A strategic step towards water sustainability in the Kingdom
In a significant regulatory step aimed at enhancing water security and achieving sustainability goals, the National Center for Water Efficiency and Conservation (Mathooq) has approved a new regulation for accrediting training programs and institutions in the field of water efficiency and conservation. The regulation includes 18 precise requirements to ensure the quality of training outcomes and standardize criteria, thus serving the ambitious national objectives in this vital sector.
General context: Water challenges and Vision 2030
This regulation comes within the context of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to address the challenges of water scarcity. Saudi Arabia is classified as one of the world's most water-scarce countries and relies heavily on seawater desalination and non-renewable groundwater. Recognizing this reality, Saudi Vision 2030 has established environmental sustainability and the preservation of natural resources as key pillars. Rationalizing water consumption is a strategic objective to ensure the continuity of development and meet the needs of future generations. Therefore, the need has arisen to build a qualified national workforce capable of implementing global best practices in water resource management, which is precisely what this new regulation aims to achieve.
Key requirements for accrediting training programs
The regulations adopted by the center stipulate a set of strict conditions that training providers wishing to offer accredited programs must adhere to. These conditions aim to raise the efficiency of workers in the water sector and enhance the quality of services provided. The main requirements include the following:
- Regulatory licensing: The training provider must be officially licensed by the relevant authorities in the Kingdom.
- Approved training content: Providing a detailed description of each program's content, objectives, and expected learning outcomes, with the necessity of its suitability to the needs of the labor market.
- Qualified trainers: Training providers are required to provide trainers with a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, with practical and scientific experience that is appropriate to the content of the program offered.
- Clear assessment mechanisms: Identifying tools and mechanisms for assessing trainees to ensure they achieve the targeted learning outcomes.
- Specialized training tracks: The regulations have identified training tracks that cover vital sectors such as auditing water efficiency in urban, agricultural, and industrial facilities, in addition to designing and implementing conservation solutions.
- Electronic infrastructure: Providing an integrated electronic system for managing training courses, trainee data and their results, with the possibility of linking it to the National Center platform.
Importance and expected impact
This regulation is expected to have a multifaceted positive impact. Locally, it will contribute to creating a structured job market for water efficiency experts, providing both the public and private sectors with qualified national talent capable of implementing conservation projects with high efficiency. This will directly lead to reduced consumption rates and significant water and financial savings. Regionally, this step represents a pioneering model that neighboring countries facing similar water challenges can utilize to develop their training and regulatory systems. Internationally, these measures reinforce the Kingdom's position as a nation committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 6, which focuses on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
