LEB – Improved Water Resources Monitoring and Integrated Water Resources Management in the North of Lebanon
For over five years now, the Syria crisis is continuing to affect middle-income neighbouring countries. As a result, Lebanon hosts the highest number of refugees per capita in the world. The weak governance of the Government has been worsened with the burden of the refugees from Syria and Palestine who use the same overstretched infrastructure and public services. The project aims at enabling the water authorities to better manage the water sector for the benefit of the vulnerable communities in the North of the country.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Lebanon |
Water Agriculture & food security
Water resources conservation
Agricultural water resources |
01.07.2017
- 31.05.2022 |
CHF 2’432’000
|
- Output 1: Real time monitoring at key locations
- Output 2: Established water quality monitoring at key locations within a pilot watershed
- Output 3: Water Establishment/Watershed Prototype Monitoring System is developed, management authorities empowered, and their capacity is enhanced to operate the system - including preparation of a business plan to operate the monitoring system
- Output 4: Water accounting tool implemented
- Output 5: Informed decisions transferred to end-users to improve capacity for enhanced crop water productivity
- Output 6: Scaled-up approach through stakeholder platforms and data-sharing
- Food and Agricultural Organisation
- United National Strategic Framework UNSF (2017-2020)
- Water Intelligence for the Near East (WIN) UNESCO-IHE
- Lebanese Crisis Response Plan 2017-2020
- National water strategy 2012
- FAO’s national programme of work in Lebanon – Country Programme Framework (CPF)
- Lebanese Red Cross WASH project in the Informal refugee settlements of Akkar North Lebanon (planned)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
AGRICULTURE
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Water resources conservation (including data collection)
Agricultural water resources
Cross-cutting topics The project supports partner organisation improvements as a priority
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F09836
Background |
Lebanon’s water sector faces several challenges: The worst drought since 40 years (2013-2014); increasing water demand driven by population growth), rapid urbanization, agricultural activities, and water pollution. Northern Lebanon is one of the country’s most deprived regions, with severe poverty levels, high numbers of refugees and some of the worst unemployment rates in the country. Water infrastructure such as supply and sanitation systems, solid waste management and municipal services are overstressed. In addition the water management is further weakened by lack of data collection and poor sharing of information among engaged institutions. |
Objectives |
Improved performance and enhanced capacity of regional water management institutions leading to more effective planning and management of water resources and better water outcomes to end users. |
Target groups |
The project directly targets the NLWE and therewith aims at benefitting all water users falling under the NLWE coverage, a population of approximately 1.2 Mio, including 300’000 deprived Lebanese, 250,000 registered Syrian refugees, 70,000 Palestine refugees. |
Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: The provision of effective means to monitor water resources in the North Lebanon Water Establishment, thus support its institutional decision-making and resources planning for IWRM, and develop its capacity to raise institutional performance. Outcome 2: The provision of effective mechanisms to enable data sharing amongst stakeholders and informed decisions transfer to end-users. |
Results |
Expected results: Outcome 1: Outcome 2: Results from previous phases: The choice of the North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE) has been determined based on the following criteria: water availability, level of irrigation development, water quality status, scope for institutional capacity building, and scalability. The rapid assessment had been mandated and financed by Switzerland A rapid economic and social impact assessment developed by the World Bank indicates that the water supply and sanitation systems in Lebanon must now meet an additional estimated water demand that is equivalent to 7 percent of the pre-crisis demand. The Swiss Cooperation Office in Lebanon (SCO) is currently partnering with another regional water establishment in the Bekaa valley, gaining valuable insight on the many challenges faced by these key regional institutions. |
Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
Credit area |
Development cooperation |
Project partners |
Contract partner United Nations Organization (UNO) |
Coordination with other projects and actors |
|
Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’432’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 2’395’400 |
Project phases |
Phase 1 01.07.2017 - 31.05.2022 (Completed) |