The opening of the 9th World Water Forum Dakar 2022, which kicked off in Dakar, Senegal, on Monday (March 21, 2022), under the theme “Water Security for Peace and Development,” saw the presence of heads of state and government, multilateral institutions and international organizations, and the participation of Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), for cooperation on water and sustainable development issues, most notably water and climate change.

The Forum, which is organized by the World Water Council and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation of Senegal, in cooperation with ICESCO, the Islamic Development Bank, the League of Arab States, and several international organizations and bodies, brings together international experts, who will discuss the best ways to preserve water resources and protect the environment in light of the global climate change.

In the session on climate change adaptation and mitigation for water security in the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Foued El-Ayni, Expert at ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, reviewed the efforts and initiatives of the Organization to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change on water resources in its Member States, highlighting ICESCO’s program for water and sanitation services improvement in 1000 rural schools as well as environmental awareness-raising workshops.

The session also discussed the need to consolidate the efforts of countries and the international and regional organizations, institutions and research centers to develop and implement policies, programs and projects. This provides benefit from modern technology, innovation and the use of renewable energies in addressing environmental challenges and water poverty.