In the framework of the GEF MedProgramme activities, GWP-Med, UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, PAP/RAC and Plan Bleu joined forces to assist Lebanon in finding solutions to priority challenges related to securing key life resources and protecting its environment. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approach is carried out by GWP-Med in Lebanon, in synergy with activities undertaken in the country towards the preparation of conjunctive water management of key aquifers (led by UNESCO-IHP), the drafting of a revised national Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) strategy and climate change adaptation and resilience efforts (through the support of Plan Bleu).
On the 27 and 28 of February, a two-day Multi-stakeholder Consultation Meeting took place in Beirut (Lebanon). Gathering 90 different stakeholders, the goal of the Consultation was to promote tangible solutions contributing to the security of water, energy and food resources, while protecting valuable ecosystems and their functions in Lebanon.
The first part provided an overview of MedProgramme activities in Lebanon, including their implementation status and opportunities for enhanced environmental security in the country.
During the second part, the key findings 1st Consultation Meeting (which took place in August 2022), as well as the methodology adopted for the preparation and prioritization of Phase I of the WEFE Nexus Assessment were presented for validation and to lead the discussion on identification of potential interlinkages among Nexus solutions.
The third part of the Consultation focused on the implementation of priority WEFE Nexus solutions and their contribution to the ICZM Planning, climate resilience and conjunctive management of water resources. Future steps of the Nexus work in Lebanon were presented, including their synergy with ICZM planning and climate resilience efforts undertaken in the framework of the MedProgramme.
The fourth and last part was dedicated to discussions on conjunctive management of surface and groundwater in coastal aquifers in Lebanon (specifically the Damour aquifer) and linkages between this work, the WEFE Nexus and ICZM.
To learn more about the activities of Plan Bleu in the framework of the MedProgramme: https://planbleu.org/projets/fem-medprogramme/
