ETIC (Euphrates-Tigris Initiative for Cooperation)
[last updated February 12, 2007 2:53 PM]

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General Information
Partnership website(s)
Expected Timeframe
May 2005 - Open Ended
Partners
Governments:
    		Major Groups:
      UN System:
        		Other intergovernmental organizations:
          Other:
          • Kent State University (United States of America)
          • Haifaa Butty (Iraq)
          • Mohammed al Najim (Iraq)
          • Mukdad Ali (Iraq)
          • Faisal Rifai (Syrian Arab Republic)
          • Lina Sergie Atassi (Syrian Arab Republic)
          • Aysegul Kibaroglu (Turkey)
          • Olcay Unver (Turkey)
          • University of Oklahoma (United States of America)
          		 
          Thematic Focus
          Primary Themes:
          • Poverty eradication
          • Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development
          • Land
          • Energy for sustainable development
          • Agriculture
          • Water
          • Education
          • Sustainable development in a globalizing world
          		 Secondary Themes:
          • Rural development
          • Gender equality
          • Industrial development
          • Disaster management and vulnerability
          • Human settlements
          • Drought
          • Institutional framework for sustainable development
          • Biodiversity
          • Health and sustainable development
          Geographic Coverage
          Geographic Scope: Sub-regional Middle East: Euphrates-Tigris Basin
          Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
          Iran (Islamic Republic of), Iraq, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey
          National Focal Points
          This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved
          Goals and Objectives
          Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives
          ETIC is a riparian initiative that aims to effectively facilitate cooperation for technical, social and economically sustainable development within the Euphrates-Tigris system and in the riparian countries.
          Targets and Progress
          Partnership targets
          ETIC aims to
          - provide opportunities for dialogue regarding the issues of the sustainable development in the E-T Region
          - develop project concepts that will be attractive to decision makers and implementers in E-T region
          - create sub-networks by bringing together different private stakeholder groups including farmers, community-based organizations, NGOs, business and professional societies
          - provide a venue for public officials and professionals to address common problems
          - implement joint pilot projects that benefit all riparians
          - increase public awareness regarding the issues in the E-T Region
          - facilitate education and capacity building to insure sustainability for cooperation and development
          Progress against targets
          Since its inception, ETIC held
          - a strategic planning meeting in Ohio, USA, May 2005
          - a workshop attended by high level government officials from Iraq, Syria, and Turkey in Delhi, India, November 2005
          - a special session attended by riparian officials on cooperation opportunities during the World Water Congress in Delhi, November 2005
          - a two-week multi-riparian training program, in partnership with UNESCO, on dam safety for 30 water managers and engineers from Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey in Istanbul, February 2006
          - a special session with Ministerial Delegations from Iraq, Syria and Turkey during the World Water Forum in Mexico in March 2006
          - a partnership session with international, bilateral and other relevant organizations during the World Water Forum in Mexico in March 2006
          - a special workshop on cooperation prospects in Euphrates-Tigris Basin with riparian participants during Stockholm Water Symposium in August 2006
          - the Middle East Seminar during Stockholm Water Symposium in August 2006

          Planned activities for 2007 include:

          -Regional Multistakeholder Conference and Forum for Euphrates-Tigris, Istanbul, Turkey
          -Short Course on Sustainable Agriculture and Water Management, Syria
          -Capacity Building Program for Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources
          -Short Course on Dam Safety, Tehran, Iran
          -Short Course on Reservoir Management and Instrumentation, Turkey
          -Meeting with Nile Basin Initiative

          Extensive networking activity within the riparian region and with water organizations worldwide.

          The above have been materialized in partnership and with funds from UNESCO, FAO, SIDA, SIWI, GWP, Bahcesehir University (Istanbul).
          Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
          Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
          • Human resources development/training
          • Education/building awareness
          • Institutional strengthening, including local participation
          Training and capacity building programs planned for dams, water resources planning, sustainable development, biodiversity, benefit-sharing in international basins, sustainable agriculture, gender programs.
          Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development
          How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
          Encouraging cooperation in a major international basin via stakeholder participation, dialogue of officials, scholars, and professionals; partnership building among riparians; with focus on sustainable social and economic development.

          Relevant Sections of Agenda 21
          International cooperation to accelerate sustainable development in developing countries and related domestic policies; Integrating environment and development in decision-making; Integrated approach to the planning and management of land resources; Promoting sustainable agriculture and rural development; Conservation of biological diversity; Protection of the quality and supply of freshwater resources: application of integrated approaches to the development, management and use of water resources; Strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations: partners for sustainable development; Strengthening the role of business and industry; Scientific and technological community; Strengthening the role of farmers; Transfer of environmentally sound technology, cooperation and capacity-building; Science for sustainable development; Promoting education, public awareness and training; National mechanisms and international cooperation for capacity-building in developing countries
          Relevant Sections of the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21
          Integration of economic, social and environmental objectives
          Relevant Sections of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
          Protection and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development ; Sustainable development in a globalizing world ; Health and sustainable development ; Sustainable development in the West Asia region; Strengthening the institutional framework for sustainable development at the international  level; Strengthening institutional arrangement for sustainable development at the regional level
          Coordination and Implementation
          Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership
          This is a group type organization that extensively uses information technology to coordinate. Decisions are taken by consensus.
          Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership
          Case-specific. Training and capacity building a combination of partners and other relevant parties.
          Workshops and dialogue programs implemented by its own founders in partnership with others.
          Kent State University, Ohio currently hosts the initiative and provides the institutional framework for its activities.
          Resources
          Funding Currently Available
          Amount in US$: 200,000
          Source(s): Private sector - Foundations / charities - IGO
          UNESCO
          Kent State University
          Bahcesehir University, Turkey
          Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Water and Sewerage Company
          Non-financial resources available
          Type(s): Computers - Office space - Other
          Source(s): Foundations / charities
          University resources
          Graduate assistant/faculty time
          Funding Sought
          Required Amount in US$: 2,000,000
          Source(s) already approached: Donors
          UNESCO
          FAO
          World Bank
          GEF
          Government of Sweden
          Non-financial resources sought
          Requirement(s): Staff
          Professional and academic
          Source(s) approached and details:
          Academic institutions
          Additional Information
          Additional Relevant Information
          Need for patience, creativity, value of networking and creating synergy