Liberia Municipal Water Project II - Year 1 Quarterly Report 1: October - December 2016

The project began in 2016 and is being implemented by Tetra Tech Global Services. The project's overall goal is to increase access to safe and reliable water supply and sanitation services in urban and peri-urban areas of Liberia. The project is divided into several tasks, including institutional strengthening, construction quality assurance, transitional management of water supply improvements, capacity building, and coordination with donors and stakeholders. Task 1 focuses on assisting the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) to finalize and implement an institutional framework and business model for sustainable management of water provision. This involves developing a comprehensive institutional framework, business model, and operational plan for LWSC. Task 2 involves providing quality assurance services, including daily site inspections of construction works to ensure compliance with drawings and technical specifications. The task also includes conducting quality control checks on materials and equipment used in construction. Task 3 focuses on transitional management of water supply improvements, which involves ensuring a smooth transition from the previous project, LMWP I, to LMWP II. Capacity building is a critical component of the project, and Task 4 focuses on building the capacity of LWSC staff to manage and operate the water supply system. This includes providing training and technical assistance to LWSC staff on areas such as water treatment, distribution, and customer service. Task 6 involves planning and reporting, which includes developing a project management plan, monitoring and evaluating project progress, and reporting on project achievements. The project has made significant progress in the first quarter of 2017, with several key activities and accomplishments reported. These include the completion of a comprehensive institutional framework and business model for LWSC, the provision of quality assurance services, and the initiation of capacity building activities. The project has also established a project management unit and a project advisory group to provide guidance and support to the project team. Despite the progress made, the project faces several challenges, including delays in the construction of capital improvement projects, difficulties in mobilizing key personnel, and challenges in transitioning from the previous project. The project team is working to address these challenges and ensure that the project is implemented on schedule and within budget. The project's performance monitoring plan (PMP) is an essential tool for tracking progress and identifying areas for improvement. The PMP includes several key indicators, including the percentage of households with access to improved water sources, the percentage of households with access to improved sanitation facilities, and the percentage of households with access to reliable and safe water supply. The project's financial status report indicates that the project is on track to meet its budget and expenditure targets. The report also highlights the project's procurement plan, which includes a detailed breakdown of planned procurements, including goods, services, and works. In conclusion, the Liberia Municipal Water Project II is a critical initiative aimed at improving water supply and sanitation services in Liberia. The project has made significant progress in the first quarter of 2017, and the project team is working to address challenges and ensure that the project is implemented on schedule and within budget.