Ministry of Agriculture: Conclusion of the specialized training program to enhance the capabilities of national teams in water productivity and accounting

Ramallah: April 29, 2026

A specialized training program on using geospatial information technology to bridge data gaps and support decision-making in the water and agriculture sectors in the context of water scarcity was successfully concluded. The program was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in cooperation with a specialized team from IHE Delft - Institute for Water Education, with the participation of national teams specializing in water productivity and water accounting from the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture and the Palestinian Water Authority.

This program is part of the activities of the regional project supporting the implementation of the Regional Initiative on Water Scarcity in the Near East and North Africa, which includes Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. It also falls within the framework of supporting the implementation of the recommendations of the Joint High-Level Technical Committee on Water and Agriculture of the League of Arab States, particularly those related to bridging data gaps in the water and agriculture sectors through the application of remote sensing and geospatial information technologies. The program followed a comprehensive and progressive training path, combining distance learning and in-person training. The first component was conducted remotely from September 15, 2025, to March 30, 2026, under the supervision of FAO experts. It focused on building technical capacity in water productivity, water accounting, and spatial data applications to support planning and resource management. The program also included an advanced and specialized in-person training component, conducted from April 5 to April 25, 2026, in collaboration with IHE Delft in the Netherlands. This component served as an advanced application phase, focusing on translating theoretical knowledge into practical applications and enhancing the use of analytical tools and spatial data platforms, including the WaPOR platform, to support decision-making and water resource management.

The program represented a significant step in building a joint national technical core between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Water Authority. This was achieved by training specialized teams capable of utilizing the acquired methodologies and tools to support water planning, improve water allocation efficiency, and enhance institutional integration between water resource management and agricultural production in the context of water scarcity.

The program also contributed to establishing a technical foundation to support the transition from capacity building to practical application. This was accomplished by integrating specialized national expertise into technical work processes related to water productivity and accounting, thereby supporting the development of data-driven solutions and establishing an innovative approach that links technical analysis, field application, and decision-making.

The conclusion of this program marks a significant milestone in the national capacity-building process and a launchpad for utilizing its outputs to support national initiatives, particularly water allocation improvement plans. This will enhance the sound and sustainable management of water resources in the agricultural sector.