Lebanon – The Lebanese University, represented by its President Dr. Bassam Badran and the Coordinator of the Office of External Relations Dr. Véronique Kaspar, took part in the launch of the WISEMED initiative.

The initiative aims to enhance sustainable water management and strengthen the agricultural sector’s resilience to water scarcity.

The official launch took place during a meeting held in Italy on January 14, 2026.

WISEMED, the joint Mediterranean project for water management and conservation, brings together partners and institutions from across the Mediterranean region. The project seeks to advance sustainable solutions that help the agricultural sector cope with water scarcity, one of the most pressing challenges facing the region.

The WISEMED project is led by the Italian University Cooperation Institute (ICU) and funded by the European Union. It will run for 36 months until 2028 and focuses on promoting the adoption of integrated and sustainable water management measures in irrigated agriculture at the river basin level.

During the inaugural meeting, partners from Jordan, Tunisia, Spain, Italy, Lebanon, Egypt, Greece, and Turkey announced the launch of a Mediterranean cooperation network.

This network aims to facilitate knowledge exchange, test pilot solutions, and strengthen collaboration among research institutions, public authorities, and local stakeholders.

The project also seeks to test and scale up sustainable irrigation systems and improve water-use efficiency, including the use of non-conventional water resources.

In addition, it supports evidence-based water policies and aims to enhance local aquatic ecosystems by linking service providers, institutions, and financial actors.