4. Workshops
The two Workshops are convened by ACWUA took place on the 7th of December 2010; the first one addressing twinning between water utilities in cooperation with the UN-HABITAT – Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA), and the second one aimed at water sector regulatory commissions in cooperation with German Agency for Development (GTZ).
The workshop aims at helping water operators to help one another in which know-how is a major limiting factor in the capacity of water supply and sanitation (WSS) operators to provide good service, these operators are also the greatest source of the innovation, skills, and knowledge required to overcome service provision obstacles. By using suitable exchange and transfer mechanisms, the bank of know-how, skills, and software resources can be better distributed amongst WSS operators to enhance the global capacity to markedly improve performance for the benefit of the poor.
a) Arab Water Utilities Matchmaking workshop
The Workshop showed twining case studies, discussing utility priorities and capacity development needs, and to address these needs through water operators partnerships. The main expected outcome is a list of potential pairs of “utility twins” that can help each other through systematic exchange of experience and expertise. Resulting twining partnerships between WSS operators in the Region will be collaboratively supported by GWOPA and ACWUA in the future.
To view the event 's pictures please click here.
b) Regulation in the Middle East Water Sector workshop
This workshop is an important event within the Arab Water Week to create awareness and exchange experience on regulation between utilities in the region by disseminating lessons learned and information about regulation through reports, and active contribution to develop a common and better understanding on regulation as well as to initiate interest in the implementation of regulation on high levels.
To view the event 's pictures please click here.
5. 2 days training course on Benchmarking for Top Management at water and wastewater utilities
As ACWUA is aware of the importance of building the capacities of workers in the Arab Water Utilities, a two-day training session in cooperation with InWEnt Capacity Building International, Germany was held, towards the end of the event tackling the topic of Key Performance Indicators and Benchmarking in Water Utilities, where more than 50 participants attended this training program, including top managers of water utilities and senior staff from associations, water boards, ministries of the water sector in the Arab region. Their role is to oversee, to guide and manage the process of benchmarking and applying performance indicators at utility level or for the whole water sector and – most important - to use the information for appropriate decision making.
Water utilities in the MENA region are striving hard to improve their efficiency, quality of services and levels of performance. Key performance indicators are an instrument in helping to manage the utility and to make decisions at all levels. Tailor made indicators and benchmarking systems provide information on important aspects on processes, metric aspects as well as on issues at corporate level. This course provides guidance for better understanding in developing and applying performance indicators and benchmarking systems. It complements the 5-day regional training course held in Alexandria July 2010 for mid management and professionals from the region.
Participants got an overview and introduction to common practices regarding key performance indicators and their application in water utilities to provide strategic guidance to manage indicators and benchmarking systems appropriately and to use them as decision making tools. The ultimate goal is to improve performance of the urban water sector at process and corporate levels. The exposure to international and regional applications will lead to an in-depth exchange of experience and lively discussion
i. to contribute to the development of useful indicators at national or organisational level, and
ii. to promote common indicators for use within the Arab Region in the context of the mandate of ACWUA.
To view the event 's pictures please click here.
6. Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation agreements
The conference activities included signing several agreements intended to finance ACWUA’s Technical Working Groups and some of its other training and capacity building programs aimed at serving ACWUA’s members, as well as to organize for the participation of international organizations in ACWUA’s future conferences and exhibitions, in addition to sponsoring the participation of ACWUA in other international conferences and exhibitions.
1. A cooperation agreement with the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI): The Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) presented by Secretary General Eng. Khaldon Khashman and Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) presented by Dr. Håkan Tropp, signed an agreement of cooperation between both parties to build linkages between the World Water Week in Stockholm and the Arab Water Week in Amman, Jordan. The agreement entails several proposed areas for cooperation, providing a foundation for the exchange of knowledge and expertise between both weeks through communications and marketing, capacity building and technical assistance. Endorsing the agreement on SIWIs part, SIWIs Executive Director Mr. Anders Berntell, commented that SIWI already facilitates projects, research and capacity building in the Nile, Tigris, Euphrates, the Jordan River basins. We look forward to reaching even more parts of the MENA region in the future.” For its part, ACWUA Secretary General Eng. Khaldon Khashman said the agreement with the World Water Week will help place Arab water issues and ambitions on the global agenda. ACWUA will present the solutions of the Arab Water Week at the 2011 World Water Week in Stockholm in August 21-27.
2. A cooperation agreement with the German Water Partnership (GWP) to enhance the level of the said cooperation. By virtue of the MoU, the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association and the German Water Partnership hereby agree to expand their ties in the water and wastewater sector in the following fields:
1) Research and Development
2) Capacity Development
3) Know-how and water and wastewater technology transfer
4) Cooperation for the Arab Water Week:
3. A cooperation agreement with Engicon O&M. The Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) presented by H.E Secretary General -Eng. Khaldoun Khashman and Engicon O&M presented by the Chief Executive Officer -Mr. Tarek Zuriekat, signed a document of cooperation between the two parties. The signature ceremony was attende by H.E Eng. Nadia Abdou, Chairperson of ACWUA , and Eng. Ruediger Heidebricht, Head of the training and international cooperation at the German Association for Water, Wastewater and Waste (DWA) as well as representatives from both parties. The cooperation agreement initiated the collaboration of the two parties in providing training services and capacity building programs for water and wastewater technical and management personnel. This is to be done through jointly developing a specialized training program that fits the requirements of the local and regional market.
4. A cooperation agreement with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to fund two of ACWUA’s Technical Working Groups, which are: the Management of Utilities Technical Working Group and the Utilities Reform Technical Working Group.
5. A cooperation agreement with the Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ghorfa). The Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) and Ghorfa Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an agreement to cooperate in promoting events and exhibitions organised by both parties mutually, both agreed also to stipulate a common platform for members of ACWUA and Ghorfa as well as to participate with an information booth at events of ACWUA and Ghorfa.
6. A cooperation agreement with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (ICUN) in the areas of Capacity Building, Water Governance, and Integrated Water Resource Management. The Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Both have agreed to strengthen each other’s efforts and collaborate in the following areas at water and wastewater utility levels: Capacity building in systemic approaches to IWRM, support to water governance, support tools for management of shared water resources and Policy influencing for more effective IWRM.
7. A cooperation agreement with Berlinwasser International on holding conferences and exhibitions.
8. A cooperation Agreement with the International Exhibition for water, environment and energy – IFAT in Munchen Messe, to cooperate in the area of international exhibitions and conferences that both parties organize.
To view the event 's pictures please click here.