This year’s edition features over 1,000 participants from 70 countries and 66 international organisations.

The annual event, which aims to spread awareness on water issues and promote innovation to face the most pressing water-related challenges, is scheduled to run through Wednesday.

The four-day event is being held under the auspices of President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and is organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources and the European Union’s delegation to Egypt.

El-Sisi is set to deliver a recorded speech during the opening session.

The occasion brings together policymakers, diplomats, representatives of UN agencies and regional organisations, financial institutions and donors, water experts from public and private institutions and the media to discuss key policies, strategies and plans to counter climate-water challenges.

CWW is one of the many preparatory events for COP27, the irrigation ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The CWW’s recommendations will be presented at the conference’s Water Pavilion.

COP27 is set to be held 6-18 November in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh.

The EU delegation to Egypt said in a statement that renowned water experts will share latest developments in global water sector trends and exchange innovative ideas and solutions for improving the sustainable management of water resources through various plenary sessions and high-level events.

This edition will focus on the five sub-themes titled “Water Security and Climate Change,” “Protecting the Deltas,” “Water-related Adaptations to Climate Change,” “Water, Climate Change and Future Cooperation” and “Climate Water-related Disasters Preparation and Management.”

CWW 2022 will also be organised in parallel with conference activities, allowing public and private institutions in the water sector and related businesses and industries to showcase their products, programs and advanced technologies in desalination, renewable energy and water conservation.

The event also includes competitions, including for the best graduation project for university graduates 2021-2022, the three-minute thesis competition for masters students and the STEM young water inventors’ competition for high school students.

The winners of the three competitions will be recognised at CWW’s awards ceremony on Wednesday.

Egypt, as one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, is paying special attention to water issues.

Egypt needs 114 billion cubic metres (bcm) annually, but it receives an average of only 60 bcm, mainly from the Nile River in light of the very limited amounts of rainwater and groundwater in the desert.

Egypt is working on filling the gap through the reuse of agricultural wastewater and groundwater, in addition to importing food products that would otherwise consume 34 bcm of water annually to produce.

Egypt has drawn up a strategy for its water resources through 2050, at a cost of up to EGP 900 billion (about $57.3 billion). The issue is also included in its recently issued National Strategy for Climate Change 2050.