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Source-to-Sea Integration: A Tale of Two Nations

Innovative approaches in Morocco and Lebanon from the MedProgramme

By IW:LEARN

May 26^th, 2025

Once upon a time, in the vibrant lands of Morocco and Lebanon, two nations embarked on an extraordinary journey to protect their precious water resources. Their story is one of innovation, resilience, and unity, overcoming challenges and driving a vision for a sustainable future.

The story of Morocco

In Morocco's Tangiers-Tetouan-AlHoceima (TTA) region, the tale began with the development of a Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan. This plan was born from the collaborative efforts of many, as they worked together to assess the region's needs and potentials. They conducted various studies, including a WEFE NEXUS assessment and a coastal climate risk assessment, all aimed at safeguarding the Rhiss-Nekkor coastal aquifer.

A multi-stakeholder coastal governance committee was established, led by the Directorate for the Environment. Together, they identified and prioritized measures to protect the region from climate risks. Among their efforts were the construction of coastal protection infrastructure, reforestation projects to prevent soil erosion, and the upgrading of water treatment plants with innovative, climate-friendly technologies. They installed low-carbon desalination plants and built capacity for monitoring coastal and marine water quality. In addition, striving to harmonize economic development with ecosystem protection, sustainable fisheries practices and local food consumption were promoted.

The sum of these activities culminated in the integration of Source-to-Sea approaches into the broader TTA Regional Development Plan.

Source-to-Sea Integration: A Tale of Two Nations

The story of Lebanon

Lebanon ignites a current of change with the Damour Integrated Management Plan (IMP), developed under the GEF-funded MedProgramme. This innovative plan combines the Source-to-Sea approach with the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) NEXUS assessment. The country’s mission is to tackle water flow and pollution challenges while ensuring equitable resource access through enhanced governance and sustainable management.

In Lebanon, key activities were already in motion. They developed an ICZM plan, specialized in managing the Damour coastal aquifer, and arranged for the conjunctive management of surface and groundwater resources. Comprehensive stakeholder engagement became priority, with municipal wastewater treatment plants being upgraded to provide quality treated water for agriculture and improve marine water quality.

Despite the significant challenges, such as the absence of legal provisions, limited technical capacity, and ongoing economic crisis, the Lebanese team has made meaningful progress. The Ministry of Water established a National Steering Committee and a coordination mechanism, fostering policy coherence, ownership, and long-term sustainability.

Through improved water governance, the initiative addresses conflicts by focusing on resource overexploitation, incorporating climate risk considerations, and promoting equitable water access. The Source-to-Sea approach and WEFE NEXUS prove to be effective frameworks for evaluating and improving water management.

Future vision for a sustainable future

Both Morocco and Lebanon look ahead with hope and determination. They aim to finalize the components of their plans, develop investment strategies, and execute pilot actions. Their unwavering resolve to drive stakeholder awareness and support the integration of proposed approaches into national policies showcases their commitment to a sustainable and harmonious future.

About the project

The Mediterranean Sea Programme (MedProgramme): “Enhancing Environmental Security” is a six year (2020–2026) Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded multi-focal area and cross-sectoral initiative implemented in Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Montenegro, Morocco, Tunisia, and Türkiye. UNEP/Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) is the leading executing Agency; the GEF Implementing Agencies are UNEP and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the executing partners are UNESCO/IHP, European Investment Bank (EIB), IUCN Med, GWP Med, WWF Med, University of Geneva-GRID Geneva, Plan Bleu, PAP/RAC, SCP/RAC, SPA/RAC and INFO/RAC. The Programme is also supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The MedProgramme operationalizes priority actions to reduce major transboundary environmental stresses in coastal areas while strengthening climate resilience and water security and improving the health and livelihoods of coastal populations. Furthermore, it aims to promote sound environmental management that benefits women and men equally, through effective gender mainstreaming.

The MedProgramme is expected to achieve large-scale impacts in four GEF focal areas: International Waters (IW), Chemicals and Waste (CW), Biodiversity (BD), and Climate Change Adaptation (SCCF), with contributions from numerous partners including UN agencies, development banks, MAP Regional Activity Centers, Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Regional Centers, national institutions, technical agencies and research institutes, NGOs, and others, under the leadership of UNEP/MAP.