USAID DAWERR: Q3 FY2021/ Q4 Y1 – QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE REPORT

The Activity's period of performance is August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2025. The Activity aligns with USAID/Lebanon's desire to introduce financially sustainable solutions that increase the reuse, recycling, and monetization of solid waste to reduce the amount of solid waste that goes to landfills. The Activity's objectives include establishing a solid waste management (SWM) system in seven municipalities, promoting behavior change communication (BCC) to increase community participation in SWM, and developing a market-based approach to solid waste management. The Activity also aims to improve the capacity of local government institutions and community-based organizations (CBOs) to manage solid waste. The Year 1 Pilots focused on seven municipalities, with the goal of establishing a SWM system that includes waste characterization, segregation, and collection. The Activity also conducted a waste characterization campaign to identify the types and quantities of waste generated in the target municipalities. The results of the campaign showed that the majority of waste generated in the municipalities was organic, followed by plastic and paper waste. Progress on Year 1 Activities was made in several areas, including the establishment of a SWM system in the seven municipalities, the development of a BCC strategy, and the implementation of a market-based approach to SWM. The Activity also made progress on cross-cutting activities, including the development of a gender strategy and analysis plan, and the implementation of grants under contract (GUCs). The Activity also responded to the Beirut explosion, which occurred in August 2020, and provided emergency response support to affected communities. The Activity submitted several deliverables during the reporting period, including a waste characterization report, a BCC strategy, and a market-based approach to SWM. The Activity also made progress on administration, contracts, and finance, including the registration of the Activity's permanent office and the extension of the Year 1 Annual Work Plan. The Activity also encountered several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected the implementation of some activities, and the Beirut explosion, which required the Activity to respond to emergency needs. The Activity's geographic focus is on rural areas of Lebanon, with a specific focus on the seven municipalities selected for the Year 1 Pilots. The Activity's timeframes are from August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2025, with a quarterly reporting cycle. The Activity's recommendations include continuing to support the development of a SWM system in the seven municipalities, promoting BCC to increase community participation in SWM, and developing a market-based approach to SWM. The Activity also recommends continuing to support the capacity building of local government institutions and CBOs to manage solid waste.