Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative Collaborates With XPRIZE To Address Global Water Scarcity Challenges

The Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative recently concluded its involvement at the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) World Congress 2024 in Abu Dhabi. This event, held from 9-12 December, focused on tackling water scarcity through innovative desalination solutions. Partnering with the XPRIZE Foundation, the initiative aimed to promote sustainable and cost-effective methods for desalination.

During the congress, representatives from the Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative engaged in various activities alongside the XPRIZE Foundation. These included lectures and thought leadership sessions that covered topics such as the UAE’s ancient Aflaj irrigation systems. The discussions highlighted lessons for managing limited water resources sustainably. Additionally, youth engagement activities were part of the programme to raise awareness about water issues.

The collaboration also involved key sessions with organisations like the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, UN Principles of Responsible Investing (UNPRI), and the Global Climate Finance Center (GCFC). These sessions explored both opportunities and challenges in mobilising finance to combat global water scarcity. The aim was to find ways to fund initiatives that address this pressing issue effectively.

In partnership with Abu Dhabi's Department of Energy, a consultation session was organised as part of ongoing discussions on engaging youth in water awareness. This session was one of many efforts to involve younger generations in understanding and addressing water scarcity challenges.

Ayesha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, reflected on the event's significance: "To confront the urgent challenge of water scarcity, it is crucial to ensure the issue is understood and elevated on national and global agendas. Since its inception almost four decades ago, the IDRA World Congress has mobilized a community of experts – from policy, academia and business to NGOs – to explore various routes to a secure water future. We have greatly valued engaging with this community in the UAE, where we have formed new partnerships in pursuit of a world in which water is accessible, affordable and sustainable for all."

The XPRIZE: Water Scarcity Summit was another highlight where experts, startups, and partners gathered to discuss advancements in water technologies. The Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative played a significant role as Title Sponsor of this five-year competition worth $119 million. This initiative aims to enhance access to clean water by developing reliable and affordable seawater desalination systems.

Expanding Collaborative Efforts

Dr. Lauren Greenlee, Executive Vice President of Food + Water + Waste Domain at XPRIZE, expressed her thoughts: "The IDRA congress has been an incredible opportunity for the XPRIZE Water Scarcity team to collaborate with the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative, expand our ecosystem for the prize, and communicate to the desalination community about our aligned missions to accelerate innovation. Our work here culminates a first year of working together with the Initiative to tackle the global issue of water scarcity, and seeking to make clean water more abundant and available, particularly for low- and medium-income countries."

The congress marked a year-long collaboration between XPRIZE and Mohamed bin Zayed Initiative aimed at addressing global water scarcity issues. Their joint efforts focus on making clean water more accessible worldwide, especially in low- and medium-income regions.

With inputs from WAM