Despite the restructuring efforts undertaken in 2000 by the Lebanese government and the considerable improvements made over the last 20 years, the water sector remains in need for further enhancements. The desired level of service to the users and its financial viability are key for reliable and fully functional water and wastewater services. Improving the water sector relies fundamentally on structural reforms and aims at strengthening the legal, institutional, and operational frameworks. Tackling these issues is therefore vital to allow a healthy recovery of the sector while paving the way for its sound development.

The European Union (EU) having affirmed its willingness to support Lebanon in the implementation of reforms, a delegation of funds to the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) amounting to 11.8 M€ has been set up. It aims at supporting the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW) and the Regional Water Establishments (RWEs) in the development and adoption of the measures necessary for this reform. The challenge evolves therefore around the creation of the enabling environment to ensure a paradigm shift, from a public policy based on the establishment of infrastructures to sustainable and quality water and wastewater services.