LEB UNICEF - Support to Sustainable Water Management and Digital Governance in Lebanon
Lebanon’s simple, practical and sustainable knowledge platform for data-based decision-taking by public water institutions will allow for a more sustainable use of groundwater, with improved understanding of one strategic aquifer essential for the livelihoods of people and agriculture. It directly builds on Switzerland expertise in data and model-based water management in karstic morphologies and complements the Switzerland portfolio for sustainable service delivery in Lebanon.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lebanon |
Water
Water supply
Water sector policy |
01.08.2026
- 31.07.2029 |
CHF 3’000’000
|
- United Nations Children’s Fund
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Basic drinking water supply
Water sector policy and administrative management
Cross-cutting topics The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F11703
| Background | Lebanon’s water challenges are driven by weak management systems rather than scarcity, outdated and poorly maintained infrastructure. Limited data, weak coordination and insufficient integration of climate risks result in nonsustainable decisions on water abstraction and protection. The Ministry of Energy and Water within the reform-oriented government demonstrates a firm will and clear vision to address these challenges by its strategy including a data platform. The platform is in the centre of a wider effort for data-based management of water as a resource, led by the ministry and supported in a concerted way by donors as well as the know-how of Lebanese academia. |
| Objectives | Strengthened governance practices, improved use of water resources data, and enhanced protection of selected groundwater resources contribute to increased resilience of Lebanon’s water sector to climate variability and support more reliable and equitable water services over time for the population of Lebanon. |
| Target groups |
Direct: Ministry of Energy and Water, four regional water establishments and other reginal and local organisations. Indirect: The entire population including refugees in the selected aquifer and longer term all Lebanon will benefit from a more sustainable ground water management. |
| Medium-term outcomes | The Ministry of Energy and Water and selected Water establishments demonstrate improved use of climate-informed data and tools to support more coordinated and evidence-based water resources management decisions in targeted areas, reflected in one, all relevant data integrating platform, owned by the ministry and the water establishments and used by incapacitated staff, of which at least 30% are women, as well as the comprehensive understanding of the recharge patterns of at least one aquifer. |
| Results |
Expected results: • At least five operational climate-informed water resources monitoring systems established in selected priority area(s), with an 85% reliable transmission. • Digital data integration and decisionsupport platform is operational and institutionally embedded with the Ministry and the Water Establishments, including the adoption of at least two data governance and Standard Operational Procedures. • At least one groundwater recharge and flood-risk mitigation measure for the prioritized areas is operational and its technical validation is documented. • Institutional capacity and regulatory guidance for groundwater protection is strengthened by at least two technical guidance notes submitted and minimum two coordination meetings with all relevant stakeholders held per year. Results from previous phases: N/A |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner United Nations Organization (UNO) |
| Coordination with other projects and actors | Direct Action supporting the Bekaa Water Establishment, ICRC contribution including supporting South Lebanon Water Establishment, Contribution to FAOs Increasing Resilience of Lebanon’s Water and Food sector. |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 3’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 775’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 0 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 3’000’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 1 01.08.2026 - 31.07.2029 (Current phase) |
