On the sidelines of the 7th Cairo Water Week and the 9th African Water Week, the Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in the Nile Delta and North Coast (ECCADP) project and the Joint Collaborative Applied Research on Water (JCAR) project held a joint session entitled "Towards a Climate Resilient and Secure Mediterranean Coast in Egypt - Is Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) the Answer?"
The session reviewed the mechanisms of joint cooperation between the two projects under the umbrella of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management plan, which aims to develop a comprehensive framework for managing coastal areas. A detailed presentation of the plan's axes was presented, starting with the institutional framework of the plan and the technical tools and training programs provided by the two projects. An early warning system covering the Mediterranean coast was also presented. This contributes to providing accurate data on the state of the sea and tsunami risks. The plan also contributes to providing accurate information on coastal risks and developing innovative solutions to adapt to climate change. The importance of stakeholder participation in the decision-making process was emphasized, ensuring the sustainability of the proposed solutions and meeting the needs of coastal communities. The two projects are also building specialized training programs aimed at building the technical capacities and developing the personal attributes of stakeholders responsible for managing coastal areas.
The session was honored by the presence of Dr. Essam Khalifa, President of the Egyptian General Authority for Coastal Protection, Dr. Sherif Mohamady, President of the National Water Research Center, Dr. Ali Saber, Head of the Central Administration for Research and Studies, Dr. Mohamed Bayoumi, Representative of the United Nations Development Fund, Dr. Mohamed Youssef, Director of the Joint Collaborative Applied Research on Water (JCAR) project and Director of Deltares in Egypt, Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Ali, Executive Director of the Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation project, Dr. Yasser El-Komi, Strategic Planning Expert at the project, Mr. Ernesto Bram, Representative of the Dutch Embassy in Egypt, Dr. Heba Shaarawy, Head of the Central Administration for Coastal Areas and member of the Blue Economy Committee at the Ministry of Environment, Ms. Sonia Pans, Environmental and Social Studies Expert at Deltares and JCAR team, and Deltares representatives.
