The countries of the Nile Basin are on a collision course that could result in disastrous military action to determine control of the region’s main water source. In the wake of the Arab Spring, the Egyptian government has lost much of the regional clout that allowed it to maintain it’s ‘lion’s share’ of the Nile as outlined by the 1959 agreement. Population and economic growth in upstream countries, specifically Ethiopia, have resulted in intensified calls for a more equitable water-sharing agreement. Just weeks after Mubarak stepped down, Ethiopia unveiled plans to build the Grand Renaissance Dam. The GRD will significantly reduce the water that reaches Egypt’s borders but will significantly increase Ethiopia’s hydroelectric power and irrigation potential. Egypt’s population and agriculture sector rely heavily on the maintenance of this status quo; the country also faces the mounting effects of climate change, rising food prices and immense population growth. In order to avoid a severe water crisis, Egypt must be proactive and look to improve efficiency within its own borders. This paper will examine the inadequacies of Egypt’s agricultural and irrigation sectors. It will then use examples from Mexico’s successful irrigation reform and advocate a shift of control to local Water User Associations. Other domestic and basin-wide efforts to increase water-use efficiency will also be examined.

The Associação de Familiares, Amigos e Bipolares (AFAB) (Association of Family, Friends and Bipolars) is an extension project of the Federal University of Santa Maria/RS. AFAB was founded in 1997 as a nonprofit association that has as main objective to offer people with Bipolar Mood Disorder and their families a complementary therapeutic approach to the clinical treatment, which includes psychological, educational, cultural, family and social aspects with the aim of rehabilitating its participants psychosocially through comprehensive care. This qualitative study sought to understand the role of AFAB in the treatment and course of life of its members. Semi-structured interviews were performed with patients and their families and were analyzed using the method of categorical thematic content analysis. The benchmarks used were the pedagogical theories of Paulo Freire, the principles and guidelines of the National Humanization Policy, the model of health education through psychoeducation, and the prospects for empowerment of individuals. We analyzed three main issues of the interviews i) AFAB, history and meanings; ii) Bipolar Mood Disorder and its impact, and iii) Psychoeducation: health education and autonomy/citizenship. Based on these issues we inferred various categories that showed an influence of AFAB in improved self-esteem and quality of life of participants as well as an increase in their capacity for autonomy and empowerment. Furthermore, we observed an important role of AFAB in the learning process of its members, not only regarding health education to increase adherence to treatment, but also the development of skills that enabled a greater social impact and an improved worldview of their members. / A Associação de Familiares, Amigos e Bipolares (AFAB) é um projeto de extensão da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (RS). Foi fundada em 1997 como uma associação sem fins lucrativos, tendo como objetivo geral oferecer às pessoas portadoras de Transtorno Bipolar do Humor e a seus familiares uma abordagem terapêutica complementar ao tratamento clínico, que contemplasse aspectos psicológicos, educacionais, culturais, familiares e sociais, visando à reabilitação psicossocial de seus participantes, através da integralidade da atenção. O presente estudo qualitativo buscou compreender o significado da AFAB no tratamento e trajetória de vida de seus sócios. Para isto, foram feitas entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas, com usuários e familiares, as quais foram interpretadas pelo método de análise de conteúdo temática categorial. Os marcos referenciais utilizados foram: as teorias pedagógicas de Paulo Freire; os princípios e diretrizes da Política Nacional de Humanização; o modelo de educação em saúde através da psicoeducação; e, as perspectivas de empoderamento dos sujeitos. Extraíram-se das entrevistas três eixos temáticos: AFAB, história e significados; Transtorno Bipolar do Humor e suas repercussões; e, Psicoeducação: educação para a saúde e para a autonomia/cidadania. A partir destes eixos foi possível inferir diversas categorias que apontaram para uma influência da AFAB na melhora da autoestima e qualidade de vida dos participantes, assim como um aumento em suas capacidades de autonomia e empoderamento. Depreendeu-se, também, um papel relevante da AFAB na aprendizagem de seus sócios, tanto no sentido da educação em saúde, com o incremento na adesão ao tratamento, quanto no desenvolvimento de habilidades que propiciaram um maior alcance social e uma ampliação da visão de mundo de seus sócios.