Earlier this year, we worked closely with the GOAL Syria WASH team to assess the risks, challenges and opportunities for promoting greater self-sufficiency among water service providers that GOAL is supporting in the Idlib Governate in northern Syria.

We also worked with GOAL on the development of a cost-recovery strategy for water utilities.

We are very excited to now have an opportunity to continue working with GOAL in the operationalisation of that cost-recovery strategy.

The programme’s priority is the rehabilitation, operation and maintenance of water networks. To ensure this, GOAL is supporting four water utilities (water units) across Idlib to provide water across 122 towns and villages to 550,000 people.

Due to a lack of reliable electricity supply, GOAL has supported the provision of generators and fuel to ensure water can be supplied through the water networks. GOAL is also working to repair water networks that have been damaged during the conflict.

The majority of the rehabilitation is now complete, and 450,000 people are receiving water on a regular basis.

GOAL’s focus has now shifted towards increasing the sustainability of the water supply by setting up the cost recovery system that will reduce the water units’ reliance on support from GOAL. The system is expected to make the water supply service accountable to consumers and to ensure that operational and maintenance costs are sustainable and can be recovered by providers.

IMC will support GOAL to develop the efficiency in network operation, and to build up the relevant managerial and technical skills of key stakeholders.