MENA NWC First Biennial Congress

The Middle East and North Africa Network of Water Centers of Excellence will hold its First Biennial Congress in 2015. Timed to coincide with the conclusion of the first round of Network-sponsored research projects, MENA NWC’s first Congress will:

• Provide a forum for researchers and scientists from the Network’s member Centers and partnering institutions to share research findings and impacts
• Provide an opportunity to focus and launch the Network on a new, more entrepreneurial business model, engaging with clients and investors to jointly identify research agendas that are directly relevant to “real world” needs and have the potential for relatively rapid impacts at scale.  
• Stimulate the growth of communities of practice as active knowledge sharing groups.

Each of the Network’s five Technical Communities will explore current research and knowledge-sharing initiatives and reassess their action agendas for the next five to ten years. Young Water Scientists and Water Innovations Fellows will explain their small grant interventions, and the Assembly of Governing Members will convene to approve the members of the Board of Directors and ratify the Network's Strategic Business Plan. 

 
We expect the Network's first detailed work plan and annual progress report to emerge from the Congress, both of which will be widely disseminated. Participants will be drawn from member Centers, external research partners, government, civil society, and the private sector.