Arid regions throughout the world experience long periods of drought. Combined with a high temperature, this can lead to water shortage. Due to climate change, this is expected to worsen, as areas become drier and temperatures increase. One of the regions where this problem occurs is the region of North-East Africa. In this region, water stress is expected to increase in the (near) future due to an increase in demand for water and a decrease of the availability. While most of these countries depend on a shared water source, transboundary cooperation is lacking. A regional strategy, to create a common framework, is needed to cope with this regional problem which can strengthen long term resilience. This thesis tries to find which elements are crucial when creating a regional strategy for these regions.

North-East Africa has many regional differences: while the countries Sudan and Egypt are mainly dependent on water from the Nile, Libya lacks freshwater sources and depends on groundwater. Regional differences like this are why it is difficult to create one strategy which addresses the whole region at once. This is why it is important to zoom in and see what local cities or regions specifically need. By zooming in, these local differences can be, together with challenges on a larger scale, form a strategy with which the regional can tackle water shortage.

The strategy itself contains three main aspects; priorities, outcomes and outputs. The six main priorities can be used to set goals for both the larger and smaller scale for both present and future, and can help decisionmakers link other topics to this common goal. The outcomes are linked to both these priorities, as well as the SDG’s, to improve the connectivity to other future policies and action plans. Outputs in this strategy are directly linked to the outcomes to provide input about how these outcomes are achievable. These outputs, also known as actions, are either spatial or policies. To illustrate the effect and possibilities of spatial actions, the Greater Cairo region is investigated on a smaller scale. This is done by looking into four main types which illustrate the various forms of urban fabric in the city.

The main findings of this thesis are that a regional strategy in arid regions should take into account aspects on both small and large scale, as well as tackling issues in the present and future. Only by constantly switching between scales and time, a coherent and functioning strategy can be created.

In recent years the need for action against climate change has severely grown. Action is needed now and circularity can help to make sectors more sustainable. The agri-food sector plays a big role in this, as we need three times the surface area of our country to support the needs of the inhabitants.The agri-food sector is putting too much pressure on space and resources and this pressure will only increase as the population continues to grow. However, by creating spaces that are used more efficiently this pressure can be reduced while also providing for a growing population.Decreasing the pressure of the agrifood sector on space and resources will lead to a drastically new South Holland in 2050. To achieve this new South Holland, research will be done on several aspects. First the current situation needs to be analysed. Furthermore, research is needed on possible interventions and the future implications of these interventions. After extensive research is done, a vision of 2050 can be formulated:By 2050, both the land and the sea are used in a space-efficient way, reducing the (carbon-) footprint of the province and providing more food for its own population. Buying and eating local food have encouraged people to become more aware of the process and where the food comes from. This has resulted in a shift in diet and the inefficient space for cattle farms is reduced.This conversion provides space for nature, housing and agriculture while also leaving room for the plans of the next generation. By reducing the meat and the dairy industry, space opens up for more nature and some small scale housing in the green heart. To replace the loss of dietary protein, the province makes a shift towards seaweed and aquaculture. More circularity is achieved through the use of “waste” streams of the harbour, horticulture, arable farming and the meat and dairy industry

Dit boekje is de neerslag van het thema ‘Faalkosten en budgetoverschrijdingen’,
onderdeel van het BSc-vak ‘Bouwkunde als wetenschappelijke discipline’:
Literatuuronderzoek (BK2AC1).