Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support (LWWSS)
The LWWSS was designed to continue the USAID commitment to improve water supply and sanitation services for the people of Lebanon. The predecessor Lebanon Water Policy Program (LWPP) reflected a bold action by USAID to work directly with the Government of Lebanon. It demonstrated that carefully designed interventions joined with leadership from the government can produce impressive and inspiring results. Based in the MOEW, the LWPP team helped the CEO of the South Lebanon Water Establishment (SLWE) forge a single entity from four water authorities, adopt an improved financial and accounting system, reduce non-revenue water, and put in place a business planning process that incorporates five-year capital planning and tariff adjustments. Through these efforts, the SLWE became a model that could be emulated by the other WEs in Lebanon. The LWPP team also helped the Beirut Mount Lebanon Water Establishment (BMLWE) develop a business plan and cost recovery model. If one measure of success is the willingness of other donors to adopt USAID's approach, then LWPP was a resounding success.
Activity Description
LWWSS intended to complete seven tasks through the contract. These tasks were:
- Complete an initial assessment that included a detailed list of proposed deliverables, activities, and tasks, as well as a plan identifying the equipment and infrastructure needs of each water establishment and MOEW.
- Strengthen the water establishments’ managerial, technical, and operational capacities.
- Increase the capacity of the establishments’ employees to manage financial systems and help each establishment adopt improved commercial practices.
- Increase the establishments’ capacity in capital investment planning and project management.
- Provide equipment to improve the water establishments’ performance.
- Implement small- to medium-scale water and wastewater projects.
- Improve customer service and relations.
Actual Outcomes
- Improved water supply to 107,000 inhabitants through enhanced treatment of drinking water in the Beka’a Valley.
- Improved pump station efficiency and water service through equipment replacement that benefits 185,000 people.
- Upgraded water analysis laboratories, enabling the water establishments to meet national testing standards and benefitting 700,000 people in the Beka’a Valley and South Lebanon water establishments.
- Improved health and safety practices through training for infrastructure operators supplying water service to 500,000 inhabitants.
- Trained staffers at the water establishments to design and update five-year business plans, enabling them to adhere to national strategic guidelines, plan medium-term goals, and adopt benchmarking processes to monitor and evaluate performance.
- Promoted water conservation in schools and in rural regions, covering a population of 150,000.
