Context

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The water sector is of high strategic importance for the development of Syria. This is clearly shown by the fact that more than 85% of all water resources are utilized in agriculture, which contributes 30% to the gross domestic product (GDP) and up to 40% (directly and indirectly) to employment. High population growth, continuing urbanization and associated economic growth have already aggravated the pressure on water resources and have initiated an accelerated process of degradation. As a result, the long term availability of water is seriously endangered. The institutional framework conditions contribute to ineffective and unsustainable management of water resources. This is in consequence of unclear responsibilities, poorly-coordinated planning processes, work organization in need of improvement and weak control mechanisms.

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The coordination of the water sector is conducted by the State Planning Commission (SPC). Since the competences are divided among several ministries/ institutions, it has as yet only been possible to develop an overall concept for the development of the water sector at a basic level. Moreover, the Ministry of Housing and Construction (MoHC), which is responsible for the drinking water supply and wastewater disposal, has hitherto fulfilled its responsibilities as the authority for investment, supervision and regulation only to a limited extent. In consequence, the drinking water supply is characterized by high water losses and failure to cover costs. The purification of municipal and industrial wastewater is still in the implementation phase, for which reason there is still substantial contamination of water resources.

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Programme

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The primary objective of the Syrian-German water programme is to support the institutions of the water sector in their endeavour to improve the organizational and institutional framework conditions in order to achieve a sustainable and fair coverage of water demand for the various user groups. In this regard, the main focus is laid on the implementation of an Integrated Water Resources Management and on strengthening public administration through organizational and capacity development. The process and system-orientated programme promotes a comprehensive sector reform and supports cooperation between the various players in the water sector through the formation of an inter-institutional network. For the planned period of six years the programme is structured into two phases. In the first phase, special emphasis is placed on five components:

• Strengthening the regulative function in the field of water supply and wastewater disposal (Consulting of MoHC)
• Operational improvement of two regional supply enterprises (Aleppo and Damascus county) with the aim of improving efficiency, cost coverage and performance
• Constitution of participative and integrated land-use-planning in cooperation with the Ministry of Local Administration and  Environment
• Consulting for the State Planning Commission (SPC) in the field of water sector management
• Set up of an inter-institutional technical network at the Order of Syrian Engineers and Architects (OSEA)

Impact

The project creates favourable conditions for the sound management of Syrian water resources, which must be orientated towards a utilisation that is both economically and ecologically sustainable. The introduction of modern work methods and effective workflows improves planning instruments and hence the essential basis for practicable decisions in the long term. By this means the relevant institutions are supported to fulfill their technical, organizational and methodical core tasks in a better way. Within the first phase, the population living in the supply area of Aleppo and Damascus will advantaged. The more than 4.6 inhabitants encompass all social groups and consequently also the less advantaged population in the outskirts and illegal settlements. All public, commercial and industrial consumers will benefit from sector reform, through improved services and the economic growth thereby stimulated. As a direct effect of the programme activities, the following impacts have already been achieved:

• The preparation of a new water wastewater tariff for Syria will shortly be completed, and will contribute to a cost covering management
• The reorganization of management processes within the regional supply enterprises is fully underway and will lead to higher efficiency
• For the first time, a digital database for land-use planning has been created in a pilot area. As a result reliable data basis can be used for improved decision making
• At the SPC, a directorate for Integrated Water Resource Management has been established and staffed with personnel, which enables better coordination in the Syrian water sector
• A steering committee has been formed and a secretariat established in order to build up a technically-orientated network in the water sector. This contributes sector coordination and the further dissemination of principles for Integrated Water Resource Management.

The programme contributes to administrative reform and decentralization in the water sector, and consequently promotes good governance. The introduction of an Integrated Water Resource Management is conducive to ensuring the availability of water to all strata of the population and user groups on a long term basis. The measures planned within this context also foster gender equality, the economic development of Syria and fight against poverty. Furthermore, frugal and responsible handling of scarce water resource will make a medium-term contribution to the environmental protection and ecological stability of Syrian water resources

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