Join Us at the World Food Forum for the Side Event ‘Empowering Youth for MENA’s Water and Ocean Sustainability’
CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform, Manhat, Visenleer
Quenching MENA’s Thirst: Navigating the Water Crisis Through Sustainable Water Solutions and Ocean Conservation Efforts Quenching MENA’s Thirst: Navigating the Water Crisis Through Sustainable Water Solutions and Ocean Conservation Efforts
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) stands as the world’s most water-scarce region, with only about 1% of global freshwater resources. The increasing demand for water from cities, industries, and agriculture has intensified the stress on these already hot and arid countries. The region is challenged by environmental and land degradation, rapid urbanization and persistent food insecurity, compounded by conflict, and complex water management and governance . More than 60% of the region’s population has little or no access to potable water .
Energy-intensive desalination methods are utilized to extract freshwater from seawater. However, these techniques generate vast amounts of brine waste, which is discharged into oceans, posing a grave threat to aquatic ecosystems.
With most of the economies in the region identifying as developing, with ambitious growth agenda, booming population and zealous needs and aspirations, water and climate-smart solutions play a key role in accommodating natural resources fragility and the expectations behind the national development plans. Enhancing water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity is an important regional goal.
With a positive, forward-looking outlook to explore these topics, the CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform, Manhat, and Visenleer are thrilled to announce the side event ‘Empowering Youth for MENA’s Water and Ocean Sustainability’, organized in the context of the Global Youth Forum at the World Food Forum 2023.
The primary objective of this side event is to raise awareness about the urgent need for sustainable water solutions and ocean conservation in the MENA region by fostering dialogue, encouraging youth engagement, and inspiring action to help address the global water crisis.
Panelists will explore policies and regulatory measures to encourage the adoption of sustainable desalination technologies and responsible brine waste management. They will also highlight the pivotal role of youth-led initiatives and innovations, including Manhat and Visenleer, in advancing sustainable water solutions and ocean conservation efforts in the MENA region, emphasizing the much-needed collaboration between scientists, decision-makers, and entrepreneurs to address the interconnected challenges of water sustainability and the health of oceans.
Join us on Wednesday, 18 October, from 10:30 to 11:30 CET at the FAO Headquarters Philippines Room for an engaging discussion on sustainable water solutions and ocean conservation efforts.
Register for the WFF flagship event in Rome, Italy and virtually, here: https://www.world-food-forum.org/en
More on the Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP)
The Accelerate for Impact Platform (A4IP) is the venture space that leverages Alliance and CGIAR's
legacy of research and innovation to co-design, accelerate and fund investments in science-driven
technologies addressing the world’s most urgent challenges. CGIAR Accelerate for Impact Platform is an initiative powered by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT’s Partnerships & Communications Unit; serving the acceleration effort within the Alliance and CGIAR system and connecting it with the agrifood and climate-tech ecosystems. By bridging scientific ingenuity with entrepreneurship for transformative ventures, the Accelerate for Impact Platform plays a catalytic role for scientists, startups, and other strategic partners driving innovation for our sustainable future.
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More on the Manhat
Manhat is a deep technology startup based in the United Arab Emirates; focusing on "natural water distillation" patented technology for sustainable water and floating farm solutions.
Website: https://www.manhatuae.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/manhatuae/
*Manhat was selected for the AgriTech4Uzbekistan Bootcamp and featured on our Venture-Event: A4IP Startup Showcase series. Learn more: https://alliancebioversityciat.org/stories/lessons-journey-lab-market-venturing-out-manhat-yieldsapp
More on the Visenleer
Visenleer is a startup that works on ocean conservation, and creating nature-based solutions that works directly with fishers from Egypt, and across Africa. Focusing on creating new sustainable textile material out of the ocean and fish waste.