Water Sector Capacity Building in Palestine

To strengthen the Palestinian Water Sector through the establishment of education, training and research capacities at Birzeit University (BZU) in the fields of Water Supply, Waste Water Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology - through which the MSc programme in Water Engineering is set up and implemented to offer strategic and applied research in support of the Palestinian Community's development of its water sector policies.

In the early 1990's, the Middle East peace process reaffirmed the importance of water in the region. The Palestinian Community and its Authority (PA) addressed their concerns on the future of Palestine's water resources and environmental sanitation constraints; institutional structures of the water and sanitation sector, combined with a lack of human resources, were mired in weaknesses resulting in bottlenecks, the reason for the PA's commitment to structural developments in this sector.

As an emergency measure, IHE in collaboration with BZU trained 60 Palestinian professionals active in the water sector in a short course held in Birzeit (1993-1995). From 1993 to 199, some 70 Palestinians obtained a Master's degree after having completed their studies at IHE Delft.

Increasing demands for higher level and more professionally trained water specialists lead to the formulation and implementation of this project, with the aim of establishing an indigenous MSc programme in Water Supply, Waste Water Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology at BZU in the West Bank.

The training and research capacities of BZU will be strengthened to support the MSc programme, ultimately to deliver approximately twenty MSc holders on an annual basis.

Project activities include the implementation of basic and applied research to be carried out by BZU staff and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) fellows.

The University's curriculum is to be developed and implemented to offer an MSc programme in Water Engineering with specialisations in Water Supply, Waste Water Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology.

BZU's research capacities will be enhanced in line with the new MSc programme and a research centre for Environmental Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology will be set up.

Contributing to the fulfilment of project objectives, an extensive staff development programme was formulated to involve three BZU staff members to be trained at the PhD level and two PhD holders to undergo retraining. Additionally, the training of trainers (ToT) programme focuses on didactics and course management, while supporting BZU staff will participate in tailor-made courses.

Project activities also cover the upgrading of BZU's facilities, wherein the library is supplied with the appropriate publications, the environmental laboratory will be optimally equipped, and transportation and communication equipment provided.

These activities combined will in turn support the Palestinian Authority in the development of its water sector, thereafter leading to the establishment of a "centre of excellence" in Birzeit.

Curriculum Development

• The establishment of an MSc programme in Water Engineering with specialisations in the fields of Water Supply, Waste Water Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology;
• The development of a curriculum for the new MSc Programme in Water Engineering at BZU, including the preparation of lectures, exercises, workshops, laboratory and fieldwork; and
• The development of research capacity at BZU in support of MSc research.

BZU Staff Development

• Training of three BZU fellows to PhD level in Sanitary Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology;
• Training of technicians in the use of equipment, safety procedures, etc.;
• BZU staff training and professionalisation in educational management and technology; and
• Retraining of two PhD holders in Sanitary Engineering and Hydrology.

Research Centre Established at BZU

• A research centre for Environmental Engineering and Groundwater Hydrology was established and attached to the BZU to operate on a cost-recovery basis; and
• The research centre engages a nucleus of experts to carry out strategic and applied research thereby contributing to the development of Palestine's national policy.

Upgraded Research Facilities at BZU

• Improvements were made to the University's library, transport, communication, office and project secretariat facilities;
• Along with the establishment of the Water and Environment laboratory and computer facilities.