The workshop was jointly organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), as part of the regional project “Making water cooperation happen in the Mediterranean” (aka the Water Matchmaker Project), with financial support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). It was implemented as part of the 2019-2021 programme of work of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention).
 
The workshop discussed the current status of transboundary water cooperation in the region and its benefits, as well as reviewed existing tools and approaches to prompt further progress, through topical discussions relevant to the specific context and needs of countries of the MENA region. The workshop aims to contribute to the strengthening of transboundary water cooperation in the region, therefore supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and SDG 6 in particular.