For millennia, farmers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have managed water scarcity through advanced irrigation systems like qunuwāt (underground channels), fuqqārāt (open ditches), rainwater harvesting, and terraced fields. These approaches — known today as nature-based solutions (NbS) — support agriculture in the driest regions on Earth while addressing societal challenges by sustainably managing and restoring ecosystems for human well-being and biodiversity.
Despite their effectiveness, the impacts of nature-based solutions remain largely undocumented, hindering their scaling and integration into modern water management strategies. “Al Murunah,” the flagship project of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) on nature-based solutions in the MENA region, funded by the UK Government, seeks to change that.
Because you cannot scale what you don’t know, Al Murunah is documenting the impacts of its four pilots in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) to convince policymakers, donors, and the private sector of NbS’ scaling potential and economic, social, and environmental viability. These pilots tailor and combine NbS for water and agricultural water management with social and market mechanisms to suit local needs.
Simultaneously, the project is working to integrate NbS into ongoing government processes and to develop country-specific scaling plans. “We aim to show that the pilots can scale — individually, as a complete package, or through the processes we’ve used to develop them in each location,” explains Stephen Fragaszy, Al Murunah project lead.
Scaling NbS was a key topic at Al Murunah’s recent workshop in Cairo, Egypt, attended by technical experts, policymakers, environmental specialists, and partners from the project countries.
During her opening remarks, Amira Moussa, climate change adviser at the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), emphasized the broader impact of the initiative: “By developing innovative nature-based water and agricultural water management solutions in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Al Murunah project is not only enhancing water security but also strengthening community resilience across the region. Through regional knowledge exchange and learning, these practical solutions are helping to build a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.”
Scaling up, out, big and deep
Al Murunah’s scaling journey is both comprehensive and ambitious. It aims to scale up by targeting laws, policies, and institutions, scale out by replicating NbS nationally and regionally, scale big by expanding reach, and scale deep by shaping culture, norms, and values.
During the next phase of the project — Al Murunah+ (AM+) — IWMI envisions to further empower rural communities using gender-transformative strategies. Through innovative measures, AM+ challenges social norms that limit women’s and youth’s economic involvement. By targeting households, the project ensures equal access to resources and opportunities, helping communities adapt to climate change. All pilot initiatives under Al Murunah will scale deep, emphasizing the importance of cultural shifts and community engagement in achieving lasting resilience in natural resource management and successful climate change adaptation.
“Scaling deep is about changing minds and hearts — how we deal with nature, water, and each other,” says Sawsan Gharaibeh, Al Murunah’s gender lead.
Scaling ambitions in Al Murunah’s project pilots
As national partners begin developing their scaling plans for Al Murunah in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), interesting directions are emerging.
“Palestine currently lacks a governance framework recognizing nature-based solutions. Although we use strategies like wastewater treatment, rainwater harvesting, flood response, and managed aquifer recharge, they aren’t formally labeled as nature-based solutions,” explained Majeda Alawneh from the Palestinian Water Authority. “By integrating nature-based solutions into water management policies, we can scale initiatives more effectively and improve water management as a whole,” she added.
In addition to scaling up, Al Murunah’s pilot in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) will scale deep by enhancing the pilot community’s economic opportunities and social dynamics. The project will boost agricultural productivity and income by creating safe spaces for women to sell products near a rehabilitated spring, engaging youth in farming, and improving water availability for healthier crops. “Our goal is twofold: to ensure maximum community benefit in Wadi Al Fari’a and scale out to nearby Al-Badhan village,” said Ayman Rabi, executive director of the Palestinian Hydrology Group, Al Murunah’s partner in the OPT.
For Amr Abdel-Meguid, Environmental Governance Programme regional director at the Center for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), Al Murunah’s Egyptian partner, lasting impact in Egypt requires influencing policy by establishing a formal definition of NbS across relevant ministries, streamlining communication channels for farmers, and fostering local ownership. Hosni Azzam, Deputy Minister of Agriculture in Beheira Governorate, noted that Egyptian farmers, naturally cautious, are more likely to adopt NbS after seeing proven success in their communities.
As results from the Wadi Seer pilot in Jordan are documented, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Al Murunah’s delivery partner, plans to scale out by replicating its successful water and agroecology interventions in similar contexts nearby.
Lebanon’s pilot in Ras Baalbeck focuses on establishing nature-based flood control infrastructure and improving groundwater recharge. To maximize impact, Lebanon is scaling big by developing a comprehensive flood management plan for the 250 km² Baalbeck watershed. “By integrating climate scenarios and hydrological models, we can specify actionable nature-based solutions for immediate and long-term needs,” noted Hakam Mandouri, country lead at IUCN in Lebanon.
As Al Murunah enters its final year, its success will be measured not just by pilot results but by how well its lessons shape policies, investments, and action for water resilience across the MENA region.
