Advancing Water-Climate Resilience Dialogue at Cairo Water Week 2025
Cairo, Egypt — 12 October 2025
Blue Peace ME, in partnership with the Government of Switzerland and Mercy Corps, led a compelling joint session titled “Approaches to Converging Water-Climate Resilience from Regional to Local Levels.”
The session brought together regional policymakers, technical experts, and agencies working with diverse stakeholders including local communities to explore how transboundary water diplomacy frameworks can align with local climate adaptation efforts, bridging the gap between policy and practice. The discussion reflected Switzerland’s long-standing commitment to fostering cooperation and sustainable development across the Middle East.
Moderated by Eng. Alaa Al Qaisi, Programme Coordinator at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the session brought together a distinguished panel including Eng. Zeina Majdalani, Managing Committee Member at Blue Peace ME, Dr. Mutawakil Obeidat, Director of the Water Diplomacy Center, Ms. Nour Darwazeh, Policy Research & Evidence Specialist at Mercy Corps, and Eng. Mufleh Al Alaween, Regional Water Diplomacy Advisor, Swiss Embassy in Amman- Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Panelists discussed the institutional, community, and donor perspectives needed to operationalize an integrated water-climate approach across the region.
Representing Switzerland, Eng. Al Alaween affirmed, “Regional cooperation between riparian states in transboundary water management facilitates the exchange of experiences and mutual benefits, transforming challenges into opportunities for sustainable development and stability for all.”
The dialogue highlighted how initiatives such as Mercy Corps’ Tabeaa Project in Jordan demonstrate community-driven climate action that complements regional cooperation efforts under the Blue Peace Middle East framework. Participants emphasized that aligning the two scales: regional diplomacy and local adaptation, is essential for building cohesive, inclusive responses to emerging water-climate challenges.
“Those living the realities of climate and water challenges know best what needs to change,” said Ms. Darwazeh. “Our role is to listen, amplify their voices, and help that local insight drive action from the community level up to national and regional scales.”
“At this stage, the most pressing need is to bridge the gap between regional dialogue and tangible action. From our experience at Blue Peace ME, we’ve seen how important it is to move beyond technical discussions and foster trust-building platforms that are sustained, not episodic”, said Eng. Majdalani.
Throughout the session, Blue Peace ME reaffirmed its role as a regional platform for dialogue, capacity building, and concrete action, supporting countries in transforming transboundary water management into a cornerstone of climate resilience and cooperation.
About Blue Peace Middle East:
Blue Peace Middle East is the first and only regionally owned initiative, institutionalized in
2019 to transform water from a potential source of conflict into an instrument of cooperation
through dialogue, capacity building, and concrete actions. Through the generous support of Switzerland, the initiative operates with the vision of utilizing the power of water to build a cooperative future for the region.
Contact:
Coordination Office
Blue Peace Middle East
Email: info@bluepeaceme.org
Website: www.bluepeaceme.org