Egypt has limited water resources and the protection of these resources from pollution, depletion and degradation is a high priority for the country’s national water strategy. Water scarcity in Egypt collides with rapid population growth and increasing water demand. In the past five decades, annual renewable water resources per capita have declined by 70 % from 1200 to 690 m3. Furthermore, climate change manifests itself with changing rain fall patterns and severe droughts and is expected to exacerbate water-related issues. Despite Egypt’s limited water supply, agricultural development (85 % of Egypt’s water use) is continuously growing and expanding into newly reclaimed desert areas. The expansion of agricultural activities results in rising water withdrawals, competing water demands and increased water stress. Therefore, optimal use of the scarce water resources to satisfy agricultural productivity is critical for the region’s socioeconomic development. In recent years, concerns were raised regarding the unsustainable use of groundwater in Egypt’s potato production. Since June 2013, Egypt’s principal potato exporter Daltex Corporation, the German supermarket chain EDEKA, WWF and GIZ engaged in a multi-stakeholder partnership with the goal to reduce threats to water security and to develop sustainable water management strategies for the Moghra aquifer in the Beheira governate while ensuring socio-economic development and ecological health.

Project Results

The specific objectives are: • Establishment of a groundwater cooperative for local farmers • Collaborative monitoring and data sharing • Hydrogeological assessment for better aquifer characterization and adequate predictions of groundwater availability and use • Management plan for more sustainable use of groundwater including use of renewable energy • Opportunities to optimize farming while ensuring environmental and socioeconomic sustainability • Establishment of a knowledge database • Promotion of the approach in Egypt and the region.