Amman Workshop 21-24/03/2011

Objective - The objective of the seminar is to share experience on support programs to the water sector and discuss the applicability of various tools that have been developed. The expected outcome is that delegation staff will be well positioned to take up the dialogue with the national partners and engage with other development partners.

Participants - The participants will be staff from EU delegations that are in the process of formulating support programmes to the water sector or involved in water where it is not a focal sector as well as officials from AIDCO/ DG DEV, Member States and their aid agencies and International Finance Institutions.  A total of 25- 30 participants are expected. An active participation by delegation staff through presentation of case studies will form the backbone of the seminar. 

Outline Agenda - The event will take place over 4 days in Jordan  (21-24th March inclusive). An outline agenda is attached. Seminar topics will include: Policy; IWRM and sector finance.

Day 1 – Policy

• Case study on Jordan
• Case study on Post conflict (potentially Palestinian territories, Lebanon, Iraq)
• Case study on Other countries (potentially Israel, Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan)

Day 2 – Field Trip to Jordan River

Day 3 IWRM

• Case study on EUWI – MED, (transboundary – DEVCO)
• Sub-regional cases : (Project Jordanie-Israel/Palestine )
• Case study on SBS  (potentially Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Moldova, Tunis)
• Case study on countries where water is not  a focal issue: (Potentially Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine)

Day 4 Finance

• How EIB works (EIB). The Syria example
• Sustainable finance – (utility manager in Amman)

Preparation work required by delegations - Preparation of case studies within 3 themes will be a key to the success. A 10-15 slide presentation will be expected (10-15 minutes) – where relevant this can also be backed up by a short page written report. The default structure is flexible and could include:

• Brief history of EC support to the water sector in the particular country, including current process of programming
• Summary of the national sector framework: across the 7 assessment factors: (policy; budget; coordination; institutional capacity; performance monitoring; macro-economic environment; public financial management) – here the presentation can be tailored according to the theme chosen.
• Other development partners active, donor coordination mechanisms – this part could be expanded for the coordination theme.
• Major challenges/ opportunities facing the water sector in the country
• Major challenges / opportunities in the provision of external support to the water sector
• Areas of uncertainty and doubt in programming
• Lessons learnt and avoidable errors