REGIONAL WATER SEMINAR Dead Sea, Jordan (21-24 March 2011) Syria

WATER RESOURCES IN SYRIA Water supply (rainfall, groundwater & surface water): total renewable WR 16bn m3/yr (50% groundwater ). Decreasing over the years Dry and semi arid country: annual rainfall rate <350 mm in more than 90% overall area. 7 main hydrographic basisn, 16 main rivers (6 main international rivers), 166 dams Wastewater production and treatment is very limited Production of desalinated water marginal WATER USE IN SYRIA Annual water use exceeded total renewable water resources by 14% for past 15 years Per sector: Agriculture: 88.5 %; Industrial: 3.3 %; Domestic, commercial and tourism sector: 8.2 % Water supplies unevenly distributed across the country User participation in water management is limited

WATER POLICY, LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK IN SYRIA Institutional: WRM lies with a number of ministries: M. Irrigation, M. Agriculture and Agrarian Reform, M. Housing and Construction, M. Local Administration and Environment. All have local directorates over the 14 governorates All represented in the Higher Water Council (2007, MoI) Legislation: New water Law 31 (2005) Public good Widely accepted consensus: drinking water>agricultural>industrial Policy: No National Master Plan for Water sector Highlighted as priority in 11 th FYP ( ) Included as priority in: National Plan for irrigation modernisation (2001), National Environmental Action Plan (2002), National Programme Food Security (2010)

WATER ISSUES IN SYRIA Water shortage Reduction of groundwater resources a serious problem in many areas. Growing pressure: Massive population growth; high urbanisation rates; development of industry and tourism; Policy of self- sufficiency in agricultural food production – food security Poor water quality. Pollution from untreated domestic wastewater and agricultural run-off a growing problem. Affects quality of drinking water in rural and urban areas. Contaminates irrigation water Sewage treatment very limited Major health hazard

WATER ISSUES IN SYRIA Water management Lack of National Master Plan for Water sector Weak Institutional efficiency: insufficient managerial and administrative capacity; overlapping functions and responsibilities; competition/consensus and coordination Finances: Revenue still not cover operational costs or generate funds for investment in sector. International Waters: highly political Yarmook river basin Orontes river Euphrates – Tigris basin Golan Heights

WATER CHALLENGES IN SYRIA Definition and adoption of National Sector Policy and Strategy for Water sector. Improvement institutional efficiency, planning and management capacity. Development of data and information management. Enhancement of efficiency in water utilisation (in particular in irrigation water). Continue reforms of water tariff system Development of Public – Private Partnership as a way to modernise the sector Adoption of IWRM culture. –Food security –Drought –International integrated water basin management Political/technical solutions for trans-boundary issues

EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO WATER IN SYRIA EC SUPPORT (BILATERAL FUNDS) Past: Damascus Rural Water&Sanitation, EC 8M (MEDA), grant (22/7/2003) - Water Supply and Sanitation in Support of two Palestinian Refugee Camps (implementing UNWRA) Present: EC/EIB Horizon 2020, EC 5M (ENPI), investment grant (FA to be signed 2011) - Development of water supply, wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in the North-Western Syria Municipal Infrastructure and Environmental Project, EC 5M (ENPI), investment grant (FA to be signed 2011) - Infrastructure at municipal level in the water supply and wastewater, solid waste management, urban renewal, urban traffic and tourism Future: Sustainable development of rural areas, EC 23M (ENPI), identification and formulation in 2011, FA and commencement in 2012

EC/EIB interventions: Damascus Rural Water and Sanitation Ministry of Housing and Construction Total investment: 100M EIB 50M (31/05/2006) EC 5 M, interest rate subsidy (28/12/2006) FEMIP TA Institutional development 2M (10/04/2007) and PMU 3,9 M (12/04/2007) Objective: To improve provincial water supply and sanitation systems in the Southern Damascus Governorate + EC 8 M, grant (22/7/2003) Water Supply and Sanitation in Support of two Palestinian Refugee Camps (implementing UNWRA)

EC/EIB interventions: Horizon 2020 Ministry of Housing and Construction Total investment: 110M EIB 55 M (6/12/2010) EC 5M, investment grant (NIP, COM Decision 17/12/2010) FEMIP or NIF TA 4M (foreseen 2011) Objective: Development of water supply, wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure in the North- Western Syria

EC/EIB interventions: Municipal Infrastructure and Environmental Project Ministry of Local Administration Total investment 100 M EIB 50 M (20/11/2009), AFD 20M EC 5M, investment grant (NIP, COM Decision 17/12/2010) FEMIP TA 4M (July 2010) Priority infrastructure at municipal level in the water supply and wastewater, solid waste management, urban renewal, urban traffic and tourism

EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO WATER IN SYRIA EC BILATERAL until now focused on water and sanitation Mainly TA linked to EIB loans: Opens doors, overcoming absorption capacity, enhanced EU visibility and position for policy dialogue Still needs improve coordination, harmonisation procedures Current main challenge: identification and formulation future project Choice of aid modality: SPSP through project modality? Delegated cooperation? Identification of water issues to be addressed: IWRM Cooperation in the Syrian context Water a priority (though no well formulated national strategy) BUT no leading ministry No Government led coordination (few donors, there is capacity but no interest). Weak role of SPC Civil society; Information (availability and transparency)

EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO WATER IN SYRIA EC SUPPORT (OTHER): Regional programmes, Tempus, FP7, Thematic budget lines EU MS SUPPORT: German, Dutch, France, EIB OTHER NON EU SUPPORT: JICA, Canada, UN (FAO, UNDP, UNEP) COORDINATION EXTERNAL SUPPORT TO WATER SECTOR IN SYRIA Look for synergies, opportunities and added value Syrian Authorities: weak SPC, complexity institutional water sector set up Within EC: bilateral + regional; different instruments and modalities EU MS and EIB: improved with EEAS, open doors for policy dialogue

Questions? Thank you! Paula Martinez Lopez programme Officer Environment & Water EU Delegation to Syria Tel: