The 9th International Water, Sanitation, and Energy Technology Fair Concludes with the Marrakech Declaration
The 9th edition of the International Water, Sanitation, and Energy Technology Fair (SITeau) concluded on Friday with the adoption of the Marrakech Declaration, a significant call to action aimed at implementing a systemic approach to the prevailing climate, water, energy, food, and health crises that are undermining contemporary societies. This pivotal document emphasizes the necessity of adopting the Water-Energy-Agriculture-Health Nexus approach as a structural framework for simultaneously enhancing water, energy, food, health, and ecological security.
The declaration advocates for the establishment of inter-ministerial mechanisms dedicated to the Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus, the development of integrated regulatory frameworks, the mobilization of innovative financing, the strengthening of shared information systems, support for territorial innovations, and the advancement of mediation for inclusive water management at the territorial level. It also calls for enhanced water diplomacy and international cooperation, recognizing that water is at the strategic heart of economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical balances.
Integrated Water Resource Management and Intergenerational Knowledge Transfer
The Marrakech Declaration underscores the importance of integrated water resource management as an operational foundation for public policies. It highlights that cooperation and water diplomacy are now essential levers for stability, peace, and collective resilience, particularly in Africa and the Mediterranean Basin. Furthermore, the declaration calls for the establishment of innovative and inclusive governance mechanisms that facilitate better intersectoral coordination, the development of applicable and fundable Nexus projects, and the integration of public policies that consider both the health of populations and ecosystems. The responsible use of digital tools and artificial intelligence for predictive governance of resources is also emphasized.
Additionally, the document points out the significance of intergenerational dimensions as a crucial condition for resilience, advocating for the transfer of knowledge between generations and a greater mobilization of young talents to ensure a sustainable transition. Recognizing water as the cornerstone of the Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus, participants reaffirmed their collective commitment to a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development model, grounded in enhanced solidarity among peoples, generations, and territories, which is deemed essential for the future of humanity in harmony with the planet.
Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, SITeau is organized in partnership with the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM), the Moroccan Coalition for Water (COALMA), Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) in Marrakech, alongside media and institutional actors, as well as specific partnerships linked to various segments of the fair. This edition's scientific program featured an intergenerational meeting entitled “Intergenerational 4 Water,” which brought together youth and experts around the theme “The Water-Energy-Agriculture-Health Nexus for Sustainable Development: The Case of Morocco,” fostering a spirit of knowledge transmission and experience sharing. The agenda also included a golf competition aimed at promoting eco-friendly golf courses, an exhibition dedicated to the professions of water, sanitation, and energy, integrating the agriculture and health sectors, as well as a fun workshop for children focused on the theme “Water, School of Citizenship.”
As reported by ecoactu.ma.
