INSTITUTIONALIZATION THE PARTICIPATORY APPROACHCASE STUDY- PALESTINE

Abdel rahman tamimiP.O.BOX 565

a.tamimi@phg.org

Director of Palestinian hydrology group for water and environmental resources development Lecturer AL QUDS University

Institutional Setup in Water

Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)

West Bank Gaza Water HydrologyDepartment Dep. Ministry of Agriculture

Water UtilitiesVillage CouncilsMunicipalitiesNGOsPrivate Investors

PWA

West Bank Gaza WaterWater DepartmentDepartment

Regional Water Utilities

GAZA WEST BANK

NORTH

MI DLLE

SOUTH

SOUTH

LEVEL

Decision Making

Regulatory

Monitoring and

Development of Supply (Bulk)

Service Provision

President

National Water Council (NWC) NWC

Current Setup Future Setup

Case Study Background

Management structure & Lines of Communication in place

Palestinian National Authority Ministry of Planning and Administration (MOPA)

Government of Finland Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFAF)

Project Steering Committee (SC) Project Supervisory Board (SB)

Palestinian Water Authority (PWA)

Finish Representative Office

Project management Unit (PMU) FCG Int. Ltd (Consultant)

Joint Service Council for Planning and Development (JSCPD) Supervisory Committee

Water and Wastewater Department (WWD)

Contractors, Suppliers,

Independent Consultants

Consumers, User Association

Main stakeholder for new water utility

• Ministry of local government • Village councils • Palestinian water authority • People

Legal background

• Amendment of the By-Law For Water and Wastewater Department Of the Joint Service Council for Planning and Development Jerusalem

• Ratified by Ministry of Local Government on 15/10 /2012 issued a amendment of theby-law of the Joint Service Council for Planning and Development Jerusalemaccording to the Basic Law of the Joint Services’ Councils # (1) of 2006.

•

Main challenges

• Political challenges Israeli control rapid changes of representation from village

councils Internal political polrization Lack of follow up from decision making level

Main challenges

• Social challenges mistrust among village councils Internal social conflict between people councilLack of culture of public good ownership Marginalization from decision making Unfair water distribution

Main challenges

• Economical challenges Accumulated debts Lack of affordability 20% below poverty levelLow willingness to pay Absent of economic study before the project

Institutionalization process

• MoU, By-laws (WWD)

• Management Committee, Structure

• Management & technical • training, awareness

• Billing & accounting

• Operation & maintenance

• Customer services

Socio economic context Willingness to pay to get connected

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

WTP %

Price

NIS

/m3

• Legal and admin constrains • Different laws • Different decision making process • Inefficient institutions ( village councils and

service councils)

Willingness to pay percentage versus the price per cubic meter

02468101214

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

WTP %

Pric

e NI

S/m

3

Social Groups % of Payment from Their Income

Conclusions

• It is very clear that the understanding the Political and socioeconomic dimensions context is the main driver to establish new water utility , this understanding only can be achieved by conducting a good baseline survey and collection of reliable data, additional to that the public participation and the creation of public ownership are key factors

Recommendations

• Reliable socioeconomic data is a must • The importance of the harmonized vision among

different stakeholders ( consencus building ) • Doing all necessary legal reform and modification • Protection of Consumers rights is a must • Regular monitoring the performance indicators • Institutionalizing stakeholders dialogue