About the Conference
The Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU), and the Faculty of Law, Arab East Colleges, warmly welcome you to the 6th MENA Environmental Law and Policy Scholars Conference.
The Conference is sponsored by the United Nations Environment Programme; United Nations Development Program me (UNDP); SADER Legal Publishing; and with technical collaboration and partnership of the Rule of Law Programme Middle East & North Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V; and the UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law at Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
This conference builds upon the achievements from the first five cconferences held in Doha (Qatar) in November 2018, Settat (Morocco) in November 2019; Doha (Qatar) in November 2021; Aman (Jordan) 2023 and Sohar, Oman in 2024.
The ultimate goal of the conference is to bring together environmental educators, university teachers, trainers, and practitioners to exchange knowledge, experience and learn from each other on how to strengthen environmental law education and practice in the region, with focus on the role of environmental law in advancing water security across the MENA region. As with previous occasions, it will provide a platform for sharing and exchanging information on the necessary resources, skills, approaches, and methodologies needed to equip students and future environmental administrators in the region with law and governance skills to advance the SDGs in their spheres of operation.
In acknowledgment of the importance of water security and sustainable development to the MENA region, the plenary session and workshops will provide an opportunity for sharing information and best practices on the role of environmental law in accelerating progress on water security across the MENA region. In addition to the focused pre-conference roundtables, the conference will cover national, regional and international law aspects of four (4) main substantive topics:
- Water and International Environmental Law:Key multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) that, through their effective implementation, can accelerate water security in the MENA region, specifically on issues related to water technologies, desalination, climate-smart water infrastructure, water recycling and circular economy, integrated water management and financing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) projects amongst others.
- Domestic and Regional Approaches: Latest developments in the adoption of environment, social and governance (ESG) standards and multistakeholder approaches across the region, including the applicable legislation, institutions, and key legal innovations onwater security across the region.
- Environmental Law Education for SDG Implementation: The role of environmental law education, research institutes and chairs, in advancing water security in the MENA region. Innovative educational techniques, legal tools, best practices, interdisciplinary research, resources and simulation models that can enhance legal and institutional capacity on integrated water conservation and management in the region.
- Practical Application: Current capacity development gaps and needs of the judiciary, environmental law agencies, and ministries in the region, and how can they be met.
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Organizers
Faculty of Law, Arab East Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU)
Sponsors
Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Development program me (UNDP)
SADER Legal Publishing
Partners
UNESCO Chair on Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
Rule of Law Programme Middle East & North Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung e.V
African Union
The Law Firm of Al-Rifaie and Al-Dahsh
