Climate change is expected to affect sustainable development, economic growth and society throughout the world. Water is a key issue in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), where there is already significant pressure on water supply. According to climate predictions, this pressure will increase in the future. Drought, water scarcity and various types of floods are foreseen by several models as a result of the expected increase in heatwaves and extreme precipitation patterns. Seasonal irregularities and aridity will cause more frequent serious water stress in the entire region, contributing to the degradation of ecosystems and agriculture, and therefore impacting human life. In response to such predictions, the countries of the MENA
region are drawing on experiences to date, lessons learnt and exchanges with institutions and stakeholder groups to help them identify, test and potentially replicate efficient climate adaptation solutions.

As illustrated by the case studies in this handbook, it is not necessarily huge investments alone that can bring results: there are many other solutions and approaches that can contribute to combating the existing and increasingly serious future negative impacts of climate change. Both small-scale projects and big investments have a role to play in regional climate adaptation.

The present handbook contains 30 good practice examples that have been identified within the WATER SUM project. A good practice is an initiative or project that has been successfully carried out and that is potentially replicable (in terms of methods, processes or even concrete measures) by other bodies facing similar climate change–related challenges. The handbook is therefore a valuable tool for identifying relevant experiences in the fields of climate change, drought management, water demand management, and communication and participation.

Examples of national and local projects have been collected not only from the MENA region, but also from areas with similar hydrometeorological and climatic conditions, in order to provide a wider range of potential options and to showcase local actions and transboundary/ international collaboration initiatives. Project duration: April 2014 – March 2018.