UNDP Libya is proud to announce that is has signed a new project with the Great Man Made River Water Utilisation Authority (GMMR Water Authority), to support the establishment of a Geographical Information System (GIS). The GIS is an advanced management tool, designed to enhance GMMR’s access to information for improved water resource monitoring and agricultural land use planning.

Ensuring improved water management is of critical importance in Libya, where only 5% of the country has an annual rainfall of over 100mm, a level that is critical for agriculture. An expanding population and growing industry puts increasing strain on Libya’s water resources, depleting its vital groundwater supply and placing it at risk of contamination with sea water. The project, signed on 14th April 2009, aims at addressing these challenges and helping to preserve the environment at global, national and local levels.

The scale of the Great Man Made River project lends it both national and global significance. Each day, 6.5 million cubic metres of water are pumped from aquifers in the regions of Murzuk, Sarir and Kufra to the coast, where over 90% of Libya’s population live. The project responded to the difficulties posed by a deterioration of water quality along the coastline and has secured Libya’s place as a world leader with regards to hydrological engineering. UNDP Libya therefore considers supporting the enhanced capacity of GMMR Water Authority to manage its water resources to be a top priority.

Whilst the current project is envisaged to last one year, both parties have expressed their intention to extend their partnership and look towards new avenues of co-operation. UNDP Libya and GMMR Water Authority have historically enjoyed a number of fruitful co-operations. Their last joint venture, launched in 1990, oversaw the training of engineers in the operation and maintenance of the Great Man Made River.

This April’s project signing with GMMR Water Authority is complemented by a number of new initiatives undertaken by UNDP Libya in the sphere of water management. Last year, it signed a water governance programme for the Arab States, aimed at developing capacity and enhancing co-ordination of water management throughout the region. In January 2009 it launched a programme to offer technical support and training to the General Water Authority.

These developments reflect UNDP Libya’s growing concern with responsible and effective water management in the country, to help conserve its vital water supplies. It considers the security of Libya’s water resources to be of fundamental importance to the country’s social and economic development.