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Ammon News - The 12th meeting of the Water Experts Group kicked off on Tuesday in Amman with the participation of representatives of the member states of the Union for Mediterranean (UfM) for Water, Environment and Blue Economy.

The meeting aims at supporting the efforts made by the union's member states to improve water security and promote water investments and entrepreneurship in the Mediterranean region through the implementation of the UfM's Water Agenda.

Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation Jihad Mahamid said that the two-day meeting will discuss the challenges of sustainable development and comprehensive growth in the water sector, lauding the support and efforts of the UfM and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

In 2017, the UfM ministers called for an ambitious cross-sectoral agenda to help countries identify their water needs and implement sustainable and integrated water management policies to guide efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, in addition to adopting a coherent approach and advocating climate change adaptation and employment policies in the sector, he added.

Jordan, he indicated, has recently worked with many partners to explore innovative tools for integrated water resources management to better prevent water crises and tackle water scarcity. However, implementation faces enormous financial challenges, he said.

Mahamid explained that a trillion US dollars is needed annually to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals globally, and that 15-30 percent of this amount should be channeled into the water sector, according to the World Bank Group. For this reason, Jordan has requested for the Water Agenda to have a set financial strategy for the sector in the region to enhance financial sustainability.