29/10/2026
From water footprint knowledge to action 🌱💧
Yesterday, during Cairo Water Week, we brought together Egyptian and Dutch partners for the launch of the Water Footprint in Action (WFiA), a new four-year programme funded by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cairo.
Egypt faces growing pressure on its water resources. At the same time, agriculture needs to remain productive and competitive. How can we make better use of the water available and support farmers and build a more resilient horticulture sector? A key part of this is understanding what motivates farmers to use water more efficiently and how better water management can translate into tangible benefits for their farms and businesses. Ultimately, the goal is to make informed trade-offs that balance water availability, agricultural productivity and economic opportunity.
These were some of the key questions at the heart of our session.
Together with representatives from government, research institutions and the private sector, we explored how water footprint knowledge can be translated into practical solutions on the ground. From better data and stronger advisory services to innovative solutions and closer collaboration between Dutch and Egyptian businesses, there is real potential to make a difference.
For water-smart agriculture to succeed, solutions need to work for farmers, too. That means looking beyond water savings alone and understanding how better water management can contribute to farm productivity, economic returns and long-term resilience.
Through WFiA, we aim to strengthen the connections between research, advisory services, farmers and businesses, and support the development and uptake of water-smart solutions tailored to the needs of Egypt’s horticulture sector.
Thank you to all our partners and participants for the open exchange and valuable contributions. We look forward to turning these discussions into concrete action.
