2019-2021
Yarmouk Futures
The Yarmouk Futures Programme seeks to facilitate the emergence of law-based, equitable and sustainable transboundary water arrangements, with a focus on the Yarmouk tributary of the Jordan River.
To do so, the Yarmouk Futures Programme will generate knowledge, build capacity, and develop common understanding of the most pressing issues surrounding water use in and around the basin. This will be accomplished through research projects; technical, legal and negotiations training; and infographics, videos, public lectures, and media pieces. Communications activities will reach the general public to create a much greater awareness of Yarmouk issues as a case study.
The center-piece of the Yarmouk Futures Programme is the establishment of the Centre for Water Diplomacy, at the Jordan University of Science and Technology.
Running from July 2019 until December 2021, the Yarmouk Futures Programme is jointly supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Jordan University of Science and Technology, and the University of East Anglia.
The Yarmouk Futures Programme is part of the Blue Peace Middle East Initiative, a structured and dynamic network consisting of prominent institutions from partner countries in the region to enable water cooperation in the Middle East and create an institutional cooperation mechanism for the sustainable management of water resources.
Team
Prof. Sa’eb Khresat is former President of the Jordan University of Science and Technology prior to which he served as Professor of Soil Science and Land Use within the Dept. of Natural Resources & Environment. He formerly served as Chief Technical Advisor on a United Nations joint program on Adaptation to Climate Change to sustain Jordan’s MDG Achievements working with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Among his numerous responsibilities, Dr. Khresat is an expert member of the Intergovernmental Technical Panel on Soils with FAO, member of the Jordan National Committee for Desertification, member of the National Climate Change Research Group, and member of UNDAF Environment Group and various national committees.
Prof. Mark Zeitoun is the Director of Geneva Water Hub and a Professor at the University of East Anglia’s School of International Development. He has led on multiple research and water supply projects, and supported water negotiations throughout the Middle East and Africa. His research focuses on international transboundary water conflict and cooperation, the influence of armed conflict on water services, and the links between water and health. He has consulted for a wide range of humanitarian and development organizations.
Dr. Abdullah Droubi was the former Director of Water Resources Studies Department at the Arab Center for the Studies of arid Zones and Dry Lands (2002 -2011). He also served as regional advisor to GIZ for the Adaptation to climate change in the water sector in the MENA region (ACCWaM) (2012-2016). He has led on several regional and international projects regarding climate change impacts and IWRM and participated in several regional and international projects implemented in the Arab region by regional and international organizations, such as UN-ESCWA, IFAD, FAO, UNEP, and UNESCO. He is author or co-author on over 100 peer-reviewed papers and reports.
Dr. Muna Dajani holds a PhD in Geography and Environment from the London School of Economics. Her research examines water struggles in agricultural communities and the linkages with politics of belonging and recognition. She has contributed to numerous studies on the hydro-politics of the Jordan and Yarmouk River Basins in addition to her interest in topics related to water, energy and climate justice. She is currently a Senior Research Fellow at Lancaster Environment Centre
Eng. Enas Barki is a regional project coordinator with more than fourteen years of experience on water and environmental projects with international organizations. She holds a Bachelor´s Degree in Agricultural Engineering with a focus on water and environment.
Mr. Fuad Bateh consults regularly for a variety of organizations and institutions working in development, law and negotiations related to environment and water resources. Throughout 2019, he led negotiations on behalf of the Chair of the Group of 77 at the United Nations on the intergovernmental conference to elaborate an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Previously, he served as the Water Governance and Infrastructure Advisor to the Office of the Quartet; Advisor on Environment and Water to the Secretariat of the Union for the Mediterranean; Advisor to the Palestinian Minister of Water working on multilateral negotiations and water sector reform; Legal Advisor to the Palestinian Chief Negotiator and negotiations team; and also for the International and Environmental Law unit of the World Bank.
Prof. Suhil Kiwan most recently served as the Director of the Water Diplomacy Center and is currently the Dean of Engineering at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. Previously, Prof. Kiwan served as the director of the Energy Center at JUST (2009-2012), and then Dean of the School of Engineering and Management of Natural Resources at the German Jordanian University (2013-2016). Prof. Kiwan is a co-founder of the Desertec University Network and is an expert in renewable energy, energy efficiency systems, and sustainable development.
is currently the Director of the Water Diplomacy Center and Professor of Water Resources and Environmental Engineering at the Jordan University of Science and Technology. Prof. Abu-Zreig is a member of the advisory baored for the Higher Council for Science and Technology. Prof. Abu-Zreig is an expert in the field of water resources management, arid land hydrology and climate change, published more than 50 papers in the field. He has wide international experience and worked several years at the Arid Land Research Center in Japan in the capacity of distinguished visiting professor.
YF Relevant links
Funders
