Riyadh – The Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development is set to launch a new Water Observatory aimed at boosting investments in sustainable water solutions across the region.
Announced at the 16th session of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s Conference of the Parties (COP16) in Riyadh, this initiative is designed to improve data collection and accessibility on water-related projects, Saudi newspaper Arab News reported.
“Addressing water scarcity requires billions in investments, but these resources must be strategically allocated to create meaningful, long-term impact,” said Merza Hassan, senior adviser to the chairman of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development.
“By collaborating with regional and global partners from the public and private sectors, as well as financial institutions, we can address overconsumption and ensure water sustainability for future generations.”
Critical issue in Arab region
The initiative is aligned with the Fund’s ongoing commitment to combat water scarcity, a critical issue in a region where 12 countries face severe water shortages.
The fund’s statement emphasized that the observatory would foster collaboration and attract investments to solve the region’s urgent water management challenges.
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Translated by Guilherme Miranda
