Concept Notes as per Proposed Programme Budget (A/66/6 (Sect. 36)) and supplementary information for
ACABQ
1213AM. Developing the capacities of the Arab countries for climate change
adaptation by applying integrated water resource management
tools
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, jointly
with the United Nations Environment Programme Regional
Office for West Asia ($517,000)
Background
Nearly all countries in the Arab region suffer from freshwater scarcity. This condition is expected to
worsen with climate change since climate change models generally predict a substantial reduction
in the availability of freshwater resources. The ability to ensure freshwater quantity and quality in
face of these challenges will have important implications for development in key
socio-economic sectors. Unless properly and promptly addressed, these water-related challenges
will hamper the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals related to poverty, health and
environmental sustainability, as well as internationally agreed development goals aimed at
achieving sustainable development.
In recognition of this urgent need, the Arab Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change, adopted by
the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment in 2007, called for the preparation
of an assessment of the impact of climate change on water resources. This inv itation was formalized
at the twenty-fifth ministerial session of ESCWA in 2008, which adopted a resolution mandating the
Commission to prepare a vulnerability assessment of the impact of climate change on socio economic development, with particular emphasis on freshwater resources. The Arab Summit for
Economic and Social Development in 2009 subsequently endorsed the preparation of a project to
assess the impacts of climate change on water resources in the Arab region. The project was
approved by the Arab Ministerial Water Council and is currently under way through an inter-agency
collaborative process.
The current project will build upon the findings of this climate change assessment by assisting
Government decision makers and their advisers to better under stand the linkages between climate
change adaptation and the water sector, in particular how integrated water resource management
tools can support climate change adaptation in key sectors, namely, agriculture, economic
development, the environment, health and human settlements.
ESCWA and the UNEP Regional Office for West Asia are well positioned to execute this
multidisciplinary regional project given their special role supporting the Joint Committee on
Environment and Development in the Arab Region, which provides advice to the Council of Arab
Ministers Responsible for the Environment on climate change and other regional issues. To this
end, ESCWA and UNEP will collaborate with other partners serving the Arab region, including
ECA, WHO, the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association and the Arab Centre for the Studies of
Arid Zones and Dry Lands.
Concept Notes as per Proposed Programme Budget (A/66/6 (Sect. 36)) and supplementary information for
ACABQ
Objective of the Organization: To develop the capacity of Arab
Governments to adapt to climate change by applying integrated
water resource management tools in the key sectors that will be
affected by climate change impacts on freshwater resources
Relationship to the strategic framework for the period 20122013 and the Millennium Development Goals: Economic and
social development in Western Asia subprogramme 1 (Integrated
management of natural resources for sustainable development);
Environment subprogramme 1 (Climate change); subprogramme 3
(Ecosystem management); Millennium Development Goal 7
Summary budget
(Thousands of United States dollars)
General temporary
assistance
Consultants
Experts
Travel
Contractual services
Operating expenses
Workshops
Total
18.0
177.0
23.8
24.7
31.5
0.8
241.2
517.0
Expected accomplishments of the Secretariat
Indicators of achievement
(a) Increased understanding of Government
officials and regional stakeholders of the impact
of climate change on water resources as it relates
to key sectors, including agriculture, economy,
environment, health and human settlements
(a) Increased number of beneficiary countries
adopting policy statements that recognize the
importance of integrated water resource
management for climate change adaptation
(b) Increased capacity of Arab Governments to
incorporate integrated water resource
management tools into strategies, policies, plans
and programmes related to key sectors that will
be affected by climate change impacts on water
resources
(b) Increased number of climate change
adaptation strategies, policies, plans and
programmes that incorporate integrated water
resource management tools in the key sectors
that will be affected by climate change impacts
on water resources
Main activities
The main activities of the project will include:
(a)
Conduct an inception meeting where the implementing partners will set the terms of
reference and responsibilities for the five training modules, the training manual and the
training workshops on integrated water resource management tools for climate change
adaptation in key sectors, as well as the layout of the consultative process with
Governments;
(b)
Organize an expert meeting to review and comment upon the five draft training
modules;
(c)
Organize five training workshops (3 in Lebanon and 2 in Jordan), comprising one on
each training module;
(d)
Conduct an evaluation of each training module at the end of each training workshop and
incorporate the comments into the training modules prior to finalizing the training
manual;
(e)
Finalize, translate and disseminate the training manual on integrated water resource
management tools for climate change adaptation in the key sectors addressed during the
project. The manual would be launched in cooperation with partners during relevant
events related to water and climate change at the global, regional and national levels.
Concept Notes as per Proposed Programme Budget (A/66/6 (Sect. 36)) and supplementary information for
ACABQ
Detailed budget (US dollars)
General Temporary Assistance
Temporary assistance to perform the tasks of administrative and technical support for limited periods
during project implementation: (6 work months x $3,000 per month) = $18,000
18 000
Consultants
Expert consultants (regional or international) for the preparation of the five training modules and their
contribution to the five training workshops, in support of activity (b), (c), and (d): (3.9 work months x
$8,000 per month x 5 training modules) = $156,000; Travel of experts to the training workshops with
an average duration of 4 days, in support of activity (c): ($2,000 per participant x 5 participants) =
$10,000;
External Evaluation Consultant: = $11,000
177 000
Expert Meetings
Travel of expert consultants to expert meeting to present draft training modules with an average
duration of 2 days, in support of activity (b): ($1,400 per participant x 5 participants) = $7,000; Travel
of non-UN partners and participants to expert meeting (Beirut) to review and comment on draft
training modules with an average duration of 2 days, in support of activity (b): ($1,400 per participant
x 12 participants) = $16,800
Travel of staff
ESCWA Staff Travel: Travel of staff to training workshops with an average duration of 4 days, in
support of activity (c): ($1,500 per participant x 3 staff members x 2 workshops in Amman) = $9,000;
Travel of staff in relation to the presentation of the I ntegrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
training modules and manual with an average duration of 4 days, in support of activity (e): ($2,100
average mission cost x 1 person x 1 mission) = $2,100; UNEP/ROWA, ECA and WHO/CEHA Staff
Travel: Travel of partners from UN agencies to the inception meeting (Beirut) to set the terms of
reference for training modules, with an average duration of 2 days, in support of activity (a): ($1,350
per participant x 3 UN participants) = $4,050; Travel of UN partners to expert meeting (Beirut) to
review and comment on draft training modules with an average duration of 2 days, in support of
activity (b): ($1,350 per participant x 3 UN participants) = $4,050; Travel of UN partners to training
workshops (Beirut or Amman) with an average duration of 4 days, in support of activity (c): ($1,850
per participant x 3 UN participants) = $5,550
Contractual Services
Interpretation: A contract to be given to an individual or institution for interpretation services in
support of activity (c): ($368 per person x 2 persons x 3 days x 5 workshops) = $11,040;
Translation: A contract to be given to an individual or institution for translation (Arabic-English) of
the five training modules and final IWRM training manual, in support of activity (c) and (e): ($40 per
page for translation x 40 page/training module x 5 modules) = $8,000; ($20 per page for adjustment x
200 page IWRM training manual) = $4,000; Design and Printing: A contract to be given to an
individual or institution for the design of the training modules and training manual, in support of
activity (c) and (e): ($1,000 per design x 2 units) = $2,000; A contract to be given to an individual or
institution for printing of training modules for workshops and manual, in support of activity (c) and
(e): ($300 per 40 page training module x 5 modules) = $1,500; ($5,000 per 200 pages training manual
x 1 manual) = $5,000
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses for postage, communications, low-value printing services, etc.: $800
Seminars and Workshops
Working Group: Travel of non-UN partners to inception meeting (Beirut) to set the terms of reference
for training modules with an average duration of 2 days, in support of activity (a): ($800 per
participant x 2 partners) = $1,600; Workshops: Travel of participants to five training workshops
(Beirut or Amman). Each workshop is to be attended by 24 participants from 22 Arab member state,1
participant from each Arab member states (22), plus 2 participants from Arab Integrated Water
Resources Management Network (2), with an average duration of 4 days, in support of activity (c):
($1,750 per participant x 24 participants x 5 training workshops) = $210,000; Travel of non-UN
23 800
24 700
31 500
800
241 200
Concept Notes as per Proposed Programme Budget (A/66/6 (Sect. 36)) and supplementary information for
ACABQ
partners to training workshops (Beirut or Amman) with average duration of 4 days, in support of
activity (c): ($1,300 per participant x 2 partners) = $2,600; Rental of workshop venue and related
equipments: ($10,000 per workshop x 2 workshops in Amman) = $20,000; Organization of meetings
and workshops: Organizational expenses for the inception meeting, expert meeting and workshops, in
support of activity (a), (b), and (c): ($1,000 per meeting x 7 meetings ) = $7,000