IWMI and UK Parliamentarians Review Al Murunah Project’s Climate Resilience Results in Egypt

IWMI and British Parliamentarians Review Al Murunah Project’s Climate Resilience Results

The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) said on 11 November 2026 that it had hosted a cross-party delegation from the United Kingdom to review the Al Murunah project, which builds climate-resilient, water-secure communities in the Middle East and North Africa. The meeting took place on 19 August at the British Embassy in Cairo and was organised by the Coalition for Global Prosperity. IWMI’s announcement was published three months later, during COP31.

What the project has achieved

Al Murunah and its follow-on, Al Murunah+, are supported by UK International Development and delivered with implementation partners. They showcase scaling pathways for resilient nature-based water solutions. Across Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, IWMI says the project has directly helped 4,793 people adapt to climate change, achieved a 32 percent average reduction in local water vulnerability, and mobilised 10.35 million British pounds, about $14 million, in additional climate finance. These are IWMI’s own project figures, and IWMI links to a cross-project impact summary for the details.

Inclusion and women’s empowerment

Al Murunah+ also supports social inclusion through gender-transformative approaches. Using the EA$E methodology for equal access to land and economic resources, spouses in family-run businesses are trained together on financial decision-making and business management. More than 1,000 families have been trained across the four countries.

Built to outlast the funding

A central theme is long-term sustainability beyond project funding. In Egypt, Jordan and Palestine, operation and maintenance costs are lower than for pre-existing systems, a key advantage of hybrid nature-based solutions. The examples are concrete. Solar-powered irrigation in Egypt has cut ongoing diesel and labour costs, while in Jordan, plantings and infrastructure rehabilitation have reduced damage during floods. Local cooperatives, Water User Associations and municipalities have set up self-sustaining fee structures to guarantee long-term maintenance.

Findings will also inform Jordan’s update of its Nationally Determined Contribution for the water sector and the implementation of Egypt’s national agriculture strategy.

From “donor-charity” to “investor-partner”

The delegation examined how projects like Al Murunah shift from a “donor-charity” paradigm to an “investor-partner” mindset, as global funding becomes more constrained. IWMI argues that co-design, economic self-reliance, private-sector engagement and mutual respect between international partners and local communities offer a viable path. The argument is notable because it comes at a moment when development budgets in several donor countries are under pressure.

Background: nature-based solutions for water

Nature-based solutions use ecosystems, such as restored vegetation, soil management and natural water storage, instead of relying only on concrete infrastructure. Combined with efficient irrigation and community governance, they can reduce exposure to droughts and floods at a lower running cost. IWMI describes its Al Murunah work as part of its research on water, climate change and resilience, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The results arrive during a climate summit where adaptation finance is a main point of contention. UN News reported on 11 November that disagreements over adaptation finance persisted in the COP31 negotiations, with developing countries pressing for more predictable funding. A project that shows measurable adaptation results and attracts additional finance speaks directly to that debate, though a single programme in four countries cannot settle it.

Why it matters

Donors and developing countries both ask whether adaptation money delivers results. Al Murunah offers one answer in numbers: a reported reduction in water vulnerability, additional finance mobilised and lower running costs. The caveat is that the figures are self-reported by the implementing institute and cover a specific set of communities. Independent evaluation, and evidence that results hold after funding ends, would strengthen the case.

What to watch

Three things will show whether the model travels. First, whether Jordan’s NDC update and Egypt’s agriculture strategy actually incorporate the project’s findings. Second, whether the fee structures set by local cooperatives and water user associations continue to cover maintenance in the years ahead. Third, whether private-sector partners join, since the “investor-partner” idea depends on it.

Conclusion

The Al Murunah review gives UK parliamentarians a close look at a programme that pairs nature-based solutions with community ownership and local financing. IWMI reports a 32 percent average reduction in local water vulnerability and £10.35 million in additional climate finance across four countries. With adaptation finance contested at COP31, the project is a data point for those arguing that well-designed adaptation can both protect communities and attract investment.