Ali T. Odeh (ELP 2024) | Executive Director, Union of Palestinian Water Service Providers, Palestine
My journey began in the serene village of Baqa Al Sharqiya, nestled in the heart of Palestine. From a very young age, I had always been fascinated by the world of environmental engineering. My family was remarkably deep in their passion for the environment. They would often talk to me about pollution and the importance of safeguarding the planet. These early influences ignited my determination to make a meaningful impact in the environmental field.
Driven by this passion, I pursued a degree in civil engineering at a local university, followed by a master’s degree in water and environmental engineering. After graduation, I joined Bayti Real Estate Company, the developer of Rawabi—the first eco-friendly Palestinian city—working as a project management engineer. This career then led me to CDM Smith, an international firm specializing in water and environmental projects, where I continued my work as a project management engineer. When CDM Smith's projects in Palestine concluded, I made a pivotal decision to remain in my homeland, determined to make my vision of environmental change a reality. My commitment was soon recognized, and I was appointed as the Executive Director of the Union of Palestinian Water Service Providers. In this challenging role, I navigated complex political, technical, managerial, and financial issues. Yet, I remained steadfast in my mission to improve water accessibility for Palestinians. Through collaboration with key donors such as GIZ, KFW, EU, USAID, NL, and AFD, I spearheaded projects aimed at securing essential water and energy resources for my country and my people.
My extensive experience, gained from working with over 250 municipalities across the West Bank and Gaza, revealed the dire need for resilience in Palestinian water, energy, and food security. This realization led me to establish my own business, focused on providing sustainable, decentralized solutions at affordable prices. My efforts have benefitted more than 500 families, underscoring my commitment to community-driven environmental progress.
Expanding the impact beyond Palestine, I participated in developing and implementing a zero-waste project for Dubai Sustainable City in cooperation with the University of California Davis and The American University of Beirut, Lebanon. I also started delivering bio-circular economy solutions in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. This all further solidified my role as a leader in combating climate change and enhancing the resilience of families globally.
Recognizing the transformative potential of decentralized environmental solutions, I embarked on a new project in Palestine—AgriEcotourism. This initiative promotes off-grid living through eco-friendly solutions and partners with environmental organizations to foster responsible consumption habits, driving long-term societal change.
My commitment to environmental knowledge exchange on a global scale led me to establish the annual International Palestinian Water-Energy-Food Nexus Forum. This forum -- which convenes municipalities, ministries, international organizations, academic experts, and other stakeholders -- addresses the critical challenges of water supply, wastewater management, renewable energy optimization, and food production. The sixth forum, held in July 2023 in Ramallah, highlighted the integration of water-energy- food nexus in the Palestinian water sector.
My experience and leadership in the WASH sector has earned me widespread recognition. My influence extends beyond Palestine, as I serve on the board of the Arab Countries Water Utilities Association and am a member of DWA, the German Association for Water, Wastewater, and Waste, as well as other regional organizations focused on transboundary water and energy conflict resolution.
My perseverance and passion have enabled me to set a model for young engineers aspiring to make a difference in their community and environment. My journey is a testament to the power of determination, challenging societal expectations, and paving the way for future generations. Through my work, I am not only realizing my own dreams, but I hope I am also leaving an enduring legacy of environmental stewardship that inspires others. By reading my story, I hope that you, too, realize that you can make a difference in the world, regardless of societal expectations.
[The blog post image was first published on Flickr. Original image by EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (Photo by GVC). The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)]