***  EMWIS Technical Unit wishes you a peaceful and Happy New Year 2020 ! ***

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In this issue N°147 (http://www.emwis.net/thematicdirs/eflash/flash147)
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HEADLINE

1- Water Action Event at COP25 

In Brief

11- SUPROMED: launch of national activities in Tunisia and Lebanon for sustainable agriculture

12- VISCA: Benefits of climate services in agriculture, 9th-10th December 2019, Barcelona

13- EdiCitNet: Visit to Edible City Solutions in Sant Feliu del llobregat

14- HYDROUSA: Co-creation workshop on local water loops in Tinos island, 22nd November 2019

15- Med-Greenhouses: Final conference and launch of a Mediterranean Agricultural Transnational Innovative  Cluster

16- Circular City in Action : state of the art and case studies

17- France, Jordan sign 250-million-euro grant agreement to support judiciary, water sectors

18- Montenegro Prepares to Manage Flood Risks

19- Improving irrigation for date palm cultivation in Palestine: EU-funded MEDISS project presented to 30 beneficiaries

20- The Egyptian government is about to launch a new "modern" irrigation system  

21- Tunisia, Wastewater: The programs launched are not clear

22- No new boreholes”: government announces measures to tackle drought in southern Portugal

23- Morocco: KfW lends €55.5 million to Onee for several water projects in the Kingdom

24- Morocco: Emerging Business Factory organises hackathon on water

25- Morocco: Small scale Climate Change water sector project preparation in Souss Massa

26- Heavy rains causing widespread flooding in Israel

PUBLICATIONS

CALL FOR TENDERS AND PROPOSALS

CALL FOR PAPERS

TRAINING AND COURSES

EVENTS

CONTACT US / COMMENTS

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HEADLINE
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1-   The 25th Conference of the Parties (COP25) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was held from Monday 2 to Friday 13 December in Madrid. Various side events and action hubs were targeting the water sector focusing on nature based solutions, ecosystems based adaptation, SDG6, water security. But the key event was the official Global Climate Action Event on Water organised by the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action in which participants called just to add water into the solutions for the Nationally Determined Contributions to reach their mitigation and adaptation goals. Indeed the water momentum created at COP22 in Marrakech is decreasing year after year. Further information on EMWIS website

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IN BRIEF (Full news)
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2-  The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched on 4 December 2019 in Tunisia the Regional Conference on Improving Water Productivity in Agriculture in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. This three-day conference is the first meeting of the “Collaborative Platform on Water Productivity” of the regional Initiative on Water Scarcity (IWS) for NENA. This conference is gathering researchers, young innovators and policy makers in a scientific arena to discuss the status of water productivity in the region, the challenges facing the agricultural sector and the available solutions. The conference is also supported by the FAO regional project “Implementing the 2030 Agenda on Water Efficiency, Productivity and Sustainability in the Near East and North Africa,” funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The conference allowed experts to debate on methods for Water Productivity (WP) improvement, and the role of WP in reinforcing agricultural sustainability, promoting economic development, maintaining social stability and protecting the environment in rural areas and cities. In his inaugural speech, Philippe Ankers, FAO Sub-Regional Coordinator for North Africa, said that “projections show that the frequency of drought could increase by 20 to 60 percent before the end of the century, and that no other region was touched by desertification as much as the Near East and North Africa.” He called for acting “quickly” to address “the triple burden of sustainable water management, climate change, and food security and nutrition.” Mr. Ankers urged experts, decision-makers and young innovators to help transform the way we use water in the short-, mid- and long-term, hoping that the collaborative platform created by FAO can facilitate this process. Further information on EMWIS website

3- The Mediterranean region has already reached the temperature rise threshold of 1.5°C, warming up 20% faster than the global average, according to the first-ever scientific report on the impact of climate and environmental change in the Mediterranean. The main conclusions of this study were presented at the COP25 by the UfM and MedECC, a network of more than 600‏ Euro-Mediterranean scientists whose creation was supported by the UfM in 2015. UfM Secretary General Nasser Kamel, took part in the high-level segment of the COP25 and highlighted some of the most alarming facts from the report. He pointed out that data collection and evidence-based climate policies are crucial for the region to effectively tackle the current environmental issues. “Governments are set to submit national climate action plans at COP26. This scientific knowledge, together with multiple examples of best-practice actions to address climate change, should be helpful for countries to adopt much more ambitious goals. "We look forward to bringing climate ambition in the Mediterranean to new heights”, he said. The final scientific report will be presented in 2020 to the Ministers of Environment and Climate Change from the 43 UfM Member States, together with key recommendations for policymakers. Further information on EMWIS website 

4- The 14th meeting of the network of Mediterranean parliamentarians and stakeholders (Compsud 2019) was organized in Rabat in Morocco on 17 December at a time when the environment and sustainable developments are experiencing many difficulties and challenges across the world and in particular at the Mediterranean level. The meeting focused on the implementation of an inspiring new vision to address and meet these challenges of the new decade by 2030 and for the achievement of the objectives of sustainable development in the region. Peace, prosperity, well-being in a clean environment are threatened. The Compsud meeting organized in the Moroccan Parliament was an opportunity for parliamentarians and other partners, including high-level officials and experts from regional and international organizations and bodies active in the Mediterranean region, to discuss policies, good practices and important topics like climate change, plastic marine pollution, unconventional water resources and compost… Further information on EMWIS website

5- Rome, 6th December 2019. The 1st Annual Conference on Water Investment and Financing was organised in the framework of the MED – Mediterranean Dialogues in Rome, as part of the UfM Water agenda & Financial Strategy. The main goal of the conference, as presented by the UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, during his intervention, was “to push the boundaries of traditional thinking about water investments by discussing evidence-based knowledge on opportunities to facilitate new forms of financing and enhance the sustainability of the sector”. The conference highlighted the necessity of water cooperation for regional security in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The session discussed and examined appropriate options for blending different sources of financing among the stakeholders, international organisations and new forms of Public-Private Partnership. The UfM Secretariat is determined to pave the road for a stronger role for the private actors in the water sector, as this is a cornerstone for sustainable financing. This includes supporting Governments in developing a long-term vision on how to involve the private sector, with the necessary policy-reforms to insure guarantees in delivering such a vital service and resource. Further information on EMWIS website

6- Within the framework of the Regional Cooperation Project for the Sustainable Management of Maghreb Water Resources - CREM, the Sahara and Sahel Observatory and the GIZ organised an international seminar "Water and climate change in the Maghreb : Challenges and opportunities" on 25th and 26th November, 2019, in Tunis. The event addressed different issues specific to the water sector in Maghreb countries and offered local and international experts, politicians, and students an opportunity to share their experiences. Several Ministers from Tunisia and Nigeria opened the seminar that was concluded after a rich debate by a set of recommendations on regional cooperation, joint governance of water and climate change, financing, knowledge development and enhancement, capacity building and development of measures for climate change adaptation and water sector resilience.  Further information on EMWIS website

7- Webster Athens hosted the International Scientific Forum “The Water” on Dec. 10-11. This Forum was organized by the Center of European Studies and Humanities "Ioannis Kapodistrias" in close cooperation with Webster Athens and under the auspices of the President to the Hellenic Republic on the premises of Zapio, in Athens, Greece. The Forum targeted several main aims: to provide academics, researchers, representatives of the government and business people a platform where they could share their ideas, present papers and receive feedback about their research. The exchange of ideas seeded links for future collaborations across the various organizations in Greece and in Europe. This Forum created an opportunity to build relations with other academics and experts in the same or similar field of studies from different parts of the world and to share thoughts and information on recent advances in the field of protection of the environment and water resources. Further information on EMWIS website

8- The third edition of the World Youth Forum in Egypt, which gathered more than 7000 participants, hosted on 16 December the first-ever Model Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), where over 90 young people of 43 different nationalities from around the globe exchanged views and recommended initiatives to decision-makers and influential figures. The event was attended by a wide range of participants that debated key topics for their generation around the globe namely employment and climate change, in a simulation of UfM Ministerial Conferences. The UfM collaborated with the World Youth Forum, and interacted with key actors on youth, with the aim of promoting the role of young people in societies in the Euro-Mediterranean region, as well as to complement the ongoing process to develop the UfM Youth Strategy. In their Declaration on Environment and Climate Change, the youth delegates voiced the need for better regional cooperation and integration to tackle climate change by providing opportunities for the development of a circular economic model as well as blue and green financing. In the Declaration on Employment and Labour, youth delegates stressed the urgent need to create jobs for women and youth, foster entrepreneurship and develop cross-border projects in the Mediterranean, in order to equip youth with the future skills that will be required in the time of technological innovation and a rapidly changing job market. Further information on EMWIS website

9- The 5th Edition of the Conference ''Hydrodiplomacy and climate change for peace'' aims to explore the interest of advocating the concepts of Hydrodiplomacy, Mediation and the Nexus on the international basins, to ensure abundant water of good quality to future generations in the world and foster a global culture of water for peace. It will take place on 20 January 2020 at the French Senate in Paris.  Two workshops will be held before the event, one on “sustainable gouvernance of the Mediterranean” and one on “mediation for a sustainable gouvernance of the Nile basin”.  Further information on EMWIS website

10- The representatives of the 14 countries participating in the ENI CBC Med Programme met in Amman, Jordan on the 4th and 5th of December and adopted  important  decisions. Based on the results of the assessment performed by the Projects Selection Committee, the Joint Monitoring Committee has admitted 42 project proposals to Step 2 of the evaluation process of the call for strategic projects including 6 projects in the water sector. Upon proposal of the Managing Authority, the members of the Joint Monitoring Committee have decided to launch a call for capitalization projects in view of exploiting and transferring the achieved results. The call will be launched within the first half of 2020. The indicative available budget is 11 million euros.  Further information on EMWIS website  

11- Two out of the 3 demo sites of the SUPROMED project (Sustainable production in water limited environments of mediterranean agro-ecosystem) have officially launched their activities. The Tunisians partners organised on 19 November  a national kick-off meeting in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia. During the meeting local partners " INGC & INRGREF" met the main regional stakeholders and presented the project activities planned in Tunisia. The workshop brought together more than 70 participants representing farmers, researchers regional and national decision-makers. A similar event was organised in Lebanon by the lebaneases partners (ULFA, Difaf) on 17 December 2019 announcing the beginning of the activities at the national level. SUPROMED project started last October, co-financed by PRIMA (Programme for Research an Innovation in the Mediterranean). It aims to enhance the economic and environmental sustainability of Mediterranean farming systems through a more efficient management of water, energy and fertilizers by integrating different models into a Decision Support System. For more information about the project click here.

12- Organised by the project coordinator, METEOSIM, VISCA project held its 3rd General Meeting on 9th-10th December 2019 followed by the Stakeholders’ Workshop on 11th December 2019 in Barcelona. The partners presented the current status of  "Vineyards´ Integrated Smart Climate Application" VISCA, the project development and the achieved milestones during the previous 32 months. They presented the 1st results of VISCA DSS demonstration in 3 Vineyards (Portugal, Spain and Italy). The Stakeholders’ Workshop followed the meeting with the presence of the Advisory Board members and external guests who had the opportunity for networking and were introduced to VISCA DSS. Interesting feedback on the added value of climate services and replicability opportunities of VISCA was collected. For the year 2020, VISCA partners aim to focus on validating the information provided by the DSS during the next growing and harvesting season and to focus on exploitation, replicability and dissemination activities. For further information, check VISCA official website

13- On 24 October 2019, during the annual meeting of the Edible Cities Network (EdiCitNet project) a visit and exchange of experiences was organised in Sant Feliu del Llobregat. The event brought together experts on NBS (Nature based Solutions) and representatives from different cities and universities from all over Europe as well as Tunisia. After the exchange of experiences, the members of the EdiCitNet consortium and representatives of the City Council and the city team visited the referenced projects that integrate Edible Cities Solutions (ECS) in the municipality of Sant Feliu, the urban and peri-urban gardens of the Parc Agrari of Baix Llobregat and the social gardens nearby the Parc Agrari. This ECS combines the recovery of an urban space for agriculture and labor insertion. The visit was conducted by the director of the Solidarity Foundation of the University of Barcelona, a foundation that launched the social garden project, and a technician of the NGO Tarpuna (project manager). The Agricultural Park of Baix Llobregat (Parc Agrari) is located in the alluvial plains of the delta and lower valley of the Llobregat river in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. It extends over 3,000 hectares of agricultural farms that belong to fourteen municipalities, including Sant Feliu de Llobregat. This urban agricultural area produces a great percentage of the fruits and vegetables that are sold in the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona markets. The farmers who work the land have acquired the know-how accumulated over the more than 200 years of horticultural tradition in the region. Check EdiCitNet official website

14- HYDROUSA project is designing and implementing water loops with innovative regenerative business models for the Mediterranean region. Two pilot applications are on Tinos island, Greece: an alternative desalination system based on biomimicry design to provide water to a greenhouse (HYDRO5), and a self-sufficient eco-tourist unit which operations are fully circular (HYDRO6). On 22nd November 2019, co-creation workshop was organised in Tinos to re-imagine the island as a paradigm of sustainable development showcasing smart applications incorporating values of circular economy. Farmers, agriculturists, representatives of local authority, restaurant owners, construction workers, artists, teachers & academics teamed up to co-design the future of Tinos.  Further information on this workshop can be found on HYDROUSA website. Also, check the current status of the project.

15- MED GREENHOUSES Project hold its final  Steering Committee Meeting and conference on 3&4 DECEMBER 2019 in Volos at the University of Thessaly, Dept. of Agriculture premises. During the final conference the project coordinator presented to the participants the results and output of the project. One of the main outputs of the project is a  Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of a Mediterranean cluster.  The MoU is an initiative taken by the Partners of the MED Greenhouses with the participation of key actors of the Mediterranean Agriculture/Greenhouse sector. It aims to promote eco-innovative investments, Green Growth and Sustainable Agriculture in Mediterranean region. The MoU is available on Med-Greenhouses website, by signing the MoU, any interested actor from the agricultural sector will automatically register as members of the Agricultural Transnational Innovative (ATI) – Cluster.

16- The COST Action Circular City launched a Special Issue on "Towards Circular Cities" in the new IWAP Open Access on-line journal Blue-Green Systems (https://iwaponline.com/bgs). This issue is part of a broader report available from #Circular City website. It is composed of a general introduction “Implementing nature-based solutions for creating a resourceful circular city” followed by five state-of-the-art review papers from the Action's five Working  Groups: 1. “Enhancing the circular economy with nature-based solutions in the built urban environment: Green building materials, systems and sites”; 2. “State of the Art of Implementing Nature Based Solutions for Urban Water Utilization Towards Resourceful Circular Cities”; 3. “A review of nature-based solutions for resource recovery in cities”; 4. “Urban agriculture as an innovative mechanism to secure cities a sustainable and healthy development in the future”; 5. “Transformation Tools Enabling the Implementation of Nature-based Solutions for Creating a Resourceful Circular City”. In  total  105  persons  from  35  COST  countries contributed to the review papers. Further information on Emwis website

17- The government and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed three soft loan agreements worth 250 million euros to finance projects to develop the judiciary and water sectors and reconstruct the sewage system in Balqa, Jordan. Planning and International Cooperation Minister Wissam Rabadi, Deputy Chief of Mission of French Embassy Thierry Caboche and AFD Director in Amman Luc Le Cabellec signed the three agreements in the presence of Justice Minister Bassam Talhouni. The first agreement entails a soft loan of 150 million euros, representing the AFD's contribution to a joint loan with the German Development Bank to fund water sector policy development through the general budget. The amount granted under the agreement will be disbursed in two rounds of 75 million euros each, the statement said, adding that this agreement is the third with the AFD to support water sector development. The second agreement, worth 40 million euros, will support the justice sector development policy through the general budget.  The third agreement includes funding a sewage project in northeastern Balqa through a soft loan of 60 million euros, with the aim of increasing the system’s collection and treatment capacity.
Under the project, the Baqaa water treatment plant will be closed and a new station will be constructed in northeastern Balqa with a capacity of 36,000 cubic metres per day that can be expanded to 54,000 cubic metres per day. This scheme is expected to serve some 220,000 inhabitants of northeastern Balqa until 2027. Further information on EMWIS website

18-  December 3, 2019 - Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Montenegro has earmarked considerable funds for the implementation of new projects in the domain of water management through which Montenegro will receive first plans for managing risks from floods. This project will contribute to strengthening capacities in the domain of water management and environment protection. The project is implemented by the Public Works Administration. Director-General of the Directorate for Water Management, Mr Momčilo Blagojević, pointed out that Montenegro had adopted important legislative and strategic documents in the domain of water management and that implementation of numerous projects aimed at better management of underground and surface waters was underway.Further information on EMWIS website

19- Monther Hind, director general of the Palestinian Wastewater Engineers Group (PWEG) and project manager of MEDISS, has met with the Palestinian beneficiaries of the project in Jericho, namely the Palm Farm Cooperatives Association and its President Mr Ghazi Zahir. MEDISS project, 'Mediterranean Integrated System for Water Supply', addresses the issue of improving the quality of saline groundwater in the Mediterranean area, opening alternative irrigation options for higher quality and more diversified cultivations (dates, citrus, etc.). MEDISS project is co-funded by the ENI CBC Med Programme - Cooperating across borders in the Mediterranean. According to the features and specific needs of the partner areas, MEDISS will test innovative solutions in the use of treated wastewater and desalination of brackish water. Specific awareness initiatives for end-users will challenge their reluctance toward the use of non-conventional water resources (NCWR) and train them on Best Agricultural Practices. On the longer term, the project will contribute to reducing stress on freshwater, as well as costs for water supply. At the same time, higher productivity and diversification of crops will increase food security and income for farmers. Local communities and institutions will be empowered, contributing to behavioural change on the use of NCWR and on environmentally and economically sustainable development. Further information on EMWIS website

20- The Egyptian government is continuing its policy of rationalising water consumption, by replacing the irrigation system currently in place. The Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture will soon launch a new “modern” irrigation system. This is a change of method recommended by the experts. It involves replacing flood irrigation practices used to grow cereals such as rice. Instead, the government advocates drip, bubble irrigation and mist spraying. These new systems should enable Egyptian farmers to work without depleting water resources. For several months, the Egyptian government has been engaged in a plan to rationalise water consumption. The decrease in the flow of the Nile River is partly responsible for this new policy. According to the government, the amount of rainwater entering the Nile from Ethiopian mountain ranges is below seasonal standards. As a result, the flow of the Nile will decrease by 5 billion m3. “This deficit represents 10% of Egypt’s share of the Nile’s 55.5 billion cubic metres of water, as established in a 1959 agreement allocating Nile water rights,” the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources recently stated. In response to this situation, in August 2019, the Egyptian government decided to amend Law 53/1966 on agriculture. Restrictions are now imposed on the cultivation of rice, sugar cane, bananas and all crops with a high water content. Further information on EMWIS website

21- Despite the studies and efforts made, especially during the 1980s and 1990s, to ensure the development of treated wastewater use in Tunisia, the programs launched were not based on a clear methodology, "said Faycal Sayari, principal technician at the Directorate General for Rural Engineering and Water Development (DGGREE). He recalled, during a meeting on "Tunisia's challenges for unconventional water", organized on the sidelines of the first edition of the International Exhibition of the development of unconventional water resources and water treatment,  that the reuse of wastewater allows to protect the environment from discharges with stagnant recovery, to balance water supply between different regions, in particular those poor in water and to reduce the depletion of groundwater in the central and the south regions, which depend on the exploitation of surface and deep wells. Thus, he called for "making the most of these resources "available throughout the year that are not directly affected by climate change". The annual volume of unconventional water produced by ONAS (National Tunisian wastewater utility), he said, has grown from 140 Mm3 during the 1990s to 275 Mm3 today. As for the volume of treated wastewater distributed, it went from 5.5 Mm3 to 18 Mm3 today, "the equivalent of a dam". Further information on EMWIS website

22- Stopping the drilling of new boreholes and promoting the use of treated wastewater in agriculture and tourism are the main measures suggested by the Portuguese government to tackle the country’s state of drought which is particularly dire in the Algarve and Alentejo. The announcement was made by the Minister of Environmental and Energetic Transition, João Pedro Matos Fernandes, at the end of an Interministerial Drought Commission meeting on November 20. “This drought is a structural problem. We must change the way we consume water in Portugal,” he said. Fernandes explained that the drought is much worse in the south of Portugal and that both the Ministries of Agriculture and Energy will take part in meetings with local councils and representatives of the agriculture and tourism sector, particularly from the golf industry, on Saturday, November 30 to discuss these issues. To minimise the effects of the drought, particularly in the Algarve and Alentejo, the minister announced the suspension of “new groundwater boreholes in the south of the country”. The government will also start promoting the use of treated wastewater for the irrigation of golf courses and agricultural lands. As Fernandes pointed out, it can also be used by local councils to clean the streets and water gardens. Further information on EMWIS website

23- Morocco’s National Electricity and Drinking Water Authority (ONEE) has new funds to use to advance its projects. They were obtained through a loan from the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the German development agency. The loan agreements were recently signed between Abderrahim El Hafidi, General Manager of Onee, Jorg Dux, Head of Water Division, North Africa of KfW, and Markus Faschina, Director of KfW’s office in Morocco. The funds allocated to ONEE by KfW will be used to implement Phase I of Component II of the Drinking Water Supply Programme for Small and Medium-sized Centres. In concrete terms, €28.5 million has been allocated to strengthen the supply of drinking water in several localities in this North African country. On the technical level, these are the reinforcement of pumping stations, treatment plants, reservoirs and the distribution network. ONEE estimates that this project will benefit 1.5 million people in Morocco. Further information on EMWIS website

24-"Too much water, too little water” is the theme that has been chosen for the very first edition of the Hackathon Water  held in Marrakech from the 13th to the 15th of December 2019. The aim of this competition was to bring together technology and innovation actors around the same goal: to use digital technology to design innovative solutions as a team to reduce water stress in Morocco. The competition is part of the national water plan that Morocco has established to limit drinking water shortages in the country and encourage sustainable and environmentally responsible water consumption.The water hackathon, which is being held for the first time in Morocco, is an initiative of Emerging business factory, in partnership with the German Cooperation Agency, GIZ and other organisations, including the General Confederation of Enterprises for Morocco (CGEM), the Marrakech-Safi Regional Council and the Marrakech Municipal Council. Further information on EMWIS website

25- The Global Alliance for Water and Climate’s Incubation Platform (GAWCIP) was established at COP22 to launch “100 projects for water and climate change in Africa”. The objective of this platform  is to bridge the gap between donors and project holders (a lack of good and fundable projects, mixed with the complexity of water and climate finance and the lack of local capacity for project design) in particular for micro or small projects at local levels. In 2019, the French Water Agencies mandated the International Office for Water (OIEau) to support the preparation to 20 projects on water and adaptation to climate change in different African countries in the next 5 years. The Souss Massa region in Morocco is one the targeted area, where 2 projects have been identified and are under preparation with a strong commitment of local stakeholders and the population. One is related to the preservation and development of Tiout oasis heritage thanks to a sustainable agro-touristic activity based on a better water valuation, while the second one aims at improving the resilience of rural population in Arghen river basin (covering 6 municipalities) by strengthening water supply and sanitation as well as protecting agricultural areas from more and more server flash floods. On 2 December 2019, a Local Water Commission gathering all key players reviewed the preparation process of the 2 projects under the hospice of the Governor of Taroudant province. Municipalities, the river basin agency, regional water directorate, agriculture authority as well as the national water authority (ONEE) are committed to provided technical studies for the implementation of these projects. Further information on EMWIS website

26- The storm that hit Israel over the first weekend of this year was especially powerful, claiming the lives of four people. At least 83 mm  of rain fell in central, coastal Israeli cities on Saturday 04 January within just  few hours, causing widespread flooding and forcing road closures. Further information on EMWIS website

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NOMINATIONS and VACANCIES
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27-  UT SEMIDE is recruiting an administrative and financial monitoring officer to join its team in Sophia-antipolis, France. A Minimum experience of 4 years is required. The application file including a motivation letter and a curriculum vitae must be sent by email  before January 20, 2020. Further information on EMWIS website

28- From 16 December 2019 to 29 February 2020, the CIHEAM is opening a call for contribution for its “Field Research Initiative” (FRI) project. The FRI supports PhD students and young researchers to apply, broaden and disseminate the results of their research contributing to: eradicate hunger and malnutrition, enhance the sustainability and resilience of agriculture, improve water use and livelihoods, reduce rural poverty, support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while reducing the negative effects of migratory pressures in the region.
The CIHEAM invites PhD students and young researchers to conduct short-term field research related to food and nutrition security, sustainable agriculture and rural development, climate change mitigation and plant health in order to enhance practical skills. Further information on EMWIS website

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PUBLICATIONS
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29- Digital technologies in agriculture and rural areas  a new report published by the FAO. The report is published amidst well-known challenges faced in food and agriculture and the expected future challenges due to forecasted population growth, it covers various technological challenges such as mobile devices, social media, precision agriculture, remote sensing, big data, blockchain, ERP, intelligent systems as well as financing. Further information on EMWIS website

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CALL FOR TENDERS AND PROPOSALS
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31- 318 M EUR is waiting for projects in the field of climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials. proposals can be  submitted until 13 February 2020. Further information on EMWIS website

32- The first Interreg NWE call for capitalisation is now open: In the framework of its capitalisation strategy, the North-West Europe programme (UK, Belgium, Luxembourg, part of France, Germany and the Netherlands) is developing various tools and activities aiming to maximise the impact of project results. This call for proposals is open until 10 January 2020 to projects approved in calls 1 to 4.The call for capitalisation “Maximising project impact” targets projects which have a solid ground for additional activities and where continuation of cooperation brings significant added value. Proposals of capitalisation initiatives should therefore stem from well performing and successful projects, with tangible results to showcase. They should build on existing results (foreseen or unforeseen) that have a strong potential for further uptake and roll-out throughout NWE, and potentially in the rest of the EU. Capitalisation initiatives should also clearly contribute to the programme’s objective of reducing territorial (economic, social and environmental) disparities in the NWE area. Proposals therefore need a strong territorial justification.  Further information on EMWIS website

33- ENI CBC Conference 2020 prepares for new European Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument: The ENI CBC conference 2020 will be held on 28-29 January 2020 in Brussels, Belgium. This year the event will be fully devoted to the preparation of the new generation of cross-border cooperation programmes under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). Most important, it will represent the first forum for common exchange on the draft “Joint paper on NDICI Interreg Strategic Programming 2021 – 2027”. Further information on EMWIS website

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CALL FOR PAPERS
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34- III International Symposium on Soil-less Culture and Hydroponics, 1-4 Nov 2020, Limassol/Lemesos, Cyprus. The Conference is a joint initiative of the Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus), Department of Agricultural Sciences, Biotechnology & Food Science and the University of Turin (Italy), Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences. Abstract submission deadline    15/01/2020. Further information on EMWIS website

35- 10th International Congress of the French Association for Political Economics (AFEP). The AFEP is a scientific association whose objective is to promote pluralism in the field of economics. The AFEP annual congress is an important moment for the association and for the community of economists. It allows the pluralism of theories, methods and objects to be brought to life. Beyond that, this approach encourages dialogue and inter disciplinarity within the humanities and the social sciences. For that reason, proposals from other disciplines than economics (economic sociology, management, anthropology, geography, planning, political sciences, history, philosophy, etc.) are welcome and encouraged.Topic of the 2020 Congress: “Resources”. Deadlines for thematic workshops (one page + references list + list of proposals for closed workshop) : 15th January 2020. Further information on EMWIS website

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TRAINING
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[2020/01/22 - 2020/01/22] Webinar: Water, Migration and Rural Development: What Do We Know? The webinar will present evidence and knowledge gaps and start a discussion on implications for potential interventions, highlighting issues of water insecurity and impacts on community members left behind. Further information on EMWIS website

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Events
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