REWARD Programme

Change Alliance in the REWARD Strategic workshop, Sharm-al-Shaikh, Egypt, May 2009

REWARD is the ‘Programme for Regional Water Resources and Dryland Management of the IUCN Regional Office for West Asia’. REWARD is about how people can reward ecosystems and how ecosystems can reward people.

In May 2009 a strategic three-day workshop took place and explored how new dimensions can be integrated and be given more emphasis in the work of REWARD, in its field projects and its Regional Water Resource System Networks. The first two days of the Sharm Al Shaikh workshop were used to reflect on the new dimensions of dryland management, adaptation to climate change, gender and equity and institutional change processes necessary to sustain ecosystem resource management and to see how they can be practically integrated in on-going work. The last day has been used to strengthen the organization of the regional networks on specific water resource/dryland ecosystems.

During the reflection on the second day on the new dimension of institutional change processes, the Change Alliance was presented. The discussions in working groups focused on how the REWARD programme could learn from and contribute to the Change Alliance, so as to increase social resilience of people in the implementation of ecosystem related activities.

REWARD and WANI believe there is still much too learn and are keen to become part of this Alliance. Engaging in the Alliance will enable WANI and REWARD to gain access to ideas, expertise, backstopping, critical reflection processes on assumptions of change and to develop the capacities of staff/partners, as well as access to a dynamic learning network. This will enable WANI and REWARD to improve the quality and effectiveness of the work while at the same time contributing to critical questions and challenges affecting the wider development sector.

More information about the REWARD Strategic workshop: karen.verhoosel@wur.nl