Under the patronage of Professor Dr. Khaled Al-Salem, President of Jordan University of Science and Technology, the Water Diplomacy Center inaugurated today a training workshop entitled “Water Governance in Uncertain Times" at the university campus. The Vice President, Professor Dr. Ahmad Al-Ajlouni, welcomed the guests on behalf of the President, stressing the importance of addressing the challenges of water scarcity in the region.

In his speech, Al-Ajlouni emphasized that water is the foundation of life, development, and prosperity, yet it is currently facing increasing pressures due to climate change, population growth, rising demand, and geopolitical tensions. He pointed out that water scarcity in the region and political conflicts present significant challenges, but they also offer new opportunities for innovation and cooperation. He added that effective water governance goes beyond technical solutions, encompassing trust-building, strengthening institutions, and ensuring the participation of all stakeholders, with the aim of bridging the gap between policy and practice and connecting science, society, local needs, and global commitments. He concluded by thanking the Water Diplomacy Center for its efforts in organizing the workshop and the Swiss Government for its ongoing support and partnership with the university.

The workshop is organized by the Water Diplomacy Center in cooperation with the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands, within the framework of the Blue Peace Middle East Capacity Development Project, supported by the Swiss government.

The opening ceremony was attended by more than 60 participants from various sectors, including 26 representatives from the Blue Peace Middle East countries (Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey). They will continue in an intensive five-day training program delivered by Dr. Alexander Meland and Dr. Gabriela Quadriado Quesada from IHE Delft.

Professor Dr. Mutawakil Obeidat, Director of the Water Diplomacy Center, welcomed the participants, stressing that the convening of this workshop comes at a critical time as the region and the world face growing challenges in the water sector due to climate change, population growth, pollution, and geopolitical tensions. He pointed out that this workshop, the sixth organized by the center under the Swiss-funded Blue Peace Middle East Capacity Development Project, provides an opportunity to exchange experiences and knowledge and to strengthen individual and institutional capacities in order to transform water into a source of cooperation, stability, and shared prosperity. He also praised the participation of experts from IHE Delft, and called on participants to actively engage and share their experiences to build sustainable cooperation networks. He concluded by affirming the center's commitment to continuing its support for education and capacity-building programs, noting that applications for the Master's program in Water Diplomacy are still open, with scholarships available for students from the Blue Peace countries.

Dr. Alexander Meland emphasized the importance of this workshop and its role in advancing water diplomacy practices in the region, noting that it offers participants a deeper understanding of the social, legal, and political dimensions of water governance under current challenges.

For his part, Professor Dr. Wasim Barham presented an overview of the Blue Peace Middle East initiative, highlighting its origins, achievements, and the role of the Water Diplomacy Center as an educational pillar of the initiative. Meanwhile, Ms. Haneen Abualhayjaa, Media and Communications Officer at the Center, delivered a presentation entitled “Communication for Water Diplomacy: From Awareness to Action", focusing on the role of media in raising awareness and amplifying the Center's message, while stressing the role of participants as ambassadors to promote a culture of cooperation in the water sector and to transfer the knowledge they gain to their institutions and countries.

The five-day training program will include practical activities such as case studies, simulation exercises, and field visits, aimed at analyzing how decisions related to water are made, the stakeholders involved, and the legal and institutional frameworks that govern them. Participants will also discuss common challenges such as climate change, population displacement, the urban-rural divide, and institutional weaknesses, while exploring solutions based on adaptive and equitable governance.

The first day concluded with scientific sessions led by Dr. Alexander Meland on “Water Governance and Governmentality" and Dr. Gabriela Quadriado Quesada, who focused on roles and preparatory readings for water governance simulations. At the close of the day's activities, the Water Diplomacy Center and IHE Delft expressed their gratitude to the participants and speakers, affirming their eagerness to continue the discussions and build upon the outcomes of the workshop in the coming days.

​