€19.5 Million Joint Action Project to Strengthen Water Supply Services in Lebanon
A large share of the water supply in Lebanon never reaches the tap. It is lost in leaks due to aged networks and unauthorized assaults on the distribution system. People served by the four Regional Water Establishments in Lebanon will benefit from a new project to improve the provision of water supply services.
Funded by the European Union (EU) and Germany and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with the Ministry of Energy and Water and the four Regional Water Establishments, the project “Enhancing Water Resource Management Plus – WAMA+” supports Lebanon´s water sector reform efforts to enhance the efficiency of public water service delivery and the protection of water resources.
Announced at the Ministry of Energy and Water, the launch marks a further step in the partnership between Lebanon, the EU, and Germany in support of the Lebanese water sector. With the intervention of the joint project the Lebanese water establishments will rely on digitalized updated customer data to ensure the provision of water and to generate revenues based on actual consumption. The project will contribute to strengthening the Regional Water Establishments` operational efficiency, public accountability, and revenue management through improving data availability for a transparent and evidence-based decision making. The joint action runs until mid-2029 with EU funding of € 16.7 million and a German contribution of € 2.8 million out of the total of € 19.5 million.
In his opening address, H.E. the Minister of Energy and Water, Joe Saddi, stressed that the WAMA+ project, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry, the four Regional Water Establishments, the European Union, and the German Government, would contribute to tangible and measurable improvements in the performance of the Water Establishments. He expressed his appreciation to all partners for their continued support to Lebanon’s water sector.
He also noted that the project complements the Ministry’s and the Water Establishments’ digital transformation strategy. Its implementation will help integrate monitoring systems and subscriber information into a coherent, interconnected digital framework, based on standardized data and clearly defined responsibilities for maintaining and updating information.
“The launch of this project marks a significant step forward in addressing the lack of reliable and integrated data within public Water Establishments. It also supports two shared priorities of the Ministry and the four Water Establishments: monitoring public water sources through Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, and updating the subscriber database, which covers 800,000 subscribers. These improvements will enable the Water Establishments to identify operational issues, manage water supplies more effectively, and allocate resources on a more reliable basis,” Saddi added.
He concluded: “By strengthening oversight of water production and operational costs, while improving billing and revenue collection, these two pillars will directly contribute to enhancing the financial sustainability of the Water Establishments.”
Speaking at the launch, H.E. Thomas Zahneisen, German Ambassador to Lebanon stated “Germany and the EU have been the main contributors to Lebanon’s water sector in recent years. Through this joint project, we strengthen capacities of public institutions, promote fair and transparent tariffs, improve access to data, and thereby support better management of water resources overall. The aim of our tripartite collaboration – Lebanon, Germany, and the EU - is for everyone in Lebanon to enjoy better access to water, which is a basic human right.”
Mr. Samy Saadi, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Lebanon emphasized ‘’the European Union looks forward to tangible progress in implementing the water sector reforms, in line with the National Water Sector Strategy. Achieving lasting results requires strong institutional ownership, clear lines of responsibility, and sustained commitment from all stakeholders. The timely appointment of a qualified and dedicated team to lead the implementation of WAMA+ is essential. It will help ensure effective coordination, continuity and delivery, while laying the foundations for the project’s long-term sustainability.’’
Over the next three years, the project will support the Regional Water Establishments in introducing a digital metering and monitoring of 400 bulk water sources and updating the records of approximately 800,000 water subscribers using digital customer services. This project will help the water establishments provide transparent services, reduce water losses faster, reach more customers and bill them more accurately, and plan future investments based on reliable data.
