The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s investments in 42 drinking and tap water projects have reached 2 million Euros since 2013.
Hana Khaled, first sector banker at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,said“The bank is focused on a programme that improves the capacity of water usage and achieves economic, social, and environmental benefits.”
In fact, the(EBRD)bank is currently cooperating with the Holding Company for Drinking Water and Sanitation to develop a mobile application that allows the user to know where drinking water is cut and when it will be restored.
In addition, the bank also contributes to raising awareness.
Mamdouh Antar, the deputy head of the Planning Sector at the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation,pointed out that Egypt’s water resources are limited.
Moreover, he explained that Egypt has roughly 59 billion cubic meters of water including Egypt’s yearly share of Nile water which amounts to 55 billion cubic meters.
In addition, Egypt’s yearly demand of water is 80 billion cubic meters, meaning there is a 20 billion cubic meters shortage.
Antar pointed that the ministry seeks to optimize water use, by reusing every cubic metre of water at least three times before it becomes sewage.
In the same context, he also confirmed cooperation between the ministries, the bodies, and the Holding Company for Drinking Water and Sanitation to create mechanisms to take advantage of climate change and floods.
The cooperation will also aim to raise the level of awareness for the issue, which is an important factor in reaching their goals.
Antar said,“The ministry is mandated to develop strategies and plans to achieve a balance between resources and needs.”
Hossam El-Imam, the director of the Regional Center for Water Ethics in the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, said that “research has proved that the legal and political solutions have failed to find a sound and permanent solution for water ethics.”
He added,“Therefore raising awareness is indispensable to prove water’s worth.”
This came during the closing session of an introductory week for mass communication students that participated in the creative media competition to design a guiding water consumption campaign.
The event was organised by the Holding Company for Drinking Water and Sanitation, in collaboration with the European Union, UNICEF, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Agency for German International Cooperation.
This month, Janet Heckman was appointed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) as its new Managing Director for the southern and eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region. Ms. Heckman has met Egypt’s international cooperation minister.
Ms Heckman met with Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Dr. Sahar Nasr on 17 January 2017.
