Middle East
Water and Livelihoods Initiative

The Water and Livelihoods Initiative (WLI) provides an opportunity for UF/IFAS faculty to become involved in a grant-funded, multi-national project that brings together multiple global partners to address water issues in the context of rural livelihood improvement. Research opportunities, graduate student exchanges, Extension training and capacity building, gender issues, and distance education are just some of the areas of opportunity for faculty activities, across a wide range of disciplines.

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), part of the CGIAR system of international research centers, is the "hub" institution coordinating the initiative and the anticipated multi-million dollar budget from global donors. WLI involves seven countries in the Middle East: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Yemen. Five U.S. universities are active participants in the initiative: the University of Florida, Texas A&M, the University of California--Davis and Riverside, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Utah State University.

Other partners will include two additional CGIAR Centers: the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI). A large array of NGOs and local organizations will also participate in the project. The Middle East Water & Livelihoods Initiative (WLI) will establish benchmark sites in each country. In those pilot areas, WLI will develop integrated water and land-use management strategies that improve the livelihoods of rural households and communities in areas where water scarcity, land degradation, and water quality deterioration are prevalent.

UF is emerging as a major player in the proposal. To learn more about this initiative, click the PowerPoint and PDF files in the right-hand column. If you are interested in becoming a partner in this major initiative, please contact either David Sammons or Sandra Russo, whose contact information is also in the right-hand column.

Background Information

The PowerPoint and PDF files in the right-hand column provide background information about WLI and the areas where specific expertise is required. Click on the country names or presentation titles to learn more.