An initiative originating in MENA-region countries, and the first regional platform focusing on water, energy and food security, Minaret uses a nexus approach to find solutions for renewable energy production by bringing together scientists, businesses and local authorities. It is coordinated by the Jordanian Royal Scientific Society’s NERC and financed to the tune of €3.7M by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Between now and 2020, the project will be targeting the towns of Karak and Sahab in Jordan, Jedaidet al Chouf in Lebanon and Monastir in Tunisia. The latter hosted the first conference on the theme “Networking for the Future” in February, 2018.
The members of the Jordanian, Tunisian and Lebanese parliaments have already agreed to take things a step further and create a joint Arab parliamentary committee on water, energy and food security. Meanwhile, the mayors of the four towns covered by the Minaret project, plus the mayor of Ein O Zein in Lebanon, have signed a regional cooperation agreement in the same three fields.
Minaret also aims to promote the role played by local authorities as spearheads for sustainable development. They would be transformed into efficient and durable public service platforms that would attract private investment through constructive partnerships involving the private sector, local communities and government departments.
