Based in Stockholm, Sweden, the International Foundation for Science (IFS) is an international non-governmental organization whose mission is to "contribute towards strengthening the capacity of developing countries to conduct relevant and high quality research on the sustainable management of biological, water and energy resources." For over 40 years, IFS has awarded individual research grants to early-career women and men scientists across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean. More recently, teams in Africa and Southeast Asia have been supported to carry out collaborative research in neglected and underutilized species, biodiversity, and climate change adaption and mitigation. In the Middle East and North Africa region, IFS currently supports 19 specialists to address scientific issues related to various aspects of water scarcity. In anticipation of Earth Day and the global March for Science on 22 April, IFS asked them the question: "What does science mean to you in addressing water issues in your part of the world?" Among the responses, Dr. Abdelilah El-Abbassi, Cadi Ayyad University, Morocco, wrote: "Science can bring practical and creative solutions to overcome water scarcity in this region by developing desalination and water treatment technologies. Moreover, water reuse can promote an increase of public awareness about the need for rational use of water and wastewater management." Dr. Kamal Ghodeif, Suez Canal University, Egypt replied that "Water science needs to apply an innovative approach that takes into consideration our arid conditions, culture and other socioeconomic issues."