Cooperation Focuses on Economic Water Solutions to the Poor and Future Water Leaders

The faculty of Engineering at Birzeit University signed a cooperation agreement with the Water Programme of the German Technical Cooperation Agency. The agreement aims at boosting bilateral cooperation to promote low-cost solutions to water problems for the benefit of the marginalized Palestinian rural areas.

According to Dr. Faisal Awadallah, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Birzeit University, "The cooperation with GTZ on water and environmental issues is essential in developing vital projects to serve the Palestinian population’’ adding that ‘’Birzeit University has extensive experience in preparing qualified people in water and environmental aspects, since early seventies". Dr. Awadallah added "From this perspective, Birzeit University undertook the establishment of the Water Studies Institute (WSI) in 2001, which offers two Master s Programs in Water and Environmental Engineering and in Water and Environmental Sciences". He concluded his speech by emphasizing the need for the consolidation of efforts and experiences among water and environmental organizations to expand synergies and cost-efficiency"

Mr. Nadim Mulhem, head of GTZ Water Programme commented "This agreement is very important in promoting change agents and future water leaders; we will facilitate and provide financial support for the integration of the distinguished water students from Birzeit University into the water-relevant German supported academic and non-academic programs". He added "This agreement helps sharing information and market intelligence with the objective of developing best practices, lessons learned and approaches towards sustainable development, which GTZ adopts as a strategic goal in more than one hundred developing countries in the world".                                                      

The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Abdellatif Abu Hijleh, Vice- President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ziad Mimi, Director of WSI, Dr. Jamal Amro, Head of the Master s Program in Urban Planning and Design from Birzeit University and Mr. Joachim Prey, GTZ Country Director for Palestine and Jordan, in addition to a number of academics and representatives of water and environmental organizations.

It is worth mentioning that GTZ is an implementing agency, works on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as well as on behalf of other clients. GTZ links its development endeavours to the values of good governance, rule of law, human rights and democracy. It has been active in the Palestinian Territories since the 1960s