The 2019 Lebanese financial and economic collapse has depleted municipal and Regional Water Establishments’ (RWEs) capabilities to provide fuel-based back-up electricity solutions for essential service provision such as water.

In response, since 2020, USAID’s Community Support Program (CSP) has provided 15 underserved villages in Lebanon with solar energy for water solutions to enhance adequate water pumping to residents. To ensure the sustainability of these interventions in USAID assistance, CSP has developed the capacities of benefiting municipalities and RWEs through trainings on the safe operation and maintenance of the provided equipment, and the adequate cleaning of solar panels.

On February 28, 2024, and as part of its efforts towards the sustainability of solar for water projects, CSP organized a workshop on the practical and legal framework for managing and distributing potable water. The workshop was attended by 29 community members from the 15 benefiting municipalities across the North, Beqaa, and South regions, including eight mayors and two Qaemaqams. The workshop focused on the operational and legal framework pertaining to water sector management and the importance of collaboration between municipalities and regional water establishments for the operation and maintenance of CSP provided water projects.

“I suggest organizing this workshop across all districts in Lebanon to involve most municipalities. It’s also important to document the mandates of water establishments and municipalities. This workshop has expanded my understanding of the water law issued in 2020”, said Nabil Masri, Rachaya Qaemaqam.