WSC - RFA7 - Engaging Local Communities in Sanitation Management

Despite ample natural water sources, Lebanon is a country in a state of “water impoverishment”. Inefficient water resources management (WRM) and deficient Wastewater (WW) management capacity are jeopardizing the health of the Lebanese people and overwhelming the environment.

The Lebanon Water, Sanitation, and Conservation (WSC) USAID-funded Project engages citizens and the private sector to enhance their water stewardship, increasing efficiency in the protection of water resources, and improve water and wastewater services to around 600,000 people by expanding the capacity of public water utilities and local governments to treat- wastewater.

WSC is increasing the volumes of wastewater treated, reducing the pollution and water losses that harm water sources, improving service delivery to citizens, and facilitating partnerships between public water utilities, municipalities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and citizen groups to introduce innovative solutions and improve governance in the water and wastewater sector across Lebanon.

The Water Sanitation and Conservation (WSC) Project’s purpose is the enhanced conservation and protection of Lebanon’s water resources through achieving three objectives:

1) Capacity of wastewater (WW) and sanitation management expanded

2) Efficiency of public water utilities to manage water resources increased

3) Citizens’ water stewardship enhanced

Under this Request for Applications, DAI intends to award grants to support Engaging Local Communities in Sanitation Management.

With the current financial crisis WSC is providing assistance in operating and maintaining wastewater treatment solutions in Roum, Nabaa el Safa, and El Barouk. DAI intends to provide grant/s to one or more legally registered organization, ranging from USD 70,000 to 150,000, subject to the availability of funds and the type and size of the proposed solution, and with duration not to exceed 12 months. DAI anticipates notifying the awarded applicants within approximately 80 calendar days from the RFA closing date. 

Eligibility Requirements

The following are requirements of eligibility for applicants (noting that the below are pass/fail criteria):

• Legally registered Civil Society Organizations and/or private sector entities
• Has at least 5 years of experience in community engagement, experience in the wastewater sector specifically is an asset
• Has internal managerial and financial management procedures that comply with USAID Grants requirements
• The team managing the project should at least include (full time or part time basis, depending on the need):
  • A wastewater management expert with at least 5 years of experience
  • An M&E and Reporting Specialist on the team with at least 5 years of experience
  • A Project Manager with at least 5 years of experience in managing similar projects
  • Specialized personnel in community engagement and expert in awareness raising, with at least 3 years of experience
  • Specialized personnel in communication and social media management, with at least 3 years of experience