{"id":3785,"date":"2016-01-29T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-01-29T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/news\/gwp-med-contributes-to-unesco-book-on-science-diplomacy-and-transboundary-water-management-based-on-experience-from-the-orontes-river-case-study\/"},"modified":"2026-05-08T15:37:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:37:13","slug":"gwp-med-contributes-to-unesco-book-on-science-diplomacy-and-transboundary-water-management-based-on-experience-from-the-orontes-river-case-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/news\/gwp-med-contributes-to-unesco-book-on-science-diplomacy-and-transboundary-water-management-based-on-experience-from-the-orontes-river-case-study\/","title":{"rendered":"GWP-Med contributes to UNESCO book on Science Diplomacy and Transboundary Water Management based on experience from the Orontes River case study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

GWP-Med Chair, Prof. Michael Scoullos, was among the book\u2019s editors while also contributing to contents with a chapter on \u201cOrontes hydro-diplomacy: historical overview and Lebanon\u2019s transboundary water treaties\u201d, developed jointly with Dr. Fadi Comair from the Mediterranean Network of Basin Organizations (MENBO). The book was the result of collaboration between UNESCO, the Universities of Insubria and Milan, GWP-Med and MENBO, all of which have, one way or another, longstanding experience in dealing with transboundary water issues[1]<\/a>. Moreover, the role of GWP-Med was instrumental in the design, implementation and peer reviewing of the field and laboratory work for Orontes carried out in close cooperation with the University of Texas at Austin, USA, within the ICT project supported by Italy.<\/p>\n

The book provides a historical overview on hydro-diplomacy and transboundary water treaties in Lebanon, analyzes Turkey\u2019s and Syria\u2019s foreign policy orientation and perspective on transboundary water management and the link to the Orontes Basin, towards building efficient governance models. Given the multiple water and security challenges in the Orontes River Basin, the book elaborates on the introduction of new ICT tools for sustainable basin management and improved cooperation, touching upon related technical perspectives, data analysis and decision support tools towards policy development. Lessons learned for developing scenarios beyond the Orontes river basin are also provided.<\/p>\n

The Orontes River case provides valid background on cooperation processes for transboundary water resources by addressing key aspect of dealing with poor hydraulic resources in the region, limiting climate change effects for the riparian countries, improving access to sufficient quantities of good quality water for vulnerable populations, and improving water demand responses.<\/p>\n

With water being a vital and strategic natural resource with great economic and development potential that can, therefore, easily become a source of cross-border and interstate risk, hydro-diplomacy is on the focus of the diplomatic agenda of the countries in the region that face extremely serious problems of water shortages interlinked with complex geopolitical issues. Taking into consideration that conflict and cooperation in the region frequently co-exist, the handbook aims to assist governments in adopting cooperation policies and practices, and facilitating the development of a new \u201cwater culture\u201d between peoples in the region, as a means for reconciliation, peace, solidarity, prosperity, as well as mutual understanding, confidence and respect.<\/p>\n

In order to guarantee cooperation based on resources\u2019 availability and equitable sharing for meeting current and future needs, hydro-diplomacy has to explore all possible options for consensus building by using reliable scientific evidence, observing both traditional bilateral approaches and international law, pursuing new methods and tendencies, considering the most vulnerable communities and enhancing social and economic development prospects. This concept has been applied in the Orontes Basin through negotiations between Lebanon and Syria leading to the 2002 Agreement, contributing to the reduction of injustice and inequities at transboundary and national level.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Prof. Scoullos was invited to present the publication on the Orontes River case study at the conference on \u201cHydro-diplomacy and climate change for Peace in the Middle East\u201d (1 December 2015, Paris), under the auspices of the French Senate and the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, in the framework of the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP21. His presentation<\/a> is available, along with the Q&As session<\/a> that followed, and the closing session<\/a> with the final remarks. The panel also included the French Senator Mr. Olivier Cadic, the Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Mr. Arthur Nazarian, the Director General of the Lebanese Ministry as well as MENBO Honorary President Dr. Fadi Comair, and the President of the International Office for Water Mr. Pierre Roussel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Global Water Partnership \u2013 Mediterranean (GWP-Med) contributed to a key UNESCO handbook on science diplomacy and transboundary water management published in late 2015, focusing on the Orontes River case in Lebanon; this was the outcome of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) project \u201cNew technologies for an integrated and sustainable management of natural resources in Lebanon\u201d financially supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6245,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"iawp_total_views":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[66,4],"tags":[25,36],"class_list":["post-3785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-archive","category-news","tag-mediterranean","tag-transboundary"],"acf":[],"spectra_custom_meta":{"_sidebar_content":["field_69d4d421acab1"],"sidebar_content":["

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Library<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n
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\n The UNESCO book \"Science diplomacy and transboundary water management: The Orontes River case\" is available for downloading here<\/a>.<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>

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Note<\/h1>\n <\/div>\n
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[1] GWP-Med has performed considerable work in concept development and capacity building \u2013 e.g. publications (\u201cWater Scarcity, Security and Democracy: A Mediterranean Mosaic\u201d<\/a>) and co-sponsorship of postgraduate courses, while it is actively involved in facilitating transboundary water cooperation in the Mediterranean, with major examples the Drin River, the adjacent Prespa, Ochrid, Skodra Lakes, the Buna\/Bojana tributary, and further contributions to the work carried out for the Sava and Nestos Rivers and various water bodies in North Africa. GWP-Med actively promotes the implementation of the UN 1997 Convention and UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes in Lebanon and the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div><\/div>"],"_old_url":["field_69d4d472acab2"],"old_url":["https:\/\/www.gwp.org\/en\/GWP-Mediterranean\/WE-ACT\/News-List-Page\/GWP-Med-contributes-to-UNESCO-book-on-Science-Diplomacy-and-Transboundary-Water-Management-based-on-experience-from-the-Orontes-River-case-study\/"],"_last_date":["field_69d4d498acab3"],"last_date":["1\/29\/2016"],"_event_start":["field_69d4d4c4acab4"],"event_start":[""],"_event_end":["field_69d4d4dcacab5"],"event_end":[""],"_scrape_id":["field_69d4d4ebacab6"],"scrape_id":["01-GWP-English"],"_wp_page_template":["default"],"_thumbnail_id":["6245"],"_edit_last":["1"],"_uag_page_assets":["a:9:{s:3:\"css\";s:0:\"\";s:2:\"js\";s:0:\"\";s:18:\"current_block_list\";a:14:{i:0;s:13:\"core\/freeform\";i:1;s:11:\"core\/search\";i:2;s:10:\"core\/group\";i:3;s:12:\"core\/heading\";i:4;s:20:\"core\/latest-comments\";i:5;s:9:\"core\/list\";i:6;s:14:\"core\/list-item\";i:7;s:19:\"rank-math\/toc-block\";i:8;s:14:\"core\/accordion\";i:9;s:19:\"core\/accordion-item\";i:10;s:22:\"core\/accordion-heading\";i:11;s:20:\"core\/accordion-panel\";i:12;s:14:\"core\/paragraph\";i:13;s:10:\"core\/image\";}s:8:\"uag_flag\";b:0;s:11:\"uag_version\";s:10:\"1779116804\";s:6:\"gfonts\";a:0:{}s:10:\"gfonts_url\";s:0:\"\";s:12:\"gfonts_files\";a:0:{}s:14:\"uag_faq_layout\";b:0;}"]},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg.png",394,263,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg-300x200.png",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg.png",394,263,false],"large":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg.png",394,263,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg.png",394,263,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/04\/orontes_cover.jpg.png",394,263,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"satsiriwinberg@gmail.com","author_link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/author\/satsiriwinberggmail-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"The Global Water Partnership \u2013 Mediterranean (GWP-Med) contributed to a key UNESCO handbook on science diplomacy and transboundary water management published in late 2015, focusing on the Orontes River case in Lebanon; this was the outcome of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) project \u201cNew technologies for an integrated and sustainable management of natural resources…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3785"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5971,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3785\/revisions\/5971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}