The European Union, Agence Française de Développement and UNICEF reaffirm their support to Lebanon’s water sector

April 30, 2024 – The Ministry of Energy and Water, together with the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment, the European Union, the Agence Française de Développement and UNICEF, inaugurated the newly rehabilitated Naameh Water Pumping Station, in the presence of several Ambassadors of EU countries. 

The rehabilitation works will improve the efficiency of the water pumping station and help supply clean water to more than 300,000 people in Beirut and Mount Lebanon. 

This project, implemented by the Agence Française de Développement and UNICEF, is part of a broader programme co-funded by the European Union and the Agence Française de Développement for a total budget of 38 million euros, aiming to improve access to clean water for over 1 million people across Lebanon.  

“This project falls within the framework of the Ministry of Energy and Water, collaborating with the Water Establishments to revitalize the water sector and ensure its sustainability, especially during these sensitive times,” said Dr. Walid Fayyad, Minister of Energy and Water. “The European funding support for these projects constitutes the cornerstone of international assistance aimed at aiding Lebanon. The Ministry is relying on donors’ efforts and commitment to increase investments for the sustainability of the water sector, by enhancing its reliance on solar energy systems to reduce costs, as well as investing in surface water, particularly in dams like the Bisri Dam, for its positive and strategic impact on ensuring the financial, environmental, and economic sustainability of the water sector.”

In these challenging times, the European Union has been supporting Lebanon with the operation and maintenance of public water services, improving access to clean water to more than 3 million people in the country. In addition, the European Union has supported the reparation of more than 1,000 water pumping station failures. 

For several years, the European Union and France have been working alongside the Ministry and the Water Establishements, through funding investments and technical assistance to support reform of the sector.

The Ambassador of the European Union to Lebanon Sandra De Waele underlined that “with our Member States, we are committed to supporting Lebanon in reforming the management of its water sector”. The European Union is supporting Lebanon in reforming its water sector, including with the revision of the water strategy, the improvement of legal frameworks and the revision of tariffs. She added “ultimately it is up to the Lebanese national and local authorities to ensure the sustainability of public water services”.

Echoing this commitment, France Ambassador to Lebanon, Hervé Magro, highlighted the close collaboration with the ministry, through AFD, to support the implementation of the Recovery Plan. He added : “with public health at stake, we stress the importance of a comprehensive approach to ensure the delivery of quality water services to the population. This means improving infrastructure, building institutional capacity, and promoting subscription to the service, all while focusing on sustainability. But for these efforts to last, Lebanese authorities need to take decisive steps. France, like the EU and member states, stands side by side with the ministry in improving the performance of the sector and closely monitoring the implementation of the necessary reforms.”

“Together with the European Union, we have been supporting the water sector in Lebanon to ensure the continued availability of water for all through the public water system especially during these challenging times,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon.

“This year, thanks to the generous funding support of the European Union and in partnership with the Agence Française de Développement, we will develop and implement 32 projects that will contribute to the recovery of the Water Establishments, enhancing their capacity to deliver quality and climate-resilient water services as outlined in the National Water Sector Strategy”.

Beirut & Mount Lebanon Water Establishment director general, Jean Gibran said: “UNICEF and the European Union have contributed to the resilience of water institutions and ensuring access to water for citizens, amidst a complete collapse of the economic situation for nearly four years. Today, we are trying to achieve a plan and strategy for the water sector, accompanied by a reform program prepared in collaboration with the Agence Française de Développement and financially supported by the European Union and we are determined to stay and continue our journey to revive our institutions and return them to their natural course, and to be the driving force for the water sector in Lebanon, achieving its sustainability, and making its future promising through our collaboration.”