Research Projects

MENA NWC is currently supporting more than USD 5 million in applied research projects. Research projects are technically ambitious and forge new relationships between member Centers and governments, the private sector, civil society organizations, and U.S. university partners.

Research activities fall under five technical areas:

Groundwater
Non-Conventional Water
Water, Energy, Food Nexus
Water and Sanitation
Water Use Efficiency and Productivity

At the core of the technical program is the Policy, Research and Development (PR&D) grants program. This technical research program challenges researchers to work in new ways: to develop research outcomes with more immediate impact, to engage stakeholders, and to form partnerships with researchers in other institutions and countries. PR&D research grants have catalyzed new research partnerships within the region and beyond, encouraged knowledge and technology transfer, and leveraged cost-sharing commitments from MENA NWC Centers to stretch research resources. For more information, download the PR&D Grants Flyer.

Although the formal application deadline for the PR&D grants program has closed and initial funding has been awarded, MENA NWC still welcomes concept notes and/or Technical and Cost Proposals from its member Centers. MENA NWC will work closely with applicants to seek funding from outside sources. Proposals must be submitted by a research team of at least two MENA NWC Centers from at least two countries, or one international Center and one national Center. PR&D Technical Proposal Outline and Cost Proposal Workbook.

Current PR&D research projects include:

Research Project	MENA NWC Centers	U.S. Partners	Research Budget (USD)
Using Green Nanoparticles as a Biofouling- Resistant Agent in Reverse Osmosis Desalination For more information	)		USD 315,000
Application of Near-Real Time Monitoring Systems for Irrigated Agriculture For more information			USD 400,000
Understanding the Dynamics of Managed Aquifer Recharge Using Treated Wastewater For more information			USD 255,000
Utilizing Solar Energy for Water Pumping and Brackish Water Desalination in Agriculture For more information			USD 100,000
Expanding Access to Sanitation for Unsewered Communities in Morocco and Jordan For more information	)		USD 500,000
Upgrading Treatment Processes to Improve Effluent Quality for Irrigation For more information			USD 550,000
Mitigating Environmental Risks of Wastewater Reuse for Agriculture For more information			USD 315,000
Participatory Planning for Improving Water Use Efficiency in River Basins For more information			USD 300,000
Developing Diagnosis Techniques and Strategies to Reduce Non-Revenue Water (NRW) in the Middle East For more information			USD 330,000
Drought Monitoring for the Middle East and North Africa For more information			USD 45,000

The Network also supports research under the U.S. – Middle East Research Partnerships program.

Current research projects under this program include:

Research Project	MENA NWC Centers	Other Partners	Research Budget (USD)
Combating the Emerging Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms on Desalination Plants: Bloom Detection, Forecasting, and Strategies for Impact Reduction For more information			USD 670,000
Global Yield Gap and Water Productivity Atlas for Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia For more information			USD 425,000
Radar Probing of Groundwater in Hyper-Arid Environments: Understanding Aquifer Dynamics in High Discharge Areas For more information			USD 645,000