Report on Selection of the Target Municipalities for Year 1 Six Pilots

The Activity conducted a "Roadshow" to advertise its objectives and approach, and solicit expressions of interest (EOI) from candidate municipalities. The Roadshow plan was approved by USAID, and the DAWERR team briefed mayors about the objectives of the Activity, informed participants about the call for EOI for Year 1 pilots, and shared the leaflet and EOI in both Arabic and English with the candidate municipalities via email and WhatsApp. The DAWERR team conducted virtual meetings with the mayors of the 14 candidate municipalities, providing additional information and clarifications on the DAWERR Activity, the EOI form, and the documents needed. The team also facilitated a question and answer (Q&A) session, giving municipalities the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers/clarifications. As a follow-up to this meeting, the DAWERR team compiled the Q&A in one document and shared it with all the participants via email and WhatsApp. To select the six pilots for Year 1, DAWERR used a set of evaluation criteria and undertook four steps: screening candidate municipalities that submitted EOIs, conducting site visits and multi-criteria assessments for the candidate municipalities that passed the screening, evaluating the technical capacity of the interested municipalities, and selecting the municipalities for Year 1 pilots. The team added an environmental sensitivity analysis of the proposed locations/lands to host the pilots as an additional step in the process. By February 1st, 2021, DAWERR received 12 EOIs from the following municipalities: Batloun, Baskinta, Qaraoun, Ras Baalbek, Jezzine, Rachaya Elwadi, Kawkaba, Rweiset Elballout, Aitanit, Chanay, Aintoura (Keserwan), and Majdel Baana. The team checked and screened each submitted EOI to ensure that it met the eligibility requirements, and followed up with the municipalities to inquire about missing or unclear information as needed. As a result of the screening, all the submitted EOIs met the eligibility requirements. The DAWERR team conducted site visits and multi-criteria assessments for the candidate municipalities that passed the screening. The team evaluated the technical capacity of the interested municipalities, and selected the municipalities for Year 1 pilots, including vetting and performance checks. The team also conducted an environmental sensitivity analysis of the proposed locations/lands to host the pilots. The municipalities that expressed interest in DAWERR Year 1 pilots were Batloun, Baskinta, Qaraoun, Ras Baalbek, Jezzine, and Rachaya Elwadi. The team selected these municipalities based on their technical capacity, environmental sensitivity, and commitment to implementing the DAWERR Activity. The selected municipalities will participate in the DAWERR Activity, which aims to divert waste by encouraging reuse and recycling in Lebanon. The DAWERR Activity will implement the following interventions in the selected municipalities: establishment of material recovery facilities (MRFs), implementation of waste sorting at source, and promotion of composting and recycling practices. The Activity will also provide technical assistance and capacity building to the municipalities to support the implementation of the interventions. The DAWERR Activity aims to achieve the following outcomes in the selected municipalities: reduction of municipal solid waste (MSW) sent to landfills, increase in the amount of recyclable materials collected, and improvement in the environmental and health conditions of the municipalities. The Activity will also promote community engagement and participation in waste management practices. The DAWERR Activity will be implemented over a period of six years, from August 1, 2020, to July 31, 2025. The Activity will be implemented in partnership with the municipalities, civil society organizations, and private sector entities. The Activity will also receive technical assistance and support from international organizations and experts. The DAWERR Activity has the potential to make a significant impact on waste management in Lebanon, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills and promoting sustainable waste management practices. The Activity will also contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to waste management and environmental protection.