The Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water, with the assistance of the Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean (GWP-Med), has recently concluded the review process of SDG indicator 6.5.1, which focuses on the "Degree of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) implementation". The process serves as a measure for monitoring the country's advancement towards SDG Target 6.5: "By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate".
This worldwide reporting exercise is part of the SDG 6 IWRM Support Programme, coordinated by the Global Water Partnership (GWP), under the guidance of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and in collaboration with UNEP-DHI Centre and UNDP Cap-Net.
The SDG 6.5.1 review has allowed to incorporate advancements in the implementation of IWRM in Lebanon since the last reporting exercise conducted in 2020, in particular following the approval of the new Water Law 192/2020 and the ongoing efforts to complete and implement the Updated National Water Sector Strategy (NWSS 2020), as well as other initiatives, plans and projects implemented by relevant stakeholders.
The consultative process of the SDG 6.5.1 review in Lebanon concluded with a multistakeholder workshop whereby participants also discussed key priority action areas for advancing IWRM implementation in Lebanon.
The highly consultative process has engaged more than 50 stakeholders, representing public institutions and administrations, NGOs, research-oriented organizations and academia, water experts, the private sector, and International Organizations, assisted with the completion of the official country Survey used for the global monitoring of the 6.5.1 indicator.
Particular emphasis has been given to considerations on gender equality and inclusive participation, which have been integrated in the review process and duly reflected in the completion of the Gender voluntary checklist that accompanies the Survey. For the Gender Checklist, the SDG 6.5.1 Focal Point within the Ministry of Energy and Water, worked closely together with the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW), the institution responsible for addressing gender mainstreaming and women's issues in Lebanon, to determine the most effective methods for promoting discussion on the relevant chekist's questions, to coordinate the gender-dedicated session during the final workshop and the resulting filling of the voluntary Checklist. The input of gender Focal Points from the Lebanese Ministry of Energy and Water and the Lebanese Ministry of Public Works and Transport, as well as of the Women's Association of Deir el Ahmar (WADA), has been crucial for compiling and finalising the Checklist.
The overall consultative review process, which covered all four IWRM key dimensions, namely Enabling Environment, Institutions & Participation, Management Instruments, and Financing, concluded with a multistakeholder workshop, held on 28 November 2023, that discussed and provided the final input to the Survey. Furthermore, the discussions contributed to the identification of key priority action areas for advancing IWRM implementation in Lebanon that, if properly tackled in the short and medium term, could result in a substantial improvement of the country’s IWRM status and likelihood to get closer to the global targets.