Abu Dhabi, February 28, 2011: On March 3, 2011, the Arab Water Academy will have completed training the first group of water diplomats in the Arab region. The group consists of 25 senior policy makers, representing ministries of water and ministries of foreign affairs in the Kingdom of Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Sultanate of Oman, Palestine, Sudan, Tunisia, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. The 6-month training programme focused mainly on 'water diplomacy' and transboundary water issues.

This unique capacity building program that creatively bridges the worlds of water and diplomacy was organised as a response to a clear demand from leaders in the Arab region. It prepares participants to operate in a complex political economy, understand the principles of international water law and other legal mechanisms and apply strategies that lead to successful agreements on shared water resources. It also enhances their skills through the mastering of techniques of negotiation, mediation, facilitation and intercultural communication and focus on applying diplomatic methods as a means to improve cooperation over shared water in the Arab region.

The program was formally endorsed by the Arab Water Ministers Council, was organized in collaboration with the Center of Water Studies and Arab Water Security and was developed in partnership with the Netherlands Institute of International Relations 'Clingendael'.

On March 3, which coincides with Arab Water Day, a high level panel discussion entitled 'The Future of Water Diplomacy in the Arab Region in 2030' will take place and participants will be able to share their thoughts on how they think the Arab region will be positioned in the international water debate.

Chaired by Dr. Asma El Kasmi, Director of the Arab Water Academy and moderated by Mr. Ron Ton, Director of Diplomatic Training at the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, the panel discussion will provide participants with a forum to explore their perspectives on the future of cooperation over shared water resources in the Arab world. The panel discussion will feature H.E. Mohammad Najjar, Jordan's Minister of Water and Irrigation and Mr. Ato Brown, Water Manger Sustainable Development, World Bank.

H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and host to the Arab Water Academy, will welcome the participants who will then present recommendations on the programme to a high level panel consisting of leaders from relevant Arab and international organizations who will then respond to these recommendations. Partners and supporters of the training programme will deliver their closing remarks and the participants will be awarded participation certificates, making them the first group of trained water diplomats in the Arab region.

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About Arab Water Academy (AWA)
The Arab Water Academy was set up in July 2008 as a regional center of excellence for water policy deliberation and executive education in water issues. The AWA's focus is on strengthening the knowledge and skills of Middle East and North African decision makers to address change and effectively manage the region's water challenges. The AWA was initiated by the Arab Water Council and is hosted by the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA). It is supported by the government of Abu Dhabi, the World Bank and the Islamic Development Bank.

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© Press Release 2011