Lebanon water project (LWP) : midterm performance evaluation : final report : performance management and support program for Lebanon (PMSPL II)

LWP’s purpose is to improve: i) Service delivery and resource management of Lebanon’s five public-water utilities; ii) Civic engagement in water management and citizens’ perception of water utilities’ role in providing a necessary and valuable service; and iii) Private-sector involvement in water management. This mid-term performance evaluation has found that LWP’s objectives meet USAID/Lebanon’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy’s objectives and beneficiary needs. LWP’s assumptions remain valid. Its construction activities, management plans and tools, and training courses are improving Lebanon’s public-water utilities. The degree of impact varies. Delays have occurred in construction. LWP has established a diverse and wide-ranging grants program covering communities, agriculture, and industry—issuing more than 32 grants. Media coverage has been substantial, with national campaigns reaching over 1.17 million people. One Public-Private Partnership was signed with one of the Regional Water Establishments (RWEs) for fees collection. Tender documents have been prepared and suggested for selected RWEs for model water supply Public-Private Partnerships with RWEs, , but no partnerships have been signed to date. No external contextual factors were found that would affect LWP’s performance. LWP is putting in place mechanisms to ensure the initiatives it implements are sustained as much as possible. The gender-integration strategy has been implemented as planned. Some program and budget adjustments are justified where public-water utilities are not actively participating or have other funding and technical-assistance sources. Even if there are no delays in completing the remaining designs and construction, it may be necessary to extend LWP’s duration to complete all training and testing of management issues related to demonstration projects.