Yemen launches I-WISE project to improve water and irrigation management

Yemeni ministers Salem Al-Sogtri (Agriculture and Fisheries) and Tawfiq Al-Sharjabi (Water and Environment) are participating in an operational and technical mission in Amman, Jordan, to launch the Improving Water and Irrigation Management for Sustainability and Efficiency (I-WISE) project.

The mission, held from October 18 to 22, involves representatives from the World Bank Group, the Netherlands, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS). The initiative aims to address Yemen’s critical water challenges, including groundwater depletion, inefficient irrigation systems, and the impacts of climate change such as droughts and floods.

Key objectives include developing irrigation systems, improving rainwater harvesting, expanding water-saving technologies, and implementing climate-smart agricultural practices. Minister Al-Sharjabi also announced the commencement of the first phase of the Multi-Phase Program (MPA), which focuses on integrated water resource management to improve drinking water services and protect agricultural infrastructure.