Further Advancing the Blue Revolution Initiative (FABRI) Quarterly Progress Report No. 11: March 15, 2014 – June 14, 2014

The MENA NWC Interim Board of Directors met in London from June 21-22, 2014, to discuss the progress and future plans of the Network. A website was designed by Taoti Creative to provide information about the Network and post Network documents, with the full website in development. The FABRI team released a revised Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for innovative approaches to ensure the financial sustainability of MENA NWC. The team also completed negotiations for the remainder of the Fixed Obligation Grants (FOGs) in the Policy, Research, and Development (PR&D) Grants Program. Research teams held project start-up meetings, prepared project work plans, procured equipment, and commenced research activities. The Young Water Scientist Partnerships (YWSP) Small Grants Program Selection Committee recommended two proposals for award and two proposals for provisional award. The proposal deadline was July 31, 2014. The Water Innovation Fellowships (WIF) Program Selection Committee also recommended two proposals for award and six proposals for provisional award, with the same proposal deadline. FABRI started planning for MENA NWC Training and Capacity Building activities to be launched in late 2014. A survey was conducted among the Centers to compile a list of topics that could be offered to strengthen technical and management capacity in other Centers. A draft MENA NWC Training and Capacity Building Plan was developed for feedback from the MENA NWC Board of Directors. FABRI also started planning for a joint Assembly of Governing Members and Thematic Partnerships Conference to occur in autumn 2014. The conference aimed to bring together governing members and thematic partners to discuss the progress and future plans of the Network. The Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Task Force Members conducted four audits for the following utilities during this quarter: Bauchi, Nigeria; ONEA, Burkina Faso; GUWL, Ghana; and SODECI, Cote d'Ivoire. Three more AfYWP proposals were received during this quarter, and the Selection Committee members evaluated a second proposal and recommended resubmission. FABRI selected Taoti Creative to design a website for the AfYWP program. The team also started planning for a joint Assembly of Governing Members and Thematic Partnerships Conference to occur in autumn 2014. The conference aimed to bring together governing members and thematic partners to discuss the progress and future plans of the Network. The research team for the IWRM project "Mitigating Environmental Risks of Wastewater Reuse for Agriculture" held a project start-up meeting and started field work. The team's research aimed to develop innovative approaches to ensure the financial sustainability of MENA NWC. FABRI's eleventh Quarterly Progress Report provides an implementation update on the six key activity results which support improved management of water in the Middle East and Africa. The report highlights the progress made in establishing and operating the MENA NWC, strengthening IWRM programming, improving access to clean water and sanitation, and enhancing research and development capacities. The report also highlights the challenges faced by the team and the proposed remedies. The team encountered issues with the development of the full website for the MENA NWC, but a revised RFP was released to solicit proposals for innovative approaches to ensure the financial sustainability of the Network. The report concludes by highlighting the progress made by the team and the future plans for the Network. The team plans to launch MENA NWC Training and Capacity Building activities in late 2014 and to host a joint Assembly of Governing Members and Thematic Partnerships Conference in autumn 2014.