ABOUT US

MEDRC is an International Organization mandated to find solutions to fresh water scarcity. Established in 1996 as part of the Middle East Peace Process it conducts research, training, development cooperation and transboundary water projects.

 

The MEDRC Headquarters is in Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman, where it operates a state of the art research facility including desalination plants, laboratories, lecture halls and administrative offices.

In delivering its mission, MEDRC aims to become a viable and transferable mechanism for governments seeking to address significant regional or trans-boundary environmental challenges.

What we do

research

RESEARCH

Our research program is about bringing the best regional and global expertise together to help find solutions to the challenge of freshwater scarcity.

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training

TRAINING

We supply all levels of training & consultancy in desalination, water reuse and mechanical pump operations to governments and enterprise in Oman and the MENA region.

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dev_coop

DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION

The Development Cooperation Program promotes regional cooperation on transboundary water issues, supports development and builds capacity in the areas of most need in the water sectors in Palestine and Jordan

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Welcome

In 1996 MEDRC was established to address two of the greatest global grand challenges – peace and environmental sustainability. Established as part of the Middle East Peace Process, MEDRC is a unique International Organization that works to build solutions to freshwater scarcity across borders and divisions.

For more than 20 years MEDRC has led a multi-million dollar program of support for cross-border water research projects across the Middle East. Following a process of restructuring and reform four years ago the organization tripled in size and today is more active than ever.

In terms of research our aim is to lead and support projects that have practical impact. Right now we are working on desalination technologies to provide drinking water in the aftermath of a humanitarian crisis; solar desalination; energy recovery and small scale renewable desalination devices. We also work on areas such as costing models, integrated water management, the nexus approach and science diplomacy.

Our training activities are the most comprehensive in the Middle East. We have training programs that covers all areas of desalination, from small-scale plant operator training to the design of maga-plants. We operate large-scale year-long training programs such as ‘Tahlya’ that is training the next generation of Omani reverse osmosis plant operators and supervisors. Common to all our programs is a focus on energy efficiency, minimizing environmental impact and mainstreaming renewables. The training department also conducts consultancy in all aspects of desalination operation and design.

MEDRC also runs a large development assistance program primarily in Palestine and Jordan. We support more than fifty water research projects each year in Gaza, the West Bank and Jordan. Among our other activities are technical missions, development of PhD water programs and bespoke training programs to meet specific water needs. An important area for us also is transboundary water where we assist countries discuss and overcome water issues across borders.

I hope this website is of use to you in getting a deeper understanding of our work and impact. If you have any suggestions, ideas for collaboration or if you simply want to get in touch please do not hesitate to make contact.

ciran_about

Ciarán Ó Cuinn

Center Director

Executive Council and Country Technical Representatives

MEDRC’s Executive Council is the governing body of the Center.

OMAN (CHAIR)

  • H.E. Sheikh Khalifa Al Harthy, MFA

CHAIRMAN EMERITUS 

  • H.E. Sayyid Badr Hamad Albusaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oman

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (VICE-CHAIR)

  • Dr. Peter Howard, US State Department
  • Mr. Saied Delagah, US Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation

KOREA

  • Mr. Sung Hoon Kim, MFA
  • Dr. Seung Hyun Kim, Kyungnam University

JAPAN

  • Mr. Konagaya Hideaki, MFA
  • Dr. Hideo Iwahashi, Water Reuse Promotion Center

PALESTINE

  • Eng. Marwan Bardawil, Palestinian Water Authority
  • Dr. Omar Awadallah, MFA

JORDAN

  • H.E. Dr Jihad Mahamid, MWI
  • Dr. Khalil Alabsi, Jordan Valley Authority

ISRAEL

  • Mr. Oded Joseph, MFA
  • Mr. Oded Fixler, Israeli Water Authority

QATAR

  • Eng. Ali Saif Al Malki, President Advisor, KAHRAMAA
  • Mr. Sultan Al-Aseeri, Qatar Development Fund

SPAIN

  • Mr. Alberto Jose Ucelay Urech, MFA
  • Mr. Angel Cajigas Delgado, Ministry of Agriculture Food and Environmental Affairs

NETHERLANDS

  • Ms. Guusje Korthals Altes, MFA
  • Mr. Burak Cevik, MFA

GERMANY

  • H.E. Thomas Friedrich Schneider, MFA

OUR TEAM

Ciarán Ó Cuinn

Center Director

Ciarán is a specialist in public policy and international relations, particularly the development of mechanisms to deal with trans-boundary environmental issues. He spent more than a decade working on various elements of the Irish Peace Process, on projects as diverse the development of a single all Ireland energy market, formal negotiations between the main parties and the development of conflict resolution initiatives to help capture the lessons learned from the Irish context for peace processes elsewhere. He was principal ministerial policy adviser at three Government departments. Educated at Trinity College, Dublin and The School of Oriental & African Studies, London, he holds degrees in both History and Public Policy.

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Kirsten Winterman

Head of Development Cooperation

Kirsten joined MEDRC in May 2016 as a Project Manager in the Development Cooperation Department before becoming department Head in April 2017. Prior to joining, Kirsten was Projects Manager at Beyond Borders Scotland where she worked extensively on the design, management and implementation of training programmes in Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. She has experience with multiple donors and has been awarded projects by Sida, USAID, the FCO, DfID and the Qatar Development Foundation amongst others. Kirsten holds a MA degree in Conflict Resolution with a specialism in ethnically divided post-conflict government from the University of Bradford and a BA in Politics from the University of Liverpool.

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Kirsten Winterman

Head of Development Cooperation

Eng. Riadh Dridi

Head of Training and Applied Research

Eng. Riadh brings to our team over 20 years’ experience in engineering supervision, project management and consultancy services covering design, operations, maintenance, and costings of all water treatment systems, be it desalination or waste water. Hailing from Tunisia, he earned his B.Eng. Degree in Geo-resources and Environment from the National Engineering Institute in Sfax, Tunisia. If you can’t find him in his office you will find him in his white coat, doing tests and membrane analysis, or in the RO Plant warehouse training staff from various levels in the desalination field.

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Trish fell in love with Oman when she moved here with her family 10 years ago, and since then has wanted to be able to support The Sultanate of Oman in its growth, and ensure that this great country reaches its full potential. This has led her to be involved in the nonprofit community for the past 5 years, and it is through these nonprofits that she can put her passion, not only for Oman, but for Operations / Administrative work to good use, having over 30 years of experience in office management. Here at MEDRC she heads our growing Operations team in the support of the 2 program departments.

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Trish Pienaar

Head of Finance 

OUR PARTNERS