Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, has called for enhanced scientific collaboration and regional coordination to address escalating water challenges, during a high-level event in Paris marking the 50th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP).
Delivering a keynote address at the celebration, which brought together a select group of senior ministers from around the world, Sewilam commended UNESCO for convening the event at a time of “unprecedented escalation in global water challenges.” He emphasised that water has become one of the most pressing global issues and declared that “science is no longer a luxury, but a necessity” for achieving efficient water management and resource sustainability.
Sewilam highlighted the relevance of the IHP’s ninth phase, “Science for a Water Secure World in a Changing Environment,” describing it as a timely call to harness research and innovation to bolster water security. The current phase prioritises areas such as scientific research, education in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, data-driven knowledge, integrated water resources management, and evidence-based governance.
Turning to Egypt’s own situation, Sewilam pointed out the country’s extreme reliance on the Nile River and the fact that its per capita water share has fallen to half the international threshold for water scarcity. This, he noted, places Egypt among the most water-stressed nations in the world and underscores the urgent need for policies rooted in efficiency, innovation, and science-based solutions.
He reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to regional cooperation and prosperity among Nile Basin states and praised UNESCO’s role in promoting scientific exchange through the FRIEND-Nile project—an important platform for hydrological research and data sharing across the basin.
Sewilam identified two priority areas for deepening regional cooperation: hydrological forecasting and green water management.
He explained that wide climatic variability across Nile Basin countries—combined with erratic rainfall, rising demand, and insufficient data sharing—makes advanced hydrological modelling and reliable climate forecasting crucial. These tools, he said, could establish a shared scientific language, build trust between upstream and downstream nations, and support joint efforts in dam coordination and drought preparedness.
He also cautioned against unilateral actions in transboundary river governance, warning that failure to consult basin neighbours undermines confidence and threatens regional peace. “Unilateral measures jeopardise the lives of millions in downstream nations,” he stated.
On green water—rainwater retained in soil and absorbed by plants—Sewilam highlighted its central role in agriculture, noting that it supplies moisture for 80% of global crop production and is essential for the food security of billions. He argued that green water remains largely absent from national and regional water strategies and called for a comprehensive Nile Basin-wide approach that integrates it into hydrological planning, agricultural policy, ecosystem conservation, and peacebuilding initiatives.
The event in Paris marked five decades since the founding of the International Hydrological Programme, the only intergovernmental initiative under UNESCO dedicated to water research, capacity development, and sustainable water management.
