A Delegation from Clermont City in France and Representatives for the General Consulate in Jerusalem visit the Middle East

From May 1st – 3rd, a delegation from Clermont-Ferrand City in France, along with representatives for the General Consulate in Jerusalem, visited Al Auja Municipality and the Jordan Valley Regional Council to begin a much anticipated tripartite twinning program among the three.

Young professionals – Diplomacy Track Training

On May 6th, EcoPeace’s Palestinian office Education team, along with a representative from the Palestinian Water Authority, conducted an information session for conflict resolution center students at the American Arab University (AAUP) to introduce the water diplomacy track training.
EcoPeace Israeli Water Diplomacy Students at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) 2019

EcoPeace was proud to attend the awards ceremony for SJWP in Israel to cheer on some of its water diplomacy students. EcoPeace has provided training and support, including tours and critical web resources, to students working on water diplomacy projects. See here information about the project that won 2nd prize at the finals at Tel Aviv University. Congratulations to the winners Talia Kainan and Yael Goldenberg, who study Diplomacy and International Communication in English at Keshet High School (Jerusalem city-wide major).

Water Diplomacy Training for Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University Students

On May 15th, EcoPeace took students of Conflict Resolution and Public Diplomacy from Tel Aviv University on a tour to the Gaza envelope where they were introduced to the cross border water challenges the region faces, and to wastewater treatment and desalination technologies.

On May 28th, EcoPeace Water Officer and Jordan Valley Field Coordinator from the Israeli EcoPeace office, Nadav Tal, spoke to a class of 35 students studying Cross Border Conflict at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

EcoPeace Presents at the Israel Water Union National Conference

On May 22nd, Water Officer and Jordan Valley Field Coordinator from the Israeli EcoPeace office, Nadav Tal, presented at the Israel Water Union national conference about water management needs across the Middle East and EcoPeace’s Water Energy Nexus (WEN) project.
Meeting with 21 Parliamentarians from the Government of the State of Schleswig-Holstein

On May 22nd in Ramallah, EcoPeace Palestinian Director, Nada Majdalani, had a meeting with a group of 21 parliamentarians from the government of the state of Schleswig-Holstein (all CDU-members). The event was organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Nada’s input was focused on water and climate security and EcoPeace’s regional approach to addressing mutual interests and concerns.

EcoPeace Participates in the 15th International Living Lakes Conference

EcoPeace Jordanian Programs’ Manager, Eshak Al Guza, was delighted to participate in the 15th International Living Lakes Conference in Valencia, Spain. The Living Lakes network is dedicated to promoting and advocating for the protection of natural resources all over the world. The theme of this year’s conference was the protection of wetlands and the vital role they play in our safety and welfare. Currently, EcoPeace is partnering with the Global Nature Funds (GNF) to rehabilitate the Tal al Mantah WWTP in Deir Alla (Jordan) and to build a Green Filter at the SHE Park in order to restore a seasonal wetland in the Jordan River Valley. During this event, the Living Lakes international network provided a great opportunity for its members to meet and exchange ideas about the conservation and protection of natural resources and wetlands.

NATO Climate Change Study Day – Naples, Italy
Climate Change and Social Transformations

On May 30th, EcoPeace Palestinian Director, Nada Majdalani, participated in NATO Climate Change Study Day in Naples, Italy. Joining a group of development professionals and experts, to discuss progress and what’s needed to achieve climate security, Nada participated in a session called “How Climate Change Could Lead to Social Transformations”. In so doing, she shared EcoPeace’s Climate Security Report and highlighted the organisation’s unique model as a regional civil society organization with the ability to bring various stakeholders to discuss mutual interests.

The above activities are part of the Good Water Neighbors (GWN) project, which is supported by the Swedish International Development Agency.

EcoPeace Takes Part in a Leadership Program Organized by the GISD

EcoPeace International Affairs Manager, Giulia Giordano, took part in an intensive 3-day leadership program organized by the GISD in Berlin. The program included meetings with high-level German public officials and experts, discussions and presentations on the subject of sustainability and energy transition.

Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation Writers’ Workshop

On May 13th, EcoPeace Jordanian Director, Yana Abu Taleb, attended a writers’ workshop organized by the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation. This workshop brought together various experts and practitioners to contribute to a journal devoted to dialogue in peacebuilding and sustaining peace in different contexts. Yana will be contributing her own article to the journal based on her peacebuilding experiences with EcoPeace.

EcoPeace Meets with Government Representatives from Switzerland, UK and USA

On May 27th , EcoPeace Palestinian Director, Nada Majdalani, met with Ambassador Wolfgang Bruelhart, Head of Middle East and North Africa Division, Ambassador Maya Tassifi, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United Arab Emirates and future Head of Middle East and North Africa Division, and Ambassador Heidi Grau, Head of Human Security Division, to discuss the Swiss Government’s interest in advancing people to people programs.

On May 28th, Nada met with Mr. Bambos Charalambous and Mr. Stephen Twigg, both Members of Parliament in the UK. The MPs were interested in how the British government could support EcoPeace in terms of climate security, water and energy regional cooperation.

On May 30th, EcoPeace Israeli Director, Gidon Bromberg, met with Congressman Eliot L. Engel, Chair of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Congressman expressed his support for Israeli Palestinian bottom up Peacebuilding efforts and the need for more progressive US policy making on People to People issues.