Projects aimed at securing water for drinking and agriculture are among the highest priorities for countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan in the face of mounting pressures from climate change, population growth, and regional conflict.
However, many of these projects rely on funding from countries such as the US where lawmakers approved a US$ 8billion package of foreign assistance cuts last month after President Donald Trump’s administration shuttered the US Agency for International Development (USAID), announcing mass layoffs.
Meanwhile, the UK plans to reduce its aid budget by 40 per cent, from 0.5 to 0.3 per cent of Gross National Income from 2027, while France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands are also cutting back on aid.
“The US provides nearly 40 per cent of all international aid,” explains Issam Khatib, an international expert in sustainable development.
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“And now 13 of the 17 major donor countries have reduced their commitments since 2022, in a clear sign of a downward trend that reflects a deep crisis requiring strategic action by recipient countries.”
Regional experts told SciDev.Net that the wave of cuts poses a direct threat to water projects for desalination, reuse, and improved management, at a time when Arab countries increasingly need support to implement them.
Jordan’s crisis
Jordan is among the world’s most water-scarce countries. “This makes any new water project a strategic necessity,” says Walid Saleh, senior programme officer at the regional office for the Near East and North Africa of the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization.
Maysoon Al-Zoubi, an expert in water diplomacy and international water issues and former Secretary General of Jordan’s Ministry of Water and Irrigation, tells SciDev.Net: “The available natural water resources are barely sufficient for 3 or 4 million people, while the population is around 12 million.
“This is a result of successive waves of displacement and asylum since the beginning of the last century, which has led to an increase in demand for water that exceeds the state’s capabilities.’
USAID was one of the main supporters of water projects in Jordan, especially infrastructure projects for reducing water loss.
The USAID-supported Aqaba-Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project, scheduled for completion by the end of 2028 is designed to meet the needs of about 4 million people. It will transport 300 cubic metres of desalinated water a year from the Red Sea at the Gulf of Aqaba, to Amman and the surrounding area via a 450-kilometre pipeline.
However, funding for this strategic project has declined as a result of the US drawback, prompting the Jordanian government to seek alternatives through partnerships with other parties, according to Maysoon.
US foreign aid data shows that support for Jordan’s water and sanitation sector has decreased from about US$115.6 million in 2023 to only around US$40 million this year.
“This aid is an international obligation resulting from crises in which Jordan was not involved, such as wars, migration and climate change,” adds Maysoon.
“Since most of Jordan’s vital water projects are partially funded by donors such as the US and French agencies, the continued decline in funding threatens the sustainability of these projects.”
Lebanon’s water meters
In Lebanon, the biggest challenge is not the natural scarcity of water but rather a lack of effective strategies for managing this vital resource, says Lebanese water expert Faraj El-Awar, founder and executive director of consulting firm Awar Water.
Ageing infrastructure and network deterioration means that vast amounts of water are being lost.
To address this, the Lebanese government has implemented several projects in cooperation with international organisations, most notably a US$73.5 million water sanitation and conservation project spanning the period from 2021 to 2027, funded by USAID.
The project aims to increase the efficiency of public water facilities by installing smart meters, training technical personnel, and improving billing transparency. However, according to El-Awar, it was abruptly halted following the Trump administration’s suspension of foreign aid projects earlier this year, creating a funding and technical gap that is difficult to fill with local resources.
El-Awar believes the withdrawal of international funders “not only affects technology projects, but also undermines public confidence in institutions and limits the state’s ability to attract future investments”.
He added: “Lebanon is not only suffering from a water scarcity, but also from a lack of political will and good governance. International funding was filling vital gaps, and its absence now puts any institutional reforms on hold indefinitely.”
Alternative funding
Meanwhile, in Morocco, the effects of budget cuts by international development agencies are beginning to show on some small projects to provide drinking water in rural areas.
However, Moroccan journalist and environmental activist Mohamed Tafraouti says the country has used international funding not only to build facilities and infrastructure, but also to develop institutional capacities and implement long-term legislative and administrative reforms.
He tells ScidDev.Net: “Morocco understands that funding is not permanent, so it seeks to integrate water investment into its climate strategies, which gives it an advantage in attracting funding from climate funds and international green finance.”
Hassan Abul Naja, vice-president of the Middle East Water Forum, tells SciDev.Net: “In order to benefit from [international] funding, projects must be designed to serve the climate agenda, rather than being traditional infrastructure projects repackaged with environmental terminology.”
He also points to the importance of Arab and African funding, such as the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Islamic Development Bank and the African Development Bank, which support resilient infrastructure and climate-smart agriculture.
This article was produced by SciDev.Net’s regional office in the Middle East and North Africa and edited for brevity and clarity.
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