Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s water research priorities were deliberated during a two-day forum by the National Center for Water Research and Studies, which is the research arm of Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, in collaboration with the World Bank Group.

The forum, which was inaugurated on Sunday by Saudi Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli, brought together key local and international experts and researchers in the water sector from public and private sectors, scientific research centers and universities.

The workshop was part of the ministry’s efforts to develop a nationally aligned water research strategy for the Kingdom. It aimed to establish a time-bound research agenda to enhance the role of research in advancing knowledge and delivering solutions through applied and field research on water problems, and to better inform the decision-making process of main water agencies, both public and private, serving the water sector in the Kingdom.

The workshop focused on many areas, including the vision of the Ministry of Education for water research support, the report of the first implementation phase of the National Water Research Strategy in Saudi Arabia, the best international practices in water research management, the ministry's significant achievements in regional groundwater studies.

The minister delivered the opening speech at the first day of the workshop. He affirmed that the ministry has attached great importance to scientific research by establishing the National Center for Water Research and Studies. It has also developed a long-term national water strategy with the aim to address key challenges, leveraging previous and ongoing studies, and reforming the water and wastewater sector to ensure sustainable development and optimal use of the Kingdom's natural and financial resources while providing affordable high-quality services, in line with the water sector's vision.

The minister emphasized that scientific research plays an important role in achieving a sustainable water resources and supporting the decision-making process.

For his part, the Deputy Minister for Water Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Shaibani, delivered remarks at the opening of the workshop. He highlighted the significance of the National Water Strategy 2030 which recognizes the important role of water as the center of economic and social development, and its vitality to basic human needs, to the environmental management, and to sustaining economic growth.

He confirmed that investment in science and technology is a crucial driver for sustainable development, and that countries that have invested in applied R&D have achieved sustained economic development.

"The National Water Strategy includes a program to develop the National Water Research Strategy; Program 4 of the strategy is designed to enhance the role of scientific knowledge about water management and development as an important asset of the national economy" he added.

During the first day, the workshop reviewed the experience of the World Bank in formulating and implementing water research strategies at regional and country levels as well as relevant international experience from California, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

The second day of the workshop included three discussions panels and key findings and recommendations. The first panel was on "priority institutional arrangements to finalize and implement the national research strategy", and several recommendations were reached. Stakeholders proposed to formulate survey among all concerned Saudi institutions.

They also proposed that the ministry sign a MoU with the Ministry of Education to allocate budget to funding the water research, as well as another MoU to be signed with other water research centers in terms of groundwater research nationally and internationally. In addition to, arranging series of workshops discussing water issues in cooperation with other research centers to set a mechanism contributing to national water strategies.

The second panel was on "priority water research themes for 5 years, public domain for data information and knowledge system".

Participants presented a series of recommendations, including establishing specialized centers within the ministry to unify efforts and integrate and coordinate policies within relevant entities to achieve food security, bridging the gap in regulatory policies, rationalizing water use, assessing the impact of importing products that consume large amount of water.