Egypt has reaffirmed its commitment to continued cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on water management and climate adaptation, the country’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said.
Minister Hany Sewilam met with Nouraia Sanz, Regional Director of UNESCO’s Cairo Office, ahead of the end of her term. The meeting focused on joint initiatives in managing water resources, building resilience to climate change, and strengthening regional capacity in sustainable development.
Sewilam praised UNESCO’s “constructive role” in supporting Egypt and neighbouring countries across water management, scientific research, culture, and sustainable development. He stressed the importance of deepening collaboration to address water scarcity and climate-related risks, which pose challenges to agriculture, urban development, and regional stability.
According to a ministry statement, discussions reviewed ongoing activities under UNESCO’s African Water and Climate Resilience Programme (AWARe), particularly the “Green Water Dialogue” track. Sewilam commended the Cairo Office for conducting a regional survey associated with the initiative and for supporting a high-level event held in November 2025, aimed at promoting water governance and climate adaptation strategies across North Africa and the Middle East.
The minister also highlighted UNESCO’s role in sponsoring regional water training centres, including the Pan-African Centre for Water and Climate Adaptation (PACWA), which focuses on enhancing technical capacity across the continent. He noted a climate risk decision-analysis training programme held in June 2025 that brought together water sector professionals from Africa and the Middle East to develop skills in data-driven decision-making and risk management.
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Sewilam underscored the significance of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme as a cornerstone for scientific research, knowledge exchange, and capacity-building initiatives in the water sector. He said these efforts have strengthened Egypt’s ability to manage water resources effectively and improve resilience to climate impacts such as droughts, flooding, and shifts in river flows.
The minister also expressed gratitude for UNESCO’s support of Cairo Water Week since its inception. He said the organisation’s involvement had helped raise the event’s international profile and facilitated the exchange of best practices between governments, researchers, and industry stakeholders.
“UNESCO’s technical assistance, research support, and capacity-building initiatives remain essential for Egypt’s water management strategy,” Sewilam said. “Strengthening this partnership will be critical to meeting future challenges posed by climate change and growing water demand in the region.”
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The AWARe programme, launched by UNESCO, aims to promote sustainable water management, climate adaptation, and regional cooperation across Africa and the Middle East. It provides technical support, policy guidance, and training to governments and institutions, focusing on integrated water resource management, environmental monitoring, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Egypt faces increasing pressure on its water resources, driven by population growth, urban expansion, and upstream developments along the Nile. Authorities have emphasised that international cooperation and knowledge sharing are vital for ensuring water security, particularly under changing climate conditions.
Sewilam said Egypt will continue to engage with UNESCO and other regional partners to enhance the adoption of science-based approaches, strengthen early-warning systems, and build local capacity in water management and climate adaptation.
The ministry did not provide details on new funding or specific projects during the meeting, but officials stressed that the partnership will continue to focus on technical assistance, training programmes, and regional collaboration aimed at sustainable water governance.
The meeting underscores Egypt’s ongoing commitment to international partnerships in addressing climate change and water security, and reflects a broader effort to integrate scientific research, policy planning, and regional cooperation in tackling environmental challenges.
