FINAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support Project (LWWSS) & Litani River Basin Management Support (LRBMS) March 2014 This publication was produced at the request of the United States Agency for International Development. It was produced by Social Impact Inc. with Management Systems International under the PMPL1 project, headed by Harvey Herr, Chief of Party. The independent evaluation team included: Dr. Jeffrey Fredericks, Dr. Kamil Wanna, Joanna Khater, Carine Khoury, Tamara Nassereddine and Najwa Andraos. FINAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support Project (LWWSS) & Litani River Basin Management Support (LRBMS) DISCLAIMER The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. ii This document is available in printed or online versions. Documents are also made available through the Development Experience Clearinghouse (www.dec.org). Additional information can be obtained from: Social Impact, Inc. Corporate Office 2300 Clarendon Boulevard Suite 1000 Arlington, VA, 22201 Tel: (703) 465-1884 Fax: (703) 465-1888 [email protected] USAID/Lebanon PMPL Project Social Impact, Inc. Koukaz Building #13, Third Floor Ibrahim Medawar Street Postal Code 2058 7015 Badaro, Beirut, Lebanon This document was submitted by Social Impact, Inc., with Management Systems International, to the United States Agency for International Development under USAID Contract No. RAN-I-00- 09-00019, Task Order 07. iii CONTENTS ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. 8 PROJECT BACKGROUND ...................................................................................................................................... 9 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................................................................... 9 RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 15 EVALUATION PURPOSE & EVALUATION QUESTIONS ..................................................................... 18 EVALUATION PURPOSE ........................................................................................................................................ 18 EVALUATION QUESTIONS .................................................................................................................................. 18 PROJECT BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 20 LWWSS PROJECT BACKGROUND .............................................................................................................................. 20 LRBMS PROJECT BACKGROUND ................................................................................................................................ 21 EVALUATION METHODS & LIMITATIONS ............................................................................................ 23 FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................... 25 I. LRBMS ............................................................................................................................................................ 25 TO WHAT EXTENT HAS THE PROJECT ACHIEVED THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND STATED OBJECTIVES? .......................... 25 ASSESSMENT & BUILDING CAPACITY OF THE LRA TOWARDS IRBM ............................................................................. 25 LONG-TERM WATER MONITORING ........................................................................................................................... 27 INTEGRATED IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................... 28 QARAOUN DAM AND LITANI RIVER MONITORING SYSTEM ......................................................................................... 29 FACTORS INFLUENCING ACHIEVEMENT AND NON-ACHIEVEMENT ............................................................................... 30 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION MANAGERIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, OPERATIONAL, AND TECHNICAL SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES ............................................................................................................................................................. 31 PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY ........................................................................................................................................... 32 GENDER INTEGRATION .............................................................................................................................................. 32 II. LWWSS ........................................................................................................................................................ 33 TO WHAT EXTENT HAS THE PROJECT ACHIEVED THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND STATED OBJECTIVES? .......................... 33 IMPROVED CAPACITY BY WES FOR MANAGERIAL, TECHNICAL, AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY ................................... 34 INCREASED FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL VIABILITY OF WATER ESTABLISHMENTS ....................................................... 35 IMPROVED CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLANNING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT .................................................................. 37 PROVISION OF TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT TO IMPROVE WATER ESTABLISHMENT PERFORMANCE/ IMPLEMENTATION OF SMALL-MEDIUM-SCALE PROJECTS TO IMPROVE OPERATIONS AND SERVICES ................................................................. 38 IMPROVED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS ....................................................................................... 40 FACTORS INFLUENCING ACHIEVEMENT AND NON-ACHIEVEMENT ................................................................................. 40 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION MANAGERIAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, OPERATIONAL, AND TECHNICAL SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES ............................................................................................................................................................. 43 PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY ........................................................................................................................................... 44 GENDER INTEGRATION .............................................................................................................................................. 46 III. WATER SECTOR ...................................................................................................................................... 47 RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................................................. 50 POSSIBLE FOLLOW-UP ACTIVITIES TO ENHANCE THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROJECTS’ OUTCOMES AND THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROVIDED INFRASTRUCTURE. .................................................................................................. 50 iv A POSSIBLE REPLICATION OF THIS PROGRAM, AND FUTURE PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS THE ENHANCEMENT OF THE WATER SECTOR IN LEBANON AND OF THE MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE LITANI BASIN. ....................................................................................................................................................................... 51 THE NEED OF CONTINUING TO PROMOTE TRANSFORMATION OF LRA INTO AN INTEGRATED BASIN AGENCY AND THE VIABILITY OF SUCH AN AGENCY. ................................................................................................................................. 52 HOW TO FULFILL THE MISSION’S GENDER INTEGRATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE OVERALL WATER SECTOR IN LEBANON INCLUDING THE DOCUMENTATION OF INITIATIVES TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT OF LEBANON AND OTHER DONORS IN THIS REGARD. .................................................................................................................................................................... 53 ANNEXES ......................................................................................................................................................... 54 ANNEX I: EVALUATION STATEMENT OF WORK ........................................................................................................... 54 ANNEX II: EVALUATION METHODS AND LIMITATIONS ................................................................................................. 71 ANNEX III: DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS ............................................................................................................ 74 ANNEX IV: SOURCES OF INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................... 81 ANNEX V: STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES ................................................................................................................... 90 v ACRONYMS AAM Atomic Absorption Meter ADS Automated Directives System AO Assistance Objective AUB American University of Beirut BMLWE Beirut Mount Lebanon Water Establishment BWE Bekaa Water Establishment CA Contract Agreement CCIA Chamber of Commerce,