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GovernanceMar 06, 2025
Review of National Water Sector Governance in Lebanon
- Nadim Farajalla, Nancy Zaarour
Photo Credit: Lebanese Ministry of Energy and WaterThis publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its contents are the sole responsibility of Hawkamaa-EU consortium partners, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union
In this report, Nadim Farajalla and Nancy Zaarour analyze Lebanon’s water sector governance, highlighting inefficiencies in water management, legal frameworks, and institutional coordination. Lebanon faces severe water shortages despite its natural resources due to mismanagement, leaks, pollution, and outdated infrastructure. Economic and political crises, compounded by the Syrian refugee influx and climate change, have further strained the sector.
Key governance issues include weak implementation of water laws, political interference, financial instability, and overlapping institutional roles. While reforms since 2000 attempted to streamline governance through the Ministry of Energy and Water and Regional Water Establishments, poor execution and lack of enforcement have hindered progress.
The report identifies gaps in funding, infrastructure maintenance, and public participation. It recommends stronger regulatory oversight, better institutional coordination, enforcement of existing laws, and integration of climate adaptation measures. Public-private partnerships, improved financial planning, and digital transformation of water services are also proposed to enhance sustainability.
Nadim Farajalla is the first Chief Sustainability Officer at the Lebanese American University. Formerly, he worked as a senior scientist and environmental engineer in the private sector, contributing to water resources, environmental impact studies, and climate resilience projects across the Middle East. He founded and led the Climate Change and Environment Program at the American University of Beirut’s Issam Fares Institute. His research addresses climate change impacts on human settlements, impact of climate change on security, the nexus of water-energy food, implementing Agenda 2030 in Lebanon and the region, and integrating sustainability in academic settings.Nancy Zaarour is a Research Associate at the American University of Beirut (AUB)’s Olayan School of Business (OSB). She holds a PhD in Management from NEOMA Business School, France and an MBA and BS in Biology from the Lebanese American University. With over 18 years of experience in project management, she specializes in environmental sustainability, governance, and policy. Previously, she held senior roles at AUB’s Issam Fares Institute and the University of Balamand where she contributed to grant development, project management, and capacity building. Nancy has co-authored publications on environmental governance and water management and has taught courses and training sessions on proposal writing and project management