Water and Food Security in the Middle Eastern and Northern African Countries

Abstract

Water, both for human use and agriculture, is a concern in the Middle Eastern and North African economies (MENA), entailing risks and opportunities in these countries. Besides, fast-changing politico-socio-economic and environmental conditions make water security challenging for policymakers. Water security, coupled with food security, has become a distinct and more unnerving challenge than ever before. This chapter provides a detailed analysis of water scarcity, food security, and climatic challenges in MENA countries and provides a way forward in addressing these issues. In MENA countries, water shortage, food security, and environmental problems are intertwined. It is imperative to use water resources efficiently to ensure a sustainable environment, efficient (allocative) use of water, and obtain distributive justice, contributing to social contract or integration. This argument also includes delivering water input reliably and affordably to ensure cordial relationships between service providers and water users and help promote the renewed social contract. The climate of MENA is arid and near arid. The drought cycle is shortened from three years to annual and often brings floods. Thus, water security, food security, and environmental issues are more than ever-changing targets; however, some are within reach of humankind. A series of suggested solutions to the MENA region’s water resource management and associated problems exist. Implementing these solutions needs clear incentives to bring about water management changes, including conservation, allocation, and address some of the riparian issues and water conflicts among the MENA countries, such as the Nile and other basins. The MENA countries warrant better engaging the civil society (e.g., High Aswan Dam in Egypt) and water users, teaming millions of youths to make the solution work. The debacle of doable policies addressing water challenges can severely affect nations’ well-being and fragile political stability. Thus, the strategic question is ‘now or never.’ The MENA countries should act with urgent attention in strengthening water security, food security, and a sustainable environment instead of waiting for doomsday for impending water crises leading to ‘Water Conflict,’ quoting the saying of late United Nations Secretary-General Boutros Ghali that the “3rd world war will be on waters”.