Free Flow

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ransboundary

ater

anagement

Adult forums have indeed been created afterwards,

offering a platform for discussion with local profes-

sionals and planners on environmental problems and

possible solutions. The Jordan River communities

became very much involved in the process of estab-

lishing concrete activities, which not only improved

and deepened the relationships across the border, but

also brought eco-tourism and, therefore, economic

development to the region. Steps have been taken to

create a Peace Park at the junction of the Jordan and

the Yarmouk Rivers, and Neighbours‘ Paths were devel-

oped in several communities. Following the path of

water, ending at the border, the trails highlighted the

connection between the communities and their water

resources, and aimed to attract local, national and

foreign tourists. This idea mobilized the local commu-

nity in support of cross-border cooperation, protecting

local ecosystems and promoting local entrepreneurship.

Finally, the third group of stakeholders involved

were the mayors. They signed Memoranda of

Understanding to reinforce the vision of a shared

future and raise political attention. Several partnering

municipalities are cooperating on the issue of wastewa-

ter reuse and management. A more recent element of

the project launched by FoEME was a Transboundary

Advocacy of Parliamentarians. This project aimed to

raise awareness among elected representatives and

decision makers in Palestine, Jordan and Israel on the

need to find sustainable solutions to the threats facing

the region’s shared waters.

Designed as a holistic model for community partnership, the project

involved youth groups, adult residents and local government repre-

sentatives. Within each sector, emphasis was placed on interaction

with the neighbouring community. The project undertook joint youth

group activities, adult forum visits to their neighbouring community

and mayors’ bilateral and regional gatherings. At the regional level,

GWN worked to encourage sustainable water management through

information sharing, dialogue and cooperative ventures. The GWN

project fostered personal interactions that naturally developed into

relationship building over time. No less important, due to the fact

that water issues are linked to community development options and

that water issues are shared, the project helped foster the understand-

ing that addressing and solving many of the local problems requires

cross-border cooperation. The GWN project went on to demonstrate

the ability of local community partnerships to resolve environmental

hazards through mutually beneficial cross-border cooperation.

The first step of the project focused on raising awareness and

collecting information. It has been an important challenge to explain

the purpose of the project to the population and collect informa-

tion on their needs. To both gain the trust of the community and

to empower the youth, concrete projects were undertaken in each

community, led by young people. The GWN team created a group

of youth volunteer water trustees in each community. School build-

ings were transformed into water-wise buildings, reusing greywater

or rainwater for the flushing of toilets and ecological gardens were

built. Empowerment of the young generation facilitated the crea-

tion of a cooperative knowledge and dialogue with the adults of the

respective communities. The young people showed, through their

actions, the opportunities and benefits to work with the neighbour-

ing villages to their elders.

Tourism is boosting local business

Cross-border cooperation is helping to rehabilitate the Jordan River

Image: B Noury