On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the National Workshop of the RESWATER Project, implemented under the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, was held at the Royal Maxim Palace Kempinski Cairo. The project focuses on enhancing the use of non-conventional water resources for resilient urban water management. The workshop witnessed broad participation from representatives of relevant national entities, experts, specialists, as well as members of the local community and beneficiary groups
In this context, the project contributes to the implementation of Egypt’s Irrigation 2.0 strategy, particularly by promoting the use of non-conventional water resources, supporting capacity building and stakeholder engagement, and fostering integrated approaches for sustainable water resources management, while laying the groundwork for the gradual adoption of more advanced smart and resilient water management practices
The workshop was inaugurated by Eng. Walid Hakiki, Head of the Strategic Management Sector, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of the project in supporting the sustainable management of non-conventional water resources and enhancing cities’ capacity to address water challenges
The workshop featured a presentation on the overall framework of the project, its objectives, and expected outcomes, delivered by Prof. Dr. Reham El-Korashy, RESWATER Project Manager. This was followed by a presentation on the pilot activity planned to be implemented in Egypt, along with discussions on priority solutions in the field of non-conventional water resources and their suitability for application in light of local needs
The agenda also included a presentation of the preliminary results of analytical studies, discussions on feasibility studies related to the proposed solutions, as well as showcasing a number of relevant best practices and facilitating knowledge exchange among participating entities, thereby supporting the integration of national efforts in this field
Furthermore, the workshop addressed mechanisms for establishing a national Living Lab, exploring ways to build a Community of Practice, and reviewing capacity-building needs required to support the integration of non-conventional water resources into policies and implementation practices
The sessions included extensive interactive discussions on future action plans, defining roles and responsibilities, and outlining clear follow-up and implementation mechanisms. In addition, discussions highlighted ways to strengthen partnerships and coordination among stakeholders to achieve the project’s objectives
The workshop was attended by representatives from several national entities and key partners, including Matrouh Governorate, the Holding Company for Water and Wastewater, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates, the American University in Cairo, Ain Shams University, the Groundwater Sector, the National Water Research Center and its affiliated research institutes—including the Water Resources Research Institute—the Regional Training Center for Water Resources and Irrigation, and the Egyptian Shore Protection Authority, all under the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, as well as the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency and representatives of the local community in Matrouh Governorate
The workshop concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Abdelbaqi Hossam El-Garhy, Eng. Sama El-Baroudi, and Eng. Mona Maher, Project Coordinators, during which the following key points were emphasized
The importance of enhancing coordination and integration among stakeholders to maximize the benefits of the project outcomes
Supporting and adopting innovative, applicable solutions in the field of water resources, while documenting and sharing them with the project team in preparation for their inclusion in the Best Practices Catalogue.
Expanding the implementation of sustainable practices for non-conventional water resources to help reduce pressure on limited conventional water sources
This workshop comes within the framework of the project’s efforts to promote sustainable and resilient water resources management and to maximize the utilization of non-conventional water resources in Egypt
