• Algeria launched a national call for projects to develop tech-driven solutions for water management.

• Authorities target innovation in desalination, smart irrigation, and AI-based water systems.

• The initiative aims to address growing water stress linked to climate change and resource constraints.

Algeria is turning to digital technologies to tackle structural challenges, particularly in water access. Authorities are exploring local technological solutions to strengthen water security and address climate-related risks.

The Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises launched a national call for projects to support this effort, according to a statement published on Wednesday, March 18.

The initiative targets innovators, start-ups, scale-ups, micro-enterprises, incubators, accelerators, researchers from universities and research centers, as well as economic experts and Algerian talent based abroad. Authorities aim to build a national innovation ecosystem in the water sector, develop domestic technological solutions, launch pilot projects, and foster collaboration between public and private stakeholders.

The program focuses on several priority areas. Authorities are prioritizing solutions to reduce water leaks and waste, improve energy efficiency in desalination, expand water reuse, and promote smart irrigation and sustainable agriculture.

The initiative also supports the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in water management, as well as technologies that enhance climate change adaptation.

This approach aligns with Algeria’s national digital transformation strategy, which promotes the integration of information and communication technologies across sectors to support socio-economic development.

Algeria faces increasing water stress due to its geographic and climatic conditions. The country lies in arid to semi-arid zones, where water resources remain limited and depend heavily on irregular rainfall and overexploited groundwater reserves.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development states that new technologies can significantly improve water resource management. The organization highlights that drone-based early warning systems and Earth observation technologies can enhance disaster prediction and mitigation.

Moreover, solutions such as smart meters, which provide real-time data and user feedback, can improve the efficiency of existing water supply and sanitation systems.

However, experts stress that Algeria’s water challenges extend beyond technology. Abdesselam Malek, a hydrogeology expert, highlighted structural inefficiencies in water management in an interview with the daily Horizons.

“In our country, especially in the South, our oases have endured thanks to resilience in the face of highly irregular rainfall, with diversion dams toward storage areas and ingenious sharing systems. Our wadis in the North lose too quickly flows amounting to hundreds of millions of cubic meters that reach the sea within a few days, sometimes within a few hours,” he said.

Isaac K. Kassouwi