Water scarcity remains a key challenge for agricultural development in the MENA region, including Egypt. Scarcity is rapidly growing as a result of climate change and rapid increases in water demand for other uses. Considering that Egypt’s agri-food system provided critical cushioning for economic growth, jobs, and household income negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is paramount that more consideration is given to the important role of water security for Egypt’s food systems. With agriculture utilizing over 80% of Egypt’s water resources, meeting these challenges will require bold actions and new mindsets directed at water and food systems transformations to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

This Independent Dialogue convened in partnership between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) will discuss the Role of Water Security for Food Systems Transformation in Egypt. Stakeholders will engage in interactive group discussions, collective brainstorming, and agenda-setting with a focus on equity, inclusion, capacity, innovation, and sustainability, including insights on how food systems need to change to improve water security (SDG 6), help eliminate hunger (SGD2), support energy security (SDG 7) and improve climate adaptation and mitigation action (SDG 13). Emerging messages from this multi-stakeholder dialogue will be presented at the United Nations Food System Summit (UNFSS) in September 2021. Transforming #foodsystems is among the most powerful ways to make progress towards all 17 SDGS.

The event will take place in English. Arabic translation is available during plenary sessions.

Convenors and Curators

• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI
• Yumna Kassim, Senior Research Associate, IFPRI (Presentation) 

Facilitators

• Clemens Breisinger, MENA Program Leader & Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI
• Amgad ElMahdi, Head of MENA Region, IWMI (Presentation)
• Nisreen Lahham, Regional Project Manager, IWMI
• Ajit Govind, Climatologist, ICARDA
• Chandrashekhar Biradar, Research Team Leader, ICARDA (Presentation) 

The Road to UNFSS2021: Achieving Water and Food Security

• Joachim von Braun, Chair of the Scientific Group for the UNFSS

The Need for System Transformation: A few thoughts from policy

• Heba ElHariry, Deputy Technical Director, Arab Water Council

System-level Solutions

• Chandrashekhar Biradar, Research Team Leader, ICARDA (Presentation)

New Water Solutions

• Amgad ElMahdi, Head of MENA Region, IWMI (Presentation)

Water and Food System Transformations in Egypt

• Clemens Breisinger, MENA Program Leader & Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI

Panel Discussion on the Way Forward

Curator

• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Director of Environment and Production Technology Division, IFPRI

Discussants

• Phil Riddell, Independent Advisor to the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation
• Sami Ouechtati, Senior Water Resources Expert, International Fund for Agricultural Development
• Hassan Husseiny, Co-Founder, GEBAL Egypt (Presentation) 
• Mahmoud Ebada, Farmer, ElAttar Farms

Closing Remarks & Wrap-up of Key Messages

• Hammou Laamrani, Policy Advisor and Senior Expert, League of Arab States