ABSTRACT
This chapter presents an assessment of federal agencies working on water resources development in the Middle East. It emphasizes areas of agency responsibility, programs, agency interaction, and constraints on development efforts. The Department of State has a long and successful involvement with regional water issues. Among the offices tracking these questions is the Bureau for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (NEA). Within NEA, country desk officers and the Office for Regional Affairs monitor developments in the region. Responsibility for water resources development in foreign countries rests primarily with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID-sponsored programs typically have been implemented by US private-sector firms working jointly with host country architectual, engineering, and construction firms. The Department of Defense closely tracks water issues as they relate to US military interests in the Middle East. The US government has a strong history of involvement in Middle East water resources development.
