Revised Attachment J.1_SOO.pdf

Attachment J.1

Water Sanitation and Conservation (WSC)

Statement of Objectives (SOO)

[Selected Contractor’s Performance Work Statement will replace Statement of Objectives at the time of award execution, and will include relevant paragraphs of Section C below]

I. INTRODUCTION

This SOO for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission in

Lebanon (henceforth referred to as USAID/Lebanon or the Mission), provides the top-level objectives of this acquisition.

II. SCOPE

This SOO describes the objectives of an activity that will enhance the reliability of public water services by improving service delivery and resource management capacity of public water utilities, and increasing civic engagement and private sector involvement in water management.

This SOO does not state how the work is to be accomplished, but provides potential offerors with the flexibility to develop creative, cost-effective solutions and the opportunity to propose innovative approaches to meet the stated objectives and results. Based on this SOO, offerors will submit a Performance Work Statement (PWS) which describes a strategic approach to achieve the objectives of the activity. The PWS must enable USAID/Lebanon to assess the performance of the work against specific, clear, and measurable results (i.e. in terms of quality, quantity, timeliness, etc.), and show the method of assessing Contractor performance against the required results. See

Section L for specific instructions on the PWS submission. It is difficult to anticipate how

USAID’s programmatic requirements will evolve over the life of the contract due to rapid changes that Lebanon is facing, notably with regards to political and financial instability that is impacting the water sector priorities. As such, WSC must be able to rapidly incorporate changes. In addition, technical interventions will evolve during the life of contract performance and WSC must continuously seek ways to incorporate feasible, innovative, and evidence-based approaches in support of this program’s purpose and objectives.

III. PURPOSE

The purpose of the WSC activity is to enhance the conservation and protection of Lebanon's water resources through: (1.) expanding the capacity of wastewater and sanitation management; (2.)

increasing the efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources; and, (3.) enhancing citizens water stewardship. WSC will also promote Private Sector Engagement (PSE)1 as a cross-cutting operating parameterobjective for this activity.

IV. BACKGROUND

1 https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1865/usaid_psepolicy_final.pdf

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED – PROCUREMENT SENSITIVE

A. Lebanon context

The availability of Lebanon’s usable water resources is at risk. Since the end of the civil war in

1989, the Government of Lebanon (GOL) has managed the water sector on a short-term/crisis mediation basis, with the primary focus on providing potable water supply to citizens. Little to no attention has been given to the long-term strategic management of the water sector to ensure sustainability of usable water resources. According to the 2012 National Water Sector Strategy

(NWSS)2, less than 10 percent of the wastewater receives adequate treatment prior to being discharged into the environment. This leaves the remaining 90% of wastewater to be discharged untreated into the environment, thus causing pollution to surface and groundwater, and leading to public health risks and issues. Agriculture, which consumes 70 percent of the country’s water resources, per the NWSS, is also depleting and polluting water resources through drilling of private illegal wells, use of water-consuming irrigation technologies, and excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides that is also polluting water resources. Potable water supply is rationed to the public as low as four hours of supply per week in some locations.

Under the Lebanon Law 221/2000, overall authority for the water sector falls under the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW), while operational authority is exercised by five public water utilities: the Litani River Authority (LRA) that is mandated with managing the waters of the Litani

River and the Qaroun artificial lake for irrigation and hydropower generation purposes; and, the four Regional Water Establishments (RWEs) that are mandated with supplying potable and irrigation water, and managing wastewater across Lebanon: Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water

Establishment (BMLWE); North Lebanon Water Establishment (NLWE); South Lebanon Water

Establishment (SLWE); and, the Beqaa Water Establishment (BWE).

B. Problem Statement

Lebanon’s water sector has historically faced a number of challenges that have hindered MoEW’s and the five public water utilities’ ability to provide adequate and reliable water services, and most importantly to conserve and protect Lebanon’s water resources. USAID/Lebanon have provided substantial assistance during the past 15 years in support of the water sector, notably building the capacity and upgrading the infrastructure of the five public water utilities3. As a result of this assistance, these public water utilities evolved from outdated, unresponsive government offices to entities that are increasingly engaging in proactive strategic planning to improve services, reduce financial deficits, and utilize modern management systems for their day-to-day business.

However, efficient operation of the utilities is not yet optimized, and their capacity to address wastewater management and to protect water resources is not yet sufficient.

2https://energyandwater.gov.lb/ar/details/NWSS 3 Please refer to Section VII to learn further about USAID’s previous and current activities in support of Lebanon’s water sector, and their achieved results.

https://energyandwater.gov.lb/ar/details/99808/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%D9%8A%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%87

Infrastructure

Lebanon lacks the sufficient infrastructure capacity to treat wastewater. Per NWSS, wastewater networks collection capacity is at 60% coverage nationwide, while there are only a few treatment facilities with an estimated capacity of less than 10% nationwide, as mentioned above. The remaining 90% is either collected through inadequate networks and discharged untreated into rivers, streams, and the environment, or, is discharged through sub-standard septic pits that in turn overflow untreated into the environment. In both cases the untreated wastewater is polluting the groundwater and surface water resources that supply a significant portion of Lebanon’s potable water. Coverage of potable water networks on the other hand, is sufficiently around 80% nationwide, per NWSS. Though the potable water receives basic treatment at the supply source, the potable water networks integrity is questionable, rendering these networks prone to breakage and potential infiltration of contaminants, adding another reason for water users to doubt the adequacy of the quality of the supplied public water.

Management

Most of the RWEs suffer from a chronic financial deficit that has prevented them from investing in their institutional capacity and infrastructure. The RWE’s revenues fall short of cost recovery due to the following: Non-revenue water (NRW) is more than 50 percent across Lebanon, hence depriving RWEs from a significant revenue. The current prevailing ‘flat’ tariff structure is inadequate. Customer-metered connections are low (approximately 10% nationwide), and billing and collection rate is low (as low as 30% in certain regions), as per NWSS. All these factors feed into one another, and eventually lead to the outcome that RWEs do not achieve cost recovery, hence remain in financial deficit. RWEs have been also historically focused on water supply, and have given less attention to water demand management, and to the conservation and protection of water resources. They have not engaged enough with water users to improve polluting and depleting water use practices. In addition, the RWEs have made limited investments, if any, in building up their wastewater management capacity. Finally, the RWEs current approach for monitoring and control of the quality of supplied water, is not perceived by water users as professional enough to trust the quality of the supplied water. RWEs’ endeavor in this regard is primarily focused on monitoring the water quality at the source, with lesser attention to the quality of the water received at the faucet of the end user.

LRA’s most critical challenge, on the other hand, has always been their limited organizational capacity and legal mandate that is preventing them from playing a more effective role in the protection and conservation of the Litani waters that they manage. LRA’s focal endeavors have for long been primarily focused on supplying water for irrigation, and operating hydropower generation plants downstream of the Qaroun lake. LRA’s latest leadership however, has demonstrated a more proactive role, supported by MoEW, for protection of the resources of the

Litani River, constrained however by LRA’s current legal mandate that is limited in scope, including development of irrigation schemes, operation and maintenance of the Qaroun Dam and its ancillary hydropower generation facilities, monitoring of water quality and quantity of the

Litani River, and monitoring of the quantity of Lebanon’s nationwide rivers.

Citizens and private sector engagement

Citizens and water users have historically lost faith in the capacity of their government and the capacity of the water utilities to provide reliable water services. They have resorted to other unsustainable alternative means of securing potable water, and to harmful methods of disposing of wastewater that endanger the environment and the public health. For instance, the majority of citizens rely on private businesses that unsustainably tank, bottle and sell potable water of questionable quality. Most of the coastal residential buildings rely on private illegal drilled wells to secure potable water, that lead to unsafe sea water intrusion to most of these wells. Finally, water users give little to no attention to their water use behaviors. Given the flat water tariff they pay per year, these users tend to overuse/waste the publicly provided water supply. As for wastewater, citizens and industries resort to either discharging their untreated sewer onto the streets, rivers, streams, and into the environment; or at best, disposing of it in septic tanks that are built randomly without complying to any environmental design standard. These septic tanks, in turn, either spill over into the environment, or get discharged untreated by private tanking services into the sea and into the environment.

The private sector, on the other hand, has not played a profound partnership role in the water sector, notably in terms of financing water and wastewater services. The private sector’s involvement remains limited to the provision of some contracted operation and maintenance services to the public utilities, and at best, the collection of bills on the utilities behalf. In other circumstances unfortunately, the private sector has replaced the public utilities role, by providing an alternative water supply service, driven solely by business profit goals. It is worth noting that it in general, it has been very challenging to establish Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Lebanon in any public sector. The legal environment has been restrictive, but today after the ratification of Law 48/2017 that officially authorizes PPPs, the GOL, through the Higher Council for Privatization and Public-

Private Partnerships (HCPP), is emphasizing the use of PPPs for water and wastewater services.

In addition, the absence of law enforcement and the inadequate services in the water sector, has led to low subscription and billing and collection rates for the RWEs, as mentioned earlier. This fact has discouraged the private sector from taking meaningful initiatives towards PPPs in the water sector, notably within the financing context.

An illustrative example of the combined impact of the above three groups of challenges, is best manifested at the Litani River Basin. The Litani River is Lebanon’s longest river, and it flows into the Qaroun artificial lake. The river and the lake are heavily polluted with domestic wastewater, agricultural and dairy runoff, and waste from light-to-medium industries around the river. The lack of wastewater infrastructure is the primary reason for the river pollution. Almost all of the domestic and industrial waste in the basin is discharged untreated into the river, or its tributaries. In addition, the lack of sufficient public irrigation infrastructure, and the absence of law enforcement at the basin is leading to the over-abstraction and depletion of groundwater resources at the basin. This is mainly attributed to the lack of organization capacity and legal mandate of LRA, as mentioned above, in addition to the lack of clear designation of roles between BWE, LRA, and MoEW at the basin. Finally, all of the aforementioned, is encouraging the unsustainable water user behaviors at the basin, which is exacerbating the depletion and pollution of groundwater resources. Today, the

Litani River is so polluted that environmental activists have recurrently expressed concerns about the direct impact of the Litani River pollution on the public health of basin residents. Besides, the

Qaroun lake is now polluted to the extent that the LRA has stopped withdrawing its waters into the Canal 900, LRA’s primary irrigation canal that provides farmers with water for irrigation.

Farmers are now engaging in additional unsustainable depletion of groundwater resources to secure irrigation water for their crops.

Recent economic crisis

During 2019, Lebanon and the public water utilities, mostly the RWEs, faced new challenges in addition to the above-mentioned ones. The national economic crisis, COVID-19, and the aftermath of the August 2020 explosion of Beirut’s port have crippled Lebanon’s economy and public sector.

RWEs, for instance, have witnessed since Fall 2019 an increasing number of subscribers who have stopped paying their service usage fees, depriving RWEs from their only revenue source. In addition, the local currency devaluation is hindering RWEs from performing the required operation and maintenance of their facilities. The current economic crisis caused a scarcity in the liquidity of US Dollars (USD) among the local banks and local market. In the very highly dollarized economy of Lebanon, this led to the trade of USD in the black market and eventually to an unprecedented six-fold increase in the exchange rate of USD to the Lebanese pound (LBP) in the black market. RWEs were then unable to purchase the needed services and spare parts to maintain the facilities, due to commodities and parts being traded in USD only or hyperinflated LBP prices, while RWEs having financial reserves in LBP only. Therefore, RWEs have resorted to attending to vital and urgent repairs only, thus hindering the routine operation and maintenance of their facilities. On the other hand, citizens view the access to water as a basic right and expect to continue to receive water services. Consequently, RWEs are now facing an unprecedented challenge of having to continue to provide water and wastewater services with significantly reduced revenues.

LRA on the other hand, may have not been heavily impacted by the crisis in their day-to-day businesses like the RWEs, however given the current crisis, GOL has given lesser attention to the

Litani pollution. Amidst the current crisis, GOL primary attention remains on addressing COVID-

19 public health hazard, and the pressing economic vital matters. Without the mandate and GOL support, LRA’s leverage to protect the Litani River has even diminished further.

V. ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES

The Contractor must provide the necessary approaches and solutions to achieve WSC’s purpose of “Enhanced conservation and protection of Lebanon's water resources” through achieving the following three WSC objectives: (1.) capacity of wastewater and sanitation management expanded; (2.) efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources increased; and, (3.)

citizens water stewardship enhanced.

A. Capacity of wastewater and sanitation management expanded

WSC will partner with the four RWEs and LRA, in coordination with local communities, to assess the needs of the RWEs, LRA, and selected communities and identify a list of interventions to adequately treat, collect, or manage wastewater to the environmental standards set by the Lebanese

Ministry of Environment (MoE). Interventions also include the improvement of the quality of potable water and/or protection of potable water systems and resources. The Contractor will coordinate with MoEW and other concerned stakeholders to learn about the GOL’s master plans and capital investment plans in order to complement ongoing interventions.

Required results:

Result

Cumulative minimum results (i.e. the Life of Project targeted result)

Unit Base Period

(Year 1-3)

Base Period +

Option Year 4

Base Period +

Option Years

4&5

Base Period + Option

Years 4&5 +

Increased Quantity

Option (IQO)* m3/day of wastewater managed to an environmentally accepted standard (At least 15% of this result must be achieved within the geographic area of at the Litani

River Basin) m3/day 7,500 10,000 12,500 20,000

Number of people benefiting from improved safe potable water supply/resource and/or connected to environmentally acceptable wastewater management system

Number of

People

200,000 250,000 350,000 500,000

* The figures incorporated under the IQO column in this table and the remaining two tables in this document are the ultimate minimum results required by USAID based on the exercise of all options, i.e. a total $104-$125 million Total Estimated Cost (TEC), and a five-year contract duration. Check

Section VI. B for further details

The Contractor will report on the progress towards achieving the required results as required in below Monitoring and Evaluation section. The Contractor will include the following minimum indicators and will propose additional indicators, if needed based on their proposed approach:

● Number of people receiving improved service quality from an existing basic drinking or safely managed water service as result of USG assistance (USAID Standard indicator

HL.8.1-34)

● Number of people gaining access to safely managed sanitation services as a result of USG assistance (HL.8.2-343)

● Number of functioning water/wastewater facilities constructed or rehabilitated with US

Government (USG) assistance

4https://www.state.gov/foreign-assistance-resource-library/#managing

B. Efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources increased

WSC will support the four RWEs and LRA to optimize their resources in order to deliver potable and irrigation water, and manage wastewater more efficiently..

Cumulative minimum results (i.e. the Life of Project targeted results)

Unit Base Period

(year 1-3)

Base Period +

Option Year 4

Base Period +

Option Years

4&5

Base Period +

Option Years 4&5

+ IQO

Reduction in public water utilities’ non-revenue water per m3 of water supplied in areas of intervention (applies to all five utilities, one of them, or a combination of them to be proposed by the Offeror)*

% NRW - (10) - (15) - (15) - (15)

Decrease in overall public water utilities’ operational and maintenance cost per m3 of for water supplied and/or m3 of wastewater managed in areas of intervention (applies to all five utilities, one of them, or a combination of them to be proposed by the

Offeror)**

% change -(20) -(20) -(20) -(20)

Percent increase in hours of water supply in areas of intervention

% change +(5) +(8) +(10) +(15)

Increase in LRA’s capability (within LRA’s mandate) to detect, analyse, report, and resolve cases contributing to the pollution of the Litani River at the Litani Basin

Number of cases

+(5) +(7) +(10) +(15)

* The Contractor will achieve the subject result for water system(s)) with a total water supply capacity of at least 25,000 m3/day for the base period, 35,000 m3/day if Option Year 4 is exercised, and 45,000 m3/day if Option Year 5 is exercised. If the IQO is exercised, then the Contractor will achieve the subject for system(s) with a total water supply capacity of 70,000 m3/day.

** The Contractor will achieve the subject result for system(s) with a total water supply and/or wastewater management capacity of at least 25,000 m3/day for the base period, 35,000 m3/day if

Option Year 4 is exercised, and 45,000 m3/day if Option Year 5 is exercised. If the IQO is exercised, then the Contractor will achieve the subject result for system(s) with a total water supply and/or wastewater management capacity of 70,000 m3/day.

indicators and will propose additional indicators if needed:

● Number of new management systems adopted as a result of USG assistance

● Percent change in capacity to store/treat water as a result of USG assistance

● Increase in capacity to monitor and mitigate pollution of water resources as a result of USG assistance

C. Enhanced citizen water stewardship:

WSC will promote and enhance water governance, citizen water stewardship, and private sector partnerships.

Cumulative minimum results (i.e. the Life of Project targeted result)

Unit Base Period

(year 1 -3)

Base Period

+ Option

Year 4

Base Period +

Option Years

4&5

Base Period +

Option Years

4&5 + IQO

Percent increase in collection of water/wastewater/irrigation water fees in areas of interventions

% change +(5) +(13) +(15) +(20)

Percent increase in subscription to public water/wastewater/irrigation services in areas of interventions

% change +(5) +(13) +(15) +(20)

Number of pilot initiatives for reuse of treated sewage effluent and/or wastewater sludge for agriculture usages

Number of initiatives

1 2 3 5

Number of context-appropriate PSE initiatives’ that result in a performance-based service contracts to the public water utilities, and/or leverage funding of public water facilities (applies to all five utilities, one of them, or a combination of them to be proposed by the Offeror

Number of initiatives

1 2 3 6

Number of initiatives involving the engagement of local communities, and/or

CSO’s that result in a sustainable plan/model for water conservation and protection

Number of initiatives

2 4 6 8 indicators and will propose additional indicators if needed:

● Number of water users contributing to water conservation initiatives

● The number and percentage of young people who participate in civic engagement after completing USAID training activities

● Proportion of women participant in WSC activities

VI. OPERATING PARAMETERS

A. Period of performance: WSC will be implemented for a ‘Base’ period of three years and may be extended by USAID for two one-year Option years ‘Four’ and ‘Five’.

B. Budget: The Total Estimated Cost (TEC) of WSC is $120-$125 million, if all options are exercised, and will be incrementally funded based on the availability of funds and per the following four scenarios:

1.Base Period: $40-45 million TEC. Starts upon award and ends after three years.

2.Option Year 4: $12-15 million TEC. May be exercised by USAID based on

WSC’s progress and performance, and extend WSC for a fourth year.

3.Option Year 5: $12-15 million TEC. May be exercised by USAID based on

WSC’s progress and performance, and extend WSC for a fifth and final year.

4.Increased Quantities Option (IQO): $40-50 million TEC. May be exercised by USAID should additional funds become available and depending on

WSC progress and performance.

The distribution of the above funds (base period, option years and IQO) against the above three objectives and their respective results, is left to the offeror.

C. Political stability: Recurring political instability and uncertainty is not uncommon in

Lebanon. A number of incidents have happened during the past decade leading to political strife and changes in the GOL’s needs and priorities. The current economic recession combined with the presence of a significant number of Syrian refugees may deviate GOL’s attention from long term strategic planning to crisis management. In addition, the lack of political will to upgrade current water fees and improve water fees collection, could hinder the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater facilities. WSC will remain flexible and adaptive to unforeseen political changes.

D. Economic crisis: As mentioned above, RWEs are facing a challenge of revenues depreciation and inability to holistically fund their operation and maintenance function due to currency devaluation. WSC will consider this major constraint by providing the types of support that do not pose an additional financial burden on water public utilities, but rather offset their lack of revenues.

E. COVID-19 Challenges: In addition to its public health risk, this worldwide pandemic has interrupted the world’s economy and its daily logistics. The Contractor has to consider this challenge in the planning of WSC’s activities and interventions, notably its impact on the

WSC logistics and on the long lead procurements that are not available in the local market.

F. Geographic focus: The activity will work in all geographic areas of Lebanon, where permissible. The primary focus of interventions will be in rural areas, working in tandem with the Beirut-Mount Lebanon, North, South, and Beqaa Regional Water Establishments, and the Litani River Authority.

G. Relationship to other Activities: The WSC activity will build on USAID’s current support to Lebanon’s water sector through the Lebanon Water Project (LWP) and the Community

Support Program (CSP).

● LWP is a $75 Million five-year activity that ends in March 2021. LWP partners with the four RWEs and the LRA to improve RWE’s management capacity and corporate culture, and upgrade their infrastructure. In parallel, LWP piloted activities to promote better water resource stewardship with local communities and the private sector. LWP is also upgrading wastewater management systems in a number of rural communities. The foundation laid by LWP will enable WSC to work with RWEs and LRA to promote water resources conservation and protection at a higher strategic level and address the pressing challenge of wastewater management. (Please check below links in Section VII. Applicable documents, for further information)

● CSP is an $80 Million five-year activity that includes a $15 Million component dedicated to identifying and implementing interventions that mitigate pollution resulting from the discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastewater into the environment. CSP’s assistance will result in at least 6,000 m3 of wastewater per day being managed environmentally prior to discharge into the environment. (Please check below links in

Section VII. Applicable documents, for further information)

WSC will also build on other recent and past USAID water activities in Lebanon, including the following:

● The Lebanon Water and Wastewater Sector Support (LWWSS) program provided technical services and infrastructure support to the four RWEs in order to build staff capacity; increase managerial, administrative, technical, financial and operational efficiencies; improve the quality of water and wastewater services; expand access to water and sanitation; advance capital investment planning and asset management; and enhance customer service and outreach. LWWSS ended on October 31, 2015. (Please check below links in Section VII.

Applicable documents, for further information)

● The Water Infrastructure Support and Enhancement for Lebanon (WISE-Lebanon) program was a three-year activity designed to boost Lebanon’s capacity to manage water resources through water infrastructure upgrades and related management support. WISE-Lebanon ended in September 2015. (Please check below links in Section VII. Applicable documents, for further information)

● The Litani River Basin Management Support (LRBMS) program set the groundwork for improved, more efficient, and sustainable basin management by providing technical support and limited small scale infrastructure activities, including: building the capacity of the LRA to undertake an Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) approach; improving the long-term water quality monitoring of the Upper Litani River; promoting integrated irrigation management; and, improving Litani River and Qaraoun dam monitoring systems. LRBMS ended in April 2014. (Please check below links in Section VII. Applicable documents, for further information)

H. Sustainability: The Contractor will consider sustainability as a prerequisite to any provided assistance. The Contractor must demonstrate to USAID the identified recipients’ capability of sustaining the assistance, and must advise USAID of the particular conditions that should be incorporated in the agreement between USAID and the recipients to ensure sustainability of the assistance.

I. Private Sector Engagement (PSE): USAID envisions a substantial role for the private sector in augmenting the role of public water utilities, notably given the current economic crisis and the diminishing revenues of these utilities. The Contractor must explore all potential for engaging the private sector in the water sector and encouraging the private sector to invest in the water sector.

J. Environmental Best Practices and Climate Risk Adaptation Considerations: The

Contractor must comply with USAID environmental procedures. An Initial Environmental

Evaluation (IEE) ME 21-01 for WSC was approved by the Bureau Environment Officer

(BEO) on October 23, 2020. Throughout the life of the WSC activity, the Contractor must work with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) and the Mission’s Environmental

Officer (MEO) to ensure that proper mechanisms are in place to monitor environmental compliance of WSC’s interventions where appropriate. Interventions and infrastructure facilities to be funded under WSC, must take into consideration the climate risks included in the subject IEE. (See Attachment J.9)

K. Gender: The Contractor must take into consideration gender integration issues and develop approaches to increasing women’s empowerment in Lebanon’s water sector. As per the 2019

USAID/Lebanon Gender Analysis, the central role of women in the provision, management, and conservation of water has been long recognized. However, there has been a tendency in the country to neglect women in most water sector reforms aimed at curtailing water problems and advancing a sustainable system of integrated water resources management

(IWRM). These reforms have treated issues such as water conservation, potable water quality, and service delivery in a gender blind or, at best, a gender neutral manner. (See

Attachment J.1c)

The Contractor must prepare a detailed gender analysis inclusive of a project gender integration plan to be adopted during implementation of the activity. This gender-specific effort will be monitored, reported, and evaluated as an integral part of the project’s

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan that will include the necessary gender segregation reporting where applicable.

K. Youth: The 2019 USAID/Lebanon Rapid Youth Assessment highlights civic education and constructive avenues for civic engagement as a high programmatic priority for youth. Civic engagement principles, awareness and participation amongst youth will promote local commitment to and accountabilities of local service delivery institutions. Mechanisms for youth voice will ensure youth-responsive and youth friendly services. Synergies between

WSC and other projects would benefit youth, they could include community service, civic participation in water related activities, advocacy exercises for water related issues, and other activities in the context of teaching civic engagement and extracurricular activities related to water conservation. (See Attachment J.1b)

L. Training: Human capacity building and institutional development are one of the essential activities to achieve the Activity’s objectives. The Contractor must use reasonable efforts to work with the relevant stakeholders to develop their capacity in order to receive, operate, and maintain the assistance detailed above. Both off-shore (U.S. based and third country training) and in-country training may be part of the WSC annual training plans. The majority of training programs must be conducted in-country.

M. Grants to U.S. and Non-U.S. NGOs: USAID may approve grant funding to U.S. and

Lebanese Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to achieve required results. The maximum total value of grants may be up to US $13 million. All grants must be made in accordance with USAID requirements for grants to NGOs under the Automated Directive

System (ADS).

N. Communication and Outreach: It is essential that the stakeholders and beneficiaries of this activity, as well as their constituent communities, are properly informed and continuously engaged with the WSC’s interventions. Proper communication and outreach between WSC and its audiences form an integral part of its success. A partnership environment needs to be maintained with these entities in order to facilitate project implementation and to create the necessary ownership. It is equally important to strongly promote the WSC’s benefits and disseminate widely its successes and achievements.

The Contractor must provide the adequate resources and capabilities, and set the necessary procedures to continuously communicate the project technical aspects with the concerned stakeholders, beneficiaries, and local government entities, and to report project results. The

Contractor must also be able to respond to USAID ad-hoc requests for specific information and reporting. WSC must have a dedicated Communication and Outreach plan that identifies

WSC’s approach towards communication with the activity’s audiences and promotion of its impact and achievements.

O. Monitoring and Evaluation: USAID/Lebanon will monitor and evaluate project performance based on a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) plan to be developed by the

Contractor. A separate Monitoring and Evaluation and Program Support Contractor will support USAID/Lebanon with this effort. In addition, a separate Architecture and Engineering

(A&E) firm will support USAID/Lebanon with A&E oversight over all engineering and construction interventions that might be undertaken under this activity.

USAID/Lebanon will use evaluations to guide major activities at mid-point, and to document lessons learned and measure quantitative and qualitative results at end-of-project. The findings of the mid-point evaluation will be used to validate the activity's development hypothesis/theory of change and to provide directions for the remainder of the activity.

VII. APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS:

In addition to the below documents, the offeror is highly encouraged to visit USAID’s

DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE CLEARINGHOUSE (DEC) website https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/home/Default.aspx and search for all water related documents posted by USAID previous and current contractors.

● LWP mid-term review report https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TS9N.pdf

● LWP Year 5 Annual report (redacted): See Attachment J.1(c)

● CSP Year 1 Annual report https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00WDRD.pdf

● LWWSS final report https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00MBVN.pdf

● LRBMS final report https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00JZQ6.pdf

● WISE-Lebanon final report https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KW2S.pdf https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/home/Default.aspx https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00TS9N.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00WDRD.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00MBVN.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00JZQ6.pdf https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PA00KW2S.pdf