Location: Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt
Funded By: Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
Implemented By: IUCN Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA) and International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Supported by a £5 million grant over five years, the ALMURUNA project aims to increase water security in the MENA region by integrating Nature-Based Solutions for Water (NBSW) and Agricultural Water Management (AWM) to build climate resilience and combat land degradation. The program strengthens national capacities to implement and scale integrated NBSW/AWM through transformational change processes and develops field-based examples and actionable recommendations that address both technical and non-technical barriers to uptake and long-term sustainability. It will generate evidence on the contribution of NBSW/AWM to sustainable water security.
Implemented by the MENA regional office of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the project focuses on four MENA countries—Jordan, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), and Egypt—where investments in NBS/AWM can bolster water security. These transboundary river countries face complex water security challenges exacerbated by climate extremes. Sharing experiences across countries within a cooperative regional framework aims to amplify benefits. The project specifically targets women, youth, and marginalized communities to engage them in co-developing solutions across activities.
Achievements
Jordan – Key Achievements
Water and Agricultural Innovation in Wadi Al-Seer
- Modernized irrigation infrastructure through canal lining to reduce water loss and prevent contamination.
- Rehabilitated natural springs with upstream/downstream protection works, including landslide prevention structures and safeguards against illegal extraction.
- Anticipated: Introduction of solar-powered drip irrigation, crop rotation, and drought-resilient crop varieties to enhance agricultural productivity and climate resilience.
- Anticipated: Establishment of a demonstration site serving as a local learning hub for hands-on farmer training and showcasing nature-based water solutions.
Institutional Development and Governance
- Founded the Wadi Seer Springs Cooperative (WSSC) to ensure long-term local ownership of water and land management.
- Empowered the cooperative to coordinate agricultural activities, support community-led initiatives, and promote women’s leadership.
Capacity Building – Empowering Local Stakeholders
Delivered targeted training in Wadi Al-Seer to strengthen technical, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills:
- Smallholder farmers trained on efficient water use, solar irrigation, and climate-resilient agriculture.
- Government stakeholders, community members, and farmers (men and women) trained on the Nature-based Solutions approach and design.
- Anticipated: Training women entrepreneurs in agri-processing, marketing, and building market linkages.
- Anticipated: Supporting government officials in policy implementation, resource management, and gender-responsive planning.
Anticipated Economic Interventions
- Developed market linkages to help farmers access fair pricing.
- Provided microfinance access to support sustainable agriculture investments.
- Supported female entrepreneurs in enhancing packaging, marketing, and market outreach, particularly in olive and fig value chains.
- Advanced gender-responsive development through inclusive business training and market integration.
Strategic Impact and Scaling Potential
- Strengthened water security and productivity in a vulnerable area.
- Positioned Wadi Al-Seer as a replicable model of integrated, climate-resilient rural development.
- Aligned with key national strategies, including:
- Jordan’s National Adaptation Plan
- 2023–2040 Water Sector Strategy
- Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy
- 2020–2025 National Strategy for Women
Lebanon – Scoping Phase for Flood Management Planning
- Developed refined hydrological and hydraulic models.
- Created flood hazard maps for the Ras Baalbek basin.
- Produced a flood management measures report.
- Drafted a roadmap to integrate climate change downscaling and socio-economic factors into future planning.
Online Training Sessions
Despite challenges of virtual delivery, the Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) training reached diverse stakeholders, including students, women’s associations, NGOs, farmers, and officials. Customized content improved relevance, with women-focused sessions emphasizing gender dimensions of NbS.
Scalability Planning
The NbS review supports scaling, planned to leverage flood planning outputs in the fourth fiscal year.