The World Bank and Israel have signed a deal through which the international organization will use the Israel’s expertise in water conservation and technology in developing countries.

According to the agreement, study tours will be held in Israel over the next two years by officials from developing countries to learn about Israel’s efforts in water conservation and technology.

The delegates will observe first-hand Israeli innovations in areas such as desalination, water filtration and sanitation, drip irrigation and more. The agreement will also include a study of Israel’s experience in managing water and transferring of global expertise on water security.

The deal will also see Israeli water experts travel to countries to present technologies and techniques to prevent water waste and to reclaim resources. Jennifer Sara Director for Water at the World Bank noted that “Israel has had to manage water services while operating under extreme scarcity conditions, and has done so very impressively,” “Its innovative practices are globally recognized – both from technological and institutional perspectives –and will undoubtedly carry lessons for many of the World Bank Group’s clients facing water security challenges.

The World Bank Group’s Water Global Practice is currently responsible for the supervision of a portfolio of approximately US$22 billion in lending through 181 projects and about 200 “active knowledge” educational projects. The largest programs currently being conducted are in the areas of water supply and sanitation, as well as in irrigation and water-resources management.