“Insights on the RAO's AWSAMe: A Value Adding Impact Area of the FAO's Strategic Framework for 2022-2031” by Ruhiza Jean Boroto at the 2023 Water for Food Global Conference. A recording of the presentation can be found on the conference playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLSBeKOIXsg3JNyPowwJj6NDSpx4vlnCYj.

1. Insights on the FAO’s AWSAMe
Ruhiza Jean Boroto
10 May 2023
A Value Adding Impact Area of the FAO’s Strategic Framework
for 2022-2031

2. Addressing Water Scarcity in Agriculture and the
Environment (AWSAMe)

3. Why AWSAMe: to address water scarcity
through a multi-pronged approach
TODAY
• WASAG
• Inter- Regional Technical
Platform on Water Scarcity
• Regional Initiatives
• Lessons from the past
• Country requests
OPPORTUNITY
• Provide an overarching,
integrated and
multidisciplinary set of
interventions from practices at
field level to enhanced
policies at regional and global
level, as well as concurring
partnerships.

4. AWSAMe’s objectives
AWSAMe will scale-up actions aimed at:
• promoting enhanced investment, policies, governance and best
practices to sustainably increase water productivity;
• providing tools for strategic planning of optimal and sustainable
allocation of scarce water resources; and
• implementing strategies for a water-reform agenda and
supporting access to financial resources and investment.

5. AWSAMe’s expected results
On data and information: In-country capacities of professionals improved on assessment
of water resources availability, accounting, use and demand across all sectors.
On policy and investment: Enabling policies established and strengthened for sustainable
water management in all sectors.
On practice: Knowledge uptake facilitated through a community-of-practice, applying non-
traditional techniques for differential stakeholder interests.
On Global and Regional Strategic collaboration and partnerships: Cooperation enhanced
at global and regional level, through a strengthened WASAG and Regional Initiatives.

6. Inception phase
Compendium of drought resistant and nutritious crops to respond to
country needs.
Compendium on knowledge products relevant to water scarcity (starting
from with the Land & Water division, other divisions and beyond).
Watching for opportunities for synergies with the International Year of
Millets (IYM), the FAO’s One Country One Priority Product (OCOP), the
US Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils (VACS), etc.
Website (being designed)

7. Proposed repository (under discussion)
• Under AWSAMe, it is being discussed to develop an Integrated
Repository on Water Scarcity in Agriculture, a digital and dynamic
tool which will provide countries and all partners and stakeholders
with a one-stop shop on water scarcity with focus on
agriculture and the environment.
• It would provide access to WASAG, to the i-RTP-WS, to the Drought
Portal and will include other new products, tools, information,
resources that will be all accessible under one umbrella.

8. Operational and next steps
AWSAMe is being managed by the WASAG team within FAO
for synergies
Consultative process with countries and partners through
concrete proposals.
To be presented to countries at the First Assembly of WASAG
in 2024

9. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
Contact : Water-Scarcity@fao.org