Trans-boundary NGO Master Planning of the Lower Jordan River Basin
The development of a NGO master plan for the Lower Jordan River Valley is advancing: WEDO/ FoEME successfully completed an international tender process with the contracting of Royal Haskoning DHV (RHDHV) that will lead a consortium of experts from wide ranging fieldsto maximize the adoption of a uniform methodology and facilitate integration at all levels and stages of the master plan.
Moreover, in 2012 the project has successfully completed a set of core activities.
· 3 consortium meetingsto introduce the partners, review work plans and discuss progress advancement.
· An extremely successful 'SIWI Middle East Seminar' was held in Amman, Jordan in September, 2012. It brought together approximately 80 high level officials from the region and from the international community. Representatives of all key Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli decision making bodies, ministries etc. relevant for the rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River were present. A panel of representatives of other SWIM Demonstration projects showcased the overall aims of the SWIM Programme and aRiver Basin Organization Panel with representatives from the Danube, Ganges, Okavanga and Rhine River basins highlighted linkages to other basins.
· 52 media articles were published over the last year highlighting FoEME's efforts to rehabilitate the Lower Jordan River. This important wide-scale exposure provides the basis for strong international pressure on national decision makers to develop and implement a plan for the rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River.
· The project is receiving an enormous amount of visibility in numerous meetings, conferences and presentations - in academic institutions and other venues – as part of the efforts to gain the support of public officials for the rehabilitation of the Lower Jordan River.
National Forum meetings are planned for March 2013 in Jordan, Israel and Palestine, to coincide with the RHDHV public consultation process in the region. Specific sections of the regional master plan will be presented in this occasion, as they are developed.