Despite ample natural water sources, Lebanon is a country in a state of “water impoverishment”. Inefficient water resources management (WRM) and deficient Wastewater management capacity are jeopardizing the health of the Lebanese people and overwhelming the environment.

 The Lebanon Water, Sanitation, and Conservation (WSC) Project funded by USAID, engages citizens and the private sector to enhance their water stewardship, increasing efficiency in the protection of water resources, and improve water and wastewater services to around 600,000 people by expanding the capacity of public water utilities and local governments to treat- wastewater. WSC is increasing the volumes of wastewater treated, reducing the pollution and water losses that harm water sources, improving service delivery to citizens, and facilitating partnerships between public water utilities, municipalities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and citizen groups to introduce innovative solutions and improve governance in the water and wastewater sector across Lebanon. The WSC Project’s purpose is the enhanced conservation and protection of Lebanon’s water resources through achieving three objectives:

1) Capacity of wastewater (WW) and sanitation management expanded.

2) Efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources increased.

 3) Citizens’ water stewardship enhanced.

The Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are vibrant actors within the Lebanese communities, serving them in various ways, especially by providing them with opportunities for advocacy and civic engagement. The Chair of “Fondation Diane” CEEDD at Saint Joseph University of Beirut – USJ, with the support of WSC DAI, launched a training program in June, July, September & October 2023 to equip 24 CSO professionals with the right tools, skills and knowledge needed to actively engage in the water and sanitation sector and support water establishments and local governance institutions in performing their role and serving the community. The main goal of this training program is to build the capacities of Lebanese CSOs to become fully aware about the administration, finance, management, and implementation of sustainable developmental projects in the water sector. Each CSO should select a minimum of 5 key persons to participate in the training program.

The program comprises two main components:

1. Technical Training Program (8 days)

This training includes the following modules: Water and Wastewater Management, Wastewater Treatment & Reuse, Non-Revenue Water, and Innovative Technologies in Irrigation.

      2. Institutional Training Program on Management, Governance and Finance of CSOs (10 days):

This training includes the following modules: Advocacy & Lobbying, Civic Engagement, Soft Skills for Management & Leadership, Financial Management & Fundraising, Project Management, Proposal Writing, and Participatory Action Research.

These trainings are conducted across four regions in Lebanon: Beqaa, Beirut, and Mount Lebanon, North Lebanon, and South Lebanon.

Throughout August 2023, each CSO organized a town hall meeting, serving a dual purpose: assessing the acquired knowledge of the trained CSO staff and engaging the community, particularly the youth and women, in the water conservation and sanitation sector.