboos University (SQU)
Welcome
Shawki Barghouti, MENA NWC Executive Director
9:15 – 9:30
Objectives of the Conference
Ghazi Abu Rumman, Director of Policy Research and Development
1. Bring research clients, investors and researchers together to identify
research priorities
a. “client responsive” applied research that responds to client and
investor priorities
2. Stimulate communities of practice on water management issues and
sharing knowledge
3. Review research in progress and expected impacts
4. Identify capacity development needs and priorities among the Network
Centers
5. Convene and develop recommendations for the Assembly of Governing
Members
a. Secure commitment of Centers to collaborative research and to the
network
9:30 – 9:45
Overview of the Conference Process
Allen Hard, Conference Facilitator
Shawki Barghouti, MENA NWC Executive Director
1. Everyone is a resource
2. Encouraging creativity
3. High energy
4. Identify common understandings and foundations to build on
5. Note: that in the process of the conference the next piece builds on the
previous work so we need everyone there during the conference. Each
part of the conference is an experiment and some will work better than
others for different people. Encourage and model informal dress. Two
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
previous conferences, so of course, we have to introduce some different
activities to keep listener interest.
9:45 – 10:05
Group Demographics Snapshot Exercise
1. Government, Donors, Academic, Private Sector/technical advisor,
Network Centers, Others?**
2. Academic backgrounds?
3. Years of Experience in Water Sector
4. How many people at this conference do you know well?
5. Women, Men
Discussion Question: What are the implications for our work together?
Draw the following grids on one flip chart paper ahead of time
EXAMPLE
1. What type of organization do you represent?
Government
Donors
Academic
Private Sector
Network
Research
Center
Others
2. What is your academic background?
Hydrologist
Engineers
Economists
Agronomists
Soil Scientists
Other: Marine Biologist; Lawyers
etc.
3. How many years of experience do you have in the water sector?
0-4
5-9
10-14
15 +
4. How many people do you know well at the Congress?
(“know” is more than professional relationships – eaten together? Played a sport together? Visited outside of work together?)
0-4
5-9
10-14
15 +
6.
10:05 – 10:30
n
Four Walls Exercise
Post question and then answers around the walls so that people can vote with
their feet by going to the answer that best represents their position.
Question: “For the last 15 years (2000 – now) the impact of research on the
efficient development and management of water resources has been:”
1. practically none
2. a very small amount
3. some but not a great deal
4. a moderate amount considering
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
5. quite a bit
6. very substantial
7. a tremendous amount (think like the green revolution)
Discuss in groups.
Have groups raise their hands to check in:
Government, Donors, Academic, Private Sector, Network Centers, Others?
At the end ask the question, “If this were solid wastewater reuse, where would
you go?” Have people move there. Just have people look at results. Don’t
discuss.
10:30 – 10:40
Administrative Announcements – Christel Milazzo
- Travel Reimbursements
o Mastercard Gift Cards
o Point of Contact is Alex Curtis
- Location of Prayer Room
- Banquet Dinner
10:40 - 11:00
Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:30
Preparation of Posters for the Research Project Fair
24 project teams meet and answer the questions in a few words on flip chart
paper which will serve as outline for the talk. Donors, government, private sector
reps distribute themselves among the teams.
Research/Project Poster Fair
Briefly answer the following questions on 1-2 flip chart pages:
Project Name:
Name of Presenter:
MENA NWC Center:
1. What problem did your research address?
2. What was your research methodology?
3. What were your key findings?
4. What do your findings lead to? What is the impact of your findings?
5. What were the positive and negative lessons learned from implementing this
research project?
Description of Poster Fair
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Three rounds of 20 minutes each where participants have three opportunities to hear a different
poster. During preparation time, set up room with chairs in 8 “U” shaped presentation spots of
15 chairs each (total 100 chairs). When ready to begin, ask poster presenters assume their
position. Participants sit anywhere. Review the 8 choices by have each poster presenter give
name and one sentence why their research is interesting. And one sentence why it is important
to hear about. Then have participants move to hear the presentation they are interested in. If
the chairs are filled they have to go to their second choice.
Poster presenters are asked to talk for 10 minutes and perhaps follow the outline on their flip
chart. Then stop and answer questions from the group about their example. The idea is not to
do a complex presentation but to start a discussion with the small group of people who are there
to learn about project.
11:30 – 12:00
Research Projects Fair – Round One
- Expanding Access to Sanitation for Unsewered Communities (PR&D)
- Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas (U.S.-ME Partnerships)
- Promoting Water Use Efficiency in Green Schools (YWSP)
- Urban Wastewater Systems and Climate Change (WIF)
- Water Saving Toilet Flushing System (WIF)
- Using of Green Nanoparticles as a Biofouling- Resistant Agent in Reverse
Osmosis Desalination (PR&D)
- Upgrading Treatment Processes to Improve Effluent Quality for Irrigation
(PR&D)
- Purification of Groundwater from Heavy Toxic Metals (WIF)
12:00 – 12:30
Research Projects Fair – Round Two
- Mitigating Environmental Risks of Wastewater Reuse for Agriculture (PR&D)
- Application of Near-Real Time Monitoring Systems for Irrigated Agriculture
(PR&D)
- Understanding the Dynamics of Managed Aquifer Recharge Using Treated
Wastewater (PR&D)
- Combating the Emerging Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) (U.S. –
Middle East Partnership)
- Improving Economics of Using Saline Water in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas
Through IAAS (YWSP)
- Minimizing Risk Hazard By Using Nanotechnology for Water Disinfection
(YWSP)
- BIG Data for Water Management (WIF)
- Economical Separation of Soluble Phenolic Compounds from Olive Mill
Wastewater (WIF)
12:30 – 1:30
Lunch
10-15 minute Communities of Practice/Clearinghouse Presentation
Christel Milazzo, Middle East Activity Manager
1:30 – 2:00
Research Projects Fair – Round Three
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
-
Participatory Planning for Improving Water Use Efficiency in River Basins
(PR&D)
Utilizing Solar Energy for Water Pumping and Brackish Water Desalination in
Agriculture (PR&D)
Developing Diagnosis Techniques and Strategies to Reduce NRW in the
Middle East (PR&D)
Drought Monitoring for MENA (PR&D)
Radar Probing of Groundwater in Hyper-Arid Environments (U.S. – Middle
East Partnership)
Improving Agricultural Soil Properties Using Soil Amendments (YWSP)
Reflectance Sensing in Precision Irrigation Management and Scheduling
(WIF)
Treatment of Secondary Effluents (WIF)
2:00 – 2:30
Small Group “Stranger Group” Introductions
Name, Job, Birth Order, Hobbies, key interest in being at conference
2:30 – 3:00
Coffee Break
Hang up sticky cloths
3:00 – 4:15
Small Group Review of Research Project Fair
In “stranger groups” – representative mix of the organizations represented –
answer the following questions on the sticky cloths:
Key Findings from the Research Project Fair
1. What was the most useful information that
you heard?
2. What three projects demonstrate the best
potential/achieved large scale application?
3. What project demonstrates the best
example of collaboration between Network
Centers and international research partners,
including Affiliates?
4. What specific actions would you
recommend to the Network to improve
regional and international collaboration?
4:15 – 4:30
Participants walk around room and review sticky cloth answers
4:30 – 5:00
Working Social
Stranger Groups come up with a memorable Team Name.
Team walks around and looks at the sticky cloths and then meets for 10 minutes
to vote for awards.
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Team Name: _________________
1. What research project was the most interesting?
2. What research project demonstrated the largest creative leap?
3. What research project has the greatest potential for impacting water policy, or
for commercialization?
Tally the votes and the winning teams will receive a small prize at the banquet.
Scribes record on computers the information on the sticky cloths
MENA NWC Website Station Set Up – Create user accounts; one-on-one demo
of how to navigate the Network Exchanges
5:05 – 5:15
Meet with Young Water Scientists - Allen Hard & Christel Milazzo
Discuss having them reflect/summarize the day next morning (8 people).
For example, what is one thing you particularly took away from the work
Monday?
5:05 – 5:15
Meet with Donors – Rick Pollard & Shawki Barghouti
Explain “Donor Circle” activity and give them handout for questions to address in
their informal presentation.
7:00 – 9:00
MENA NWC Banquet Dinner
Master of Ceremonies: Said Ouattar, Director General, IAV
“Award” Ceremony at the end
Lina Sheqem announces the results of tally, calls winners forward and awards
prizes
Tuesday, 10 November 2015 –
Day Theme: The Views of Our Partners and Clients
8:30 – 9:00
Arrival & Coffee/Tea
Distribute photo roster
Set up chairs in circles
9:00 – 9:10
Introduce Day
Hanna Zaghloul, Kawar Energy/Board of Directors
9:10 – 9:20
Reflection on Monday by the Young Scientists
9:20 – 10:30
Donor Circle
Moderated by Shawki Barghouti, MENA NWC Executive Director
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Donors sit with microphones in center with participants in circles around them.
- John Wilson, USAID
- Azad Abdulhamid, World Bank
- Yosra Albakkar, Sida
- Muwaffaq Saqqar, Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development
- Thameur Chaibi, GIZ
- Fawzi Al Sultan, Board Member, Institutional Advancement Committee
Donor Talking Points
1. What are the technical areas/research priorities that you are interested in
encouraging?
2. Based on what you’ve heard so far, how could the Network help meet these
needs, interests, and/or priorities?
3. Based on what you’ve heard so far, how would the Network need to change
to better fit your needs, interests, and/or priorities?
About 40 minutes for donor presentations/discussion and 10 minutes for
questions.
Place empty chair in donor circle. Participants sit in empty chair to ask their
question.
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee Break
Richard Pollard and Ralf Klingbeil meet with Private Sector and Affiliates and
review talking points.
Private Sector Talking Points
1. Briefly present your company.
2. What is your firm’s research and development (R&D) needs, interests,
priorities?
3. Based on what you’ve heard so far, how could the Network help meet these
needs, interests, and/or priorities?
4. What areas do you see the opportunity for future collaboration?
Affiliates Talking Points
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
1. Briefly present your University/Research Center.
2. What makes the Network attractive for you?
3. What can the NWC learn from your experience in working with the Private
Sector?
4. What areas do you see the opportunity for future collaboration?
11:00 – 12:00
Operating in an Entrepreneurial World
Moderated by Ralf Klingbeil, MENA NWC Board of Directors
Affiliates and Private Sector representatives sit with microphones in center with
participants in circles around them.
Private Sector
- Jaibir Cheema, Teejan Podponics International
- Hanna Zaghloul, Kawar Energy
- Saif Al-Shaqsi, Million Date Palm Plantation - ?
Affiliates
- Jens Grundmann, TU Dresden
- Joerg Seegert, Water Science Alliance
- TBD, UFZ
- TBD, UNESCO-IHE
12:00 – 12:30
Small Group Discussion in Stranger Groups
Operating in an Entrepreneurial World
Donors
Private Sector/Affiliates
1. What was most important about what you
heard?
1. What was most important about what you
heard?
2. What unique strengths/skills does MENA
NWC Centers, and the Network as a whole
(including Affiliates), HAVE to meet the needs,
interests and priorities that were presented?
2. What unique strengths/skills does MENA
NWC Centers, and the Network as a whole
(including Affiliates), HAVE to meet the needs,
interests and priorities that were presented?
3. Recommend the
skills/knowledge/relationship(s) that MENA
NWC Centers and the Network NEED to better
3. Recommend the
skills/knowledge/relationship(s) that MENA
NWC Centers and the Network NEED to better
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
meet the needs, interests and priorities that
were presented?
meet the needs, interests and priorities that
were presented?
12:30 – 1:30
Lunch
Scribes record on computers the information on the sticky cloths
1:30 – 2:00
Small Group Discussion in Stranger Groups - Continued
2:00- 2:15
Stranger Groups Present Cloth
One sentence on the most significant observation from chart
**Scribes finish recording on computers the information on the sticky cloths**
2:15 – 3:00
Small Group Discussion by Country
Meeting participants grouped by country/group of countries.
- GCC – Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, UAE
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Yemen
- Palestine/Lebanon/Egypt
- Jordan
COUNTRY (COUNTRIES) _____________________
1. What are the 3 most significant water policy
issues in your country?
2. What are the knowledge/research gaps that
need to be addressed in order to improve
policy in these areas?
3. What recommendations do you have for the Network Centers and Affiliates to respond
helpfully in the future to your country’s needs?
3:00 – 3:30
Coffee Break
Participants walk around and look at country sticky cloths
Scribes record on computers the information on the sticky cloths
3:30 – 3:45
Summary Observations by Tony Allen, Technical Advisory Committee Member
3:30 – 4:30
Small Group Discussion in Technical Communities
Participants organize into five Technical Communities:
- Water Efficiency and Productivity
- Groundwater
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
-
Water Supply and Sanitation
Water, Energy, Food Nexus
Non-Conventional Water
Depending on the size, the Communities may need to be broken into two small groups.
TECHNICAL COMMUNITY _____________________
1. What are the criteria to determine critical
areas for research (cost etc.)?
2. What are the critical areas for research in
your technical area?
3. What knowledge/skills do Network Centers and Affiliates have to respond to these areas?
4. Recommend actions the Network Centers and Affiliates can take to improve their ability to
respond in these areas? What additional resources/skills are needed?
5. Suggest future areas for research partnerships between Network Centers/Affiliates.
4:30 – 5:00
Working Social
Participants prepare their Give/Gets Posters – Will be used on Wednesday afternoon
MENA NWC Website Station Set Up – Create user accounts; one-on-one demo of how
to navigate the Network Exchanges
Evaluation of the Day – “How was my experience today?”
Smile = Fully satisfied
Neutral = Can’t say
Frown = Not at all satisfied
Participants put dots on chart for each day
Gives and Gets Exercise Description
Gives and Gets Poster:
The resources and talent in the Network are very substantial. We want to take advantage of this in very direct way. In
order to do this we have set up an exercise which allows each person to make knowns some areas they are particularly
competent in and also to find people in areas they would like to learn more about.
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Notes for Preparation:
1. Take a flip chart page and write in big letters the answers to the questions on the sample format for the “gives and
gets” chart
2. Note the possibility of a “small logo” on chart for creative opportunity
3. Put on one envelope “Take a Card” and on the other “Leave a Card”
4. Put envelops in the appropriate place on your chart. Either staple or tape.
5. Put your 10 sample business cards in the take envelope (fill out personal data)
6. Take 10 sample business cards with you to leave with posters where you could help (fill out personal data)
5:05 – 5:15
Meet with Water Innovation Fellows and reflect/summarize on the day
Shawki Barghouti & Ghazi Abu Rumman
What is one thing you particularly took away from Tuesday?
Wednesday, 11 November 2015
The Road Ahead: Network Priorities for Future Work
8:30 – 9:00
Arrival & Coffee
9:00 – 9:10
Overview of Day
Ghazi Abu Rumman, Director of Policy Research and Development, MENA NWC
9:10 – 9:30
Reflection on Monday by the Water Innovation Fellows
9:30 – 10:15
Small Group Discussion in Technical Communities - Continued
10:15 – 10:30
Stranger Groups Review Technical Community Work
Designate one member as the recorder.
Stranger Groups walk around the room and read the sticky cloths for each of the
Technical Communities. Recorder notes the group’s observations for each
Technical Community on handout (what they agree with, what they do not agree
with, what should be added). These are given to the Network as
recommendations.
Stranger Group Review of Technical Community Work
Water Efficiency and Productivity
Comments:
1.
2.
3.
Groundwater
Comments:
1.
2.
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
3.
Water Supply and Sanitation
Comments:
1.
2.
3.
Water, Energy, Food Nexus
Comments:
1.
2.
3.
Non-Conventional Water
Comments:
1.
2.
3.
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee Break
Scribes record on computers the information on the sticky cloths
11:00 – 11:45
Stranger Groups Continue Review of Technical Community Work
11:45 – 12:10
Report Out
Recorder reads for the entire group the one most interesting comments in each
Technical Community area so the entire conference can get a flavor of some of
the reactions
Stranger Groups turn in their Recommendation Forms
12:10 – 12:30
Voting
Each person receives ten sticky dots to place on the “research areas cards”
posted on the 5 technical community sticky cloths. Walk around, review, and
place to designate research areas that they consider to be in their top ten
priorities.
12:30 – 1:30
Lunch
Eric leads preparation and printing of first draft of Conference Recommendations.
Be ready to distribute at 2:45 PM.
1:30 – 2:45
Give and Gets Exercise
Post and participants walk around and review individual flip charts
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MENA NWC
Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence
Note: donors, affiliates and private companies probably need more business
cards
2:45 – 3:30
Ceremonial Closing
Form “airplane seating” with an aisle and rows of chairs. Have a pilot (Shawki),
co-pilot (Ghazi) and use “hostesses” pass out Network shirts, drinks and drafts
from workshop. Allen interviews passengers about their experience from the
conference with the handheld microphone.
Evaluation of the Day – “How was my experience today?”
Smile = Fully satisfied
Neutral = Can’t say
Frown = Not at all satisfied
Participants put dots on chart for each day.
3:30 – 3:40
Logistical Briefing on Assembly of Governing Members Meeting
Richard Pollard & Christel Milazzo
- Location / Start Time
- Distribute briefing books
4:00 – 7:00
MENA NWC Board of Directors Meeting
7:00 – 8:00
MENA NWC Board of Directors Dinner
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