Jordan: Region’s water sector facing ‘brain drain’

AMMAN — Instability in some Arab countries has driven trained and qualified people out of the water sector, causing a deficiency in the management of water utilities, an expert on water-demand management said on Monday 13 March 2017 .

Besides water scarcity and limited financial resources, water utilities in Arab countries are now facing the new challenge of a brain drain, according to Khaldoun Khashman, secretary general of the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA).

Even if water and financial resources were available, managing water utilities in the absence of skilled and qualified people is a challenge, Khashman told reporters at a press conference to announce the fourth Arab Water Week, which will be held at the Dead Sea next week.

“It is time for donors to think of the future of water utilities management in Arab countries witnessing conflicts,” he said, proposing programmes to train and qualify skilled immigrants in the management of water utilities.