2012年-世界发展银行全球_Lebanon___Country_Water_Sector_Assistance_Strategy_2012-2016_46页_875kb

Lebanon: Country Water Sector Assistance Strategy (2012-2016) Summary

Core Objective

The Country Water Sector Assistance Strategy (CWSAS) outlines a five-year operational plan (2012–2016) for the World Bank's involvement in Lebanon's water sector, aimed at supporting the implementation of the National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS). The strategy emphasizes the importance of targeted investment and capacity building to drive institutional reforms and improve service delivery.

Key Outcomes and Measures

1. Improved, Sustainable and Affordable Water Supply

• NWSS Measures:

  • Develop infrastructure to ensure continuous access to high-quality water services.
  • Transition WEs into autonomous and accountable utilities.
  • Implement tariff structures to cover costs and manage demand.
  • Create an enabling environment for Public Private Partnerships (PPPs).

• Implementation Priorities:

  • Empower WEs with authority in areas like hiring and procurement.
  • Strengthen internal and external accountability through benchmarking, performance monitoring, and transparency.
  • Tailor approaches to each WE based on local context.
  • Gradual introduction of PPPs, starting with low-key initiatives like outsourcing.
  • Implement results-based and temporary subsidies in the short term.

2. Sustainable Water Resources Management and Allocation to Priority Uses

• NWSS Measures:

  • Develop an enabling environment for integrated water resources management.
  • Strengthen the management and protection of groundwater as a strategic reserve.
  • Promote conjunctive use of surface and groundwater, including artificial recharge.
  • Prioritize surface water storage for deficit coverage.

• Implementation Priorities:

  • Strengthen regulatory and planning functions.
  • Develop a master plan that integrates supply development and demand management.
  • Prioritize investment in storage and groundwater regulation.
  • Improve institutional coordination and capacity for oversight.

3. Putting Wastewater on a Sustainable Footing and Protecting the Environment

• NWSS Measures:

  • Develop wastewater infrastructure for collection, treatment, and reuse.
  • Implement an institutional and business model for wastewater management.
  • Promote environmental protection through water quality management and recharge zone preservation.
  • Integrate climate change adaptation and flood mitigation into planning.

• Implementation Priorities:

  • Clarify responsibilities and bring existing infrastructure online.
  • Develop a feasible business model and implement progressive wastewater tariffs.
  • Conduct environmental assessments and improve knowledge on climate change.
  • Establish standards and capacity building for wastewater management.

4. Profitable and Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture

• NWSS Measures:

  • Improve irrigation infrastructure and adopt water-saving technologies.
  • Promote decentralization and stakeholder participation in irrigation management.
  • Enhance cost recovery and support expansion of irrigation schemes (15–30,000 ha).

• Implementation Priorities:

  • Conduct a technical, economic, and institutional assessment of the irrigation sector.
  • Develop a phased investment program aligned with the NWSS.
  • Strengthen institutional strategies and financial sustainability mechanisms.

5. Strengthened Sector Capacity for Oversight and Reform Implementation

• NWSS Measures:

  • Restructure and equip the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) to take on policy-making, planning, and regulatory roles.
  • Build human capacity through recruitment, training, and staff development.

• Implementation Priorities:

  • Ensure MoEW has a clear role in oversight and reform.
  • Develop an action plan for MoEW, including long-term capacity building.
  • Strengthen donor harmonization and alignment with the government's reform agenda.

6. Improved Efficiency of Public Investment

• NWSS Measures:

  • Focus on improving the efficiency and quality of public investment rather than its volume.
  • Align investments with the priorities and outcomes of the NWSS.

• Implementation Priorities:

  • Improve horizontal coordination to ensure effective sequencing of investments.
  • Prioritize investments in line with available financial capacity.
  • Increase the role of WEs and LRA in investment planning and implementation.

Sector-Wide Constraints

The CWSAS identifies four major constraints to the implementation of the NWSS:

1. Weak Accountability – Requires clarifying obligations and rights of public agencies and empowering WEs.
2. Fiscal Constraints – The projected cost of $5 billion (US$1 billion annually) far exceeds available fiscal space.
3. Implementation Capacity Constraints – Limited institutional and human capacity for executing reforms.
4. Political Economy Constraints – Reforms have been delayed due to political and institutional fragmentation.

Proposed World Bank Approach and Program

The World Bank aims to add value through the following:

• Analytic and Advisory Activities (AAA):

  • Support the fine-tuning of the NWSS strategy.
  • Prioritize reform measures and investment opportunities.
  • Improve implementation arrangements and donor alignment.

• Investment:

  • Use Sector Investment Loans to support key projects.
  • Focus on high-impact investments linked to reform outcomes.
  • Promote sustainable and environmentally sound practices.

• Risks Management:

  • Address risks through realistic planning, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability considerations.

Key Criteria for Bank Intervention

1. High impact on key NWSS outcomes.
2. Consistency with the Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) goals.
3. Realistic promotion of the NWSS reform agenda.
4. Ownership and political economy considerations.
5. Sustainability, including environmental and social aspects.

Conclusion

The NWSS is a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving water supply, irrigation, and sanitation services in Lebanon, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency, and institutional reform. However, its implementation is constrained by weak accountability, limited fiscal capacity, and institutional inefficiencies. The CWSAS proposes a phased, targeted approach involving both AAA and lending, aligned with the CPS, to support the transformation of the water sector. The World Bank is expected to play a critical role in this process by enhancing institutional capacity, promoting private participation, and ensuring sustainable development.