Development of a capability and skillset framework for the implementation of resilient nature-based water solutions (RNBWS) in the MENA Region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region is one of the most water-scarce in the world, with agriculture accounting for 65% of total water use. This challenge is compounded by land degradation and the intensifying impacts of climate change. In response, the Al Murunah project—meaning “flexibility” in Arabic—was launched to enhance water security through resilient nature-based water solutions (RNBWS) in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).

Al Murunah is a five-year initiative funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), led by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in partnership with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The project promotes the integration of nature-based solutions for water (NBSW) with agricultural water management (AWM) to address water scarcity and build resilience across the region.

This report, titled Development of a Capability and Skillset Framework for the Implementation of Resilient Nature-Based Water Solutions (RNBWS) in the MENA Region, defines the capacities—knowledge, skills, and capabilities—required to implement RNBWS in the four project countries. These capacities form the foundation of the RNBWS Capacity Framework, a key output designed to guide implementation, support pilot initiatives, inform upscaling efforts, and serve as a tool for institutional analysis.

The report is structured around three core components:

• Development of stakeholder personas representing typical RNBWS users;

• Identification of the capacities required by these personas for successful implementation;

• Development of an RNBWS Training and Certification Framework to guide the review of training and certification processes for the identified capacities of personas in the project countries and through remote online platforms.

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