Palestine and France Sign Two Support Agreements for Projects to Reform the Water Sector West of Jenin Worth 20 Million Euros

SadaNews - The Palestinian government and the French Development Agency (AFD) signed today, Sunday, in Ramallah, two financing agreements for two strategic projects aimed at enhancing the sanitation sector and reusing water in Palestine, and supporting reforms in the water sector and improving basic services, with a total value of 20 million euros, as part of the Palestinian-French partnership.

These agreements are part of the "Team Europe" contribution, which includes France, Germany, the European Union, the Netherlands, Austria, and Spain, to support a sector that is considered - both technically and strategically - fundamental for Palestinian development, by translating this shared European commitment into practical actions on the ground through the "Wadiz" and "Renewal" programs.

The agreements were signed by the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Istephan Salama, and the Regional Director of the French Development Agency in the Middle East, Yves Gickero, in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture, Rizq Salimiyah, the Head of the Water Authority, Ziad Al-Memi, and the Head of the Water Sector Regulatory Council, Nabil Domedi, and the Executive Director of the council, engineer Muhammad Al-Hamidi, along with the Head of West Jenin Water Utility, Naif Khamaiseh, and its Executive Director, Munir Jaradat, as well as the Head of the Cooperation Section at the French Consulate General in Jerusalem, Sebastien Mozenron Duban.

Salama emphasized the importance of these projects in improving water and sanitation services and enhancing the capacity of Palestinian institutions to manage resources efficiently, confirming that these agreements reflect the Palestinian government's commitment to developing water infrastructure and sustainable water resource management.

He asserted that investing in water governance and sanitation services represents a fundamental pillar for enhancing resilience, public health, and sustainable development in Palestine, pointing out that the support from France and the partners of "Team Europe" contributes to strengthening the national efforts aimed at developing institutional reforms and improving the quality of services provided to citizens, particularly in the most vulnerable areas.

For his part, Salimiyah stressed the strategic importance of reusing treated water in agriculture, considering that the "Wadiz" program serves as a fundamental pillar for building a comprehensive national framework for managing treated wastewater and linking it to reuse in agriculture, through enhancing the legal, institutional, and regulatory framework, developing water facilities in five main areas, and supporting the establishment of water user associations.

He explained that the program focuses on enhancing the capacities of entities working in the sanitation and reuse sectors, improving coordination among institutions, and developing knowledge and innovation in the field of reuse, benefiting sustainable development and promoting the safe use of unconventional water in the agricultural sector.

For his part, Al-Memi explained that the West Jenin project will create a qualitative addition to the sanitation sector by establishing a central advanced station that receives approximately 7,500 cubic meters per day of wastewater, which amounts to over 2.7 million cubic meters annually of treated water meeting Palestinian specifications, allowing it to be safely reused in agriculture.

He indicated that the project will serve around 92,000 people by the year 2045, with the first phase focusing on five main gatherings, contributing to protecting groundwater, improving public health, enhancing water security, and supporting farmers in one of the most important agricultural areas in Palestine.

Gickero confirmed that the agreements reflect France's strong and sustainable commitment to the Palestinian people and the institutions of the Palestinian state, explaining that the support from "Team Europe" combines supporting reforms that enhance the resilience of the sector and investments that have a direct impact on the lives of local communities, especially in the northern West Bank, pointing out that including an emergency response mechanism within the "Renewal" project is a practical expression of solidarity and ensuring the continuity of vital services.

The first agreement stipulates financing the "Renewal" project worth 15 million euros, aimed at developing the management of wastewater and reusing it agriculturally in the West Jenin area, through the establishment of a modern treatment plant and the implementation of water and sanitation networks in five beneficiary villages. The project also provides specialized training programs for the West Jenin Water Utility staff to enable them to operate the new station efficiently. This funding is part of a larger program that includes contributions from the German Development Bank KfW worth 11.2 million euros, and from the European Union worth 5.1 million euros, bringing the total cost of the project to 31.7 million euros, to be implemented over five years in partnership between the West Jenin Water Utility and the Palestinian Water Authority.

The second agreement stipulates financing the "Wadiz" project worth 4.55 million euros to support the development of wastewater management and strengthen the institutional and regulatory framework for the water and agriculture sectors in Palestine.

The five-year project aims to enhance the capabilities of the Water Authority, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Water Sector Regulatory Council, the National Water Company, and water service providers through training programs and development of the legal and regulatory frameworks governing water management and reuse.