Barada Spring
North Damascus

Background:

• Since 1960, Syria has implemented water resources development and water management programs to meet the increasing demand for water that has resulted from economic development and population growth. Despite such efforts, however, the problems of water shortage and water pollution have been aggravated during the past ten years due to a lack of adequate water resources management and to a decrease in the rate of precipitation. For the Syrian government, the establishment of a new water resources development plan has become the prime objective in resolving these serious water problems.

Damascus in Barada & Awaj Basin climate is Steppe climate.
Latakia in Coastal Basin climate is Mediterranean climate.
 

• In August 1996, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted “The Study on Water Resources Development in the Northwestern and Central Basins of the Syrian Arab Republic (PHASE I)” (hereinafter referred to as the “JICA development study [Phase I]”) in response to a request from the Government of Syria. The purpose of the study was to prepare a master plan for the comprehensive development of water resources in the areas of five water basins: Barada-Awaj, Orontes, Coastal, Aleppo, and Steppe. JICA also conducted “The Study on Water Resources Development in the Northwestern and Central Basins of the Syrian Arab Republic (PHASE II)” (hereinafter referred to as the “JICA development study (Phase II)" as a feasibility study for priority projects.

Pollution situation of Barada River in the east of Damascus
 

• Based on the results of these studies, the Government of Syria requested the Government of Japan to provide project-type technical cooperation for the establishment of Water Resources Information Center (WRIC) in order to help it improve water resources information management throughout the country, and develop decision-makers that can utilize water resources information. Short-term Japanese experts were dispatched and three preparatory studies were conducted to work out the scope of the Project.
   

• These studies indicated that Ministry of Irrigation (MOI), which is the agency responsible for water resources development and management, could not discharge its responsibilities properly due primarily to a lack of accurate and reliable water resources information based on precise hydrological and meteorological observations. It was also recognized that the absence of accurate water resources information is derived mainly from:

             (1) insufficient hydrological and meteorological observation  
                  facilities.
             (2) poor observation skills.
             (3) inefficient information transmission between MOI headquarters
                  and the General Directorates.
             (4) inadequate information sharing among water-related agencies,
             (5) inappropriate data saving.
             (6) insufficient information processing skills.
 

• In order to solve these problems in the water resources management sector of Syria, the Government of Japan formulated the Project and for the establishment of a comprehensive water resources information management system. Cooperation activities would include improvement of basic meteorological and hydrological observation skills and establishment of computer systems for the Barada-Awaj Basin and the Coastal Basin, which are areas having the highest priority.
  
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• Mar. 1996
  JICA Preliminary Study (Collection related basic information)
• Aug. 1 996 - Oct. 1997
  JICA Development Study “The Study on Water Resources Development in the Northwestern and Central Basins of the Syrian Arab Republic (PHASE )”
  Target area: Barada & Awaj, Orontes, Coastal, Aleppo, and Steppe.
• Nov. 1998 - Jan. 2000
  JICA Development Study “The Study on Water Resources Development in the Northwestern and Central Basins of the Syrian Arab Republic (PHASE )”
  Target Area: Barada & Awaj1996/3
• Mar. 2000
  Preparatory Study (Collection related information)
• Mar. 2001
  Preparatory Study (Framework of WRIC)
• Sep. 2001
  Preparatory Study (Project Cycle Management (PCM) Workshop, Investigation for procure of equipment)
• Dec. 2001
  Preparatory Study (Making of Project Design Matrix (PDM)) 2000/3

PCM workshop in Sep. 2001

• Feb. 2002
  Preparatory Study (Preparation of Project Document, Record of Discussions Investigation for procure of equipment (Consideration of Specifications)
• Mar. 2002
  Sign Record of Discussions (R/D)
• May - Jun. 2002
  Making Bidding Documents and Contract Documents for procure equipment
• June 15, 2002
  Project start
• October, 2004- Project Evaluation Team to Syria
• March, 2005- JCC and signing R/D for Project extended period
• December, 2006-Project Evaluation Team to Syria

R/D signing ceremony in March 2002

Subject of Project:

• Objective: Improving Water Resources Management
• Location of center: Main Center of WRIC was located on a floor of the building in central area of Dummar. Barada-Awaj Basin Center of WRIC was located in the existing office building of GDBAB in Harasta, Damascus. Coastal Basin Center of WRIC was located in the existing office building of the GDCB in Lattakia.
• Target Area: Two General Directorate (GDBAB and GDCB)
• Duration: Five years from June 15, 2002 to June 14, 2007

• Input from Japanese side:
    a. Dispatch Expert
       -Three Long-Term Experts
       - Short-Term Experts
    b. Provision of Equipment
        Hardware (PC, Printer, Scanner etc ) , Software ( Database ( Oracle )  
        ,GIS ( Arc series ) ,  
        Observation Equipment ( Meteorology, Surface water, Ground Water.  
        Water Quality),
        Four Cars (2 for Main Center, 1 for GDBAB Center, 1 for GDCB Center)   
        etc
    c. Counterpart training in Japan
        Three trainees per every year at least
•  Input from Syrian side:
     a. Assign of Counter Parts
     b. Preparation of facility and equipment
     c. Bear of expenses for operation and maintenance
•  Project Management:
     a. Management of Project Joint Coordinating Committee
        (JCC, which will be established to promote the effective implementation
        of the Project, will meet  
        at least once a year or at any time when necessity arises. The Steering
        Committee will be
        established by water resources-related agencies in Syria for the purpose 
        of supporting the
        various activities of WRIC and will meet.
        For this Project, monitoring based on the five evaluation criteria, namely  
           1) efficiency
           2)effectiveness
           3) impact
           4) relevance
           5) sustainability will be periodically conducted mainly by the JCC.
     b. Daily Management of Project
         - Management Committee, which will be made up of actual executing
           staff members of the Project, will meet every two weeks.
         - Main Center meeting and Japanese expert meeting will meet every  
           week.

Training room

• Activities:

1. Preparation of a network of hydrological and meteorological observations.
2. Collection of data related to water resources supply and demand, including
   hydrological and meteorological data, 
3. Organization, processing, and analysis of collected data, 
4. Establishment of an effective communication system to transmit
   collected and inputted data by Basin Center to Main Center,
5. Compilation of a database with collected data,
6. Preparation of an annual hydrological report,
7. Provision of information to decision-makers, and
8. Capacity building of MOI staff members who engage in water resource
9. Expected Result:
   1. A water resources information system (hydrological and meteorological observation
      stations, computer system, and computer network) is established at Main Center and two
      Basin Centers of the Water Resources Information Center
      Indicator :
      1) The water resources information system is in operation before about 6 months of
          completion of the cooperation term.
      2) The accuracy of data transmitted from two Basin Centers to Main Center improves.
      3) Observation data is accumulated in the database.
       
   2. The staff of WRIC acquires the necessary techniques for hydrological and meteorological
      observation, data collection, and data processing.
      Indicator :
          1) The number of staff, who acquire the necessary  
              techniques, is about 50.
          2) A uniform hydro-meteorological observation format is
              fully in place by the beginning
              of 2003.
          3) The data in the uniform hydrological observation    
              format is transferred into electronic
              data without deficiencies by the middle of 2003.
          4) Data in the water resources information system is
              revised periodically.
   3. A section is established within WRIC for capacity building, and continuous
      human resources development is conducted.
      Indicator: Staff training for over 20 managerial engineers is conducted every
      year, and training manuals are fully utilized.
   4. A section is established within WRIC to maintain the water resources
      information system, and the continuous maintenance is conducted.
      Indicator: Observation activity is conducted continuously and accurately at
      about 400 stations in the two Basins, and the rate of operating rate
      is over 90%.
   5. A system is established to enable the staff of WRIC to provide necessary
      information on water resources management to decision-makers, planners
      and researchers by utilizing the water resources information system.
      Indicator :Monthly reports of water resources information are submitted to
      decision-makers periodically.
      (Reference Project Design Matrix PDM)

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1. Main Center
   Location
   3rd Floor, Building No.2, Jazera No.1, Dahyiet Dummar, Damascus, Syria (P.O. Box 4451)
2. DRD Center
   Location
   Water Resources Directorate of Damascus and Rural Damascus Building, Harasta, Damascus-Homs Highway, Damascus, Syria (P.O. Box 11277)
3. Lattakia Center
   Location
   Water Resources Directorate of Lattakia Building, Lattakia-Aleppo Highway, Lattakia, Syria (P.O. Box 514)
4. Tartous Center
   Location
   Water Resources Directorate of Tartous Building, Lattakia-Homs Highway, Lattakia, Syria (P.O. Box 370)

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• Dispatch trainees to Japan（May, 2002、March, 2003, July2003）
• Preparation of three centers
• Preparation of eight observation stations
• Procurement, setting and installation of equipments
• Development of Database
• Establishment of Network
• Hold workshop, seminar
• Syrian Japanese Water Symposium (July 2003)
• Joint coordinating committee between Japan and Syria（Aug. 2002, July 2003）
• Execution of OJT (On the Job Training)

Main Topics:

C/P Training Course in Japan（May, 2002)

Three C/P listened explanation
 

Opening Ceremony (Oct. 3, 2002)

Cut the ribbon by former Ambassador of
Japan and former Minister of Irrigation
 

Trip to Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Jordan (Nov. 27-28, 2002）

Director of Planning explained us about Jordan Water Policy
 

Syrian-Dutch Water Seminar　(Jan. 28-29, 2003）

Director of Planning explained us about Jordan Water Policy

3rd World Water Forum (March, 2003)
  

Syrian Delegation

Syrian Japanese Water Symposium (July 3, 2003)
 

at the Hotel in Damascus

The Project Consultation Team (Oct, 2003)
   
Site survey and Discussion

Signing Ceremony between MOI and MOD (November 16, 2003)

Minister of Irrigation (right) and General Director of Meteorology (left)

Ambassador of Japan, Head of SPC visited WRIC after signing ceremony for Grant Aid Assistance. (Dec. 10, 2003)

JICA expert explains about the system in WRIC

IDI – Japan dispatch　preliminary study mission to Syria from Dec. 8,　2003 to 15.

 Kastoun Dam                                 Afamia B Dam

Business trip to Egypt (January, 2004)

Regional Center for Training and Water studies  Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation

Syrian-Germany Water Seminar (February, 2004)

Discussion                                            Presentation about WRIC Activities

Syrian Journalist Tour visit WRIC (March, 2004)

Presentation about WRIC Activities

2nd Syrian-Japanese Water Symposium (May, 2004)

Opening and  Presentation

roject Evaluation Team (Oct.2004)

Handing Over Ceremony of GrantAid Observation Equipments(Mar.03.2005)

JCC & Signing R/D for Project Period Extension(Mar.23.2005)

Minister of Irrigation Visits Japan(May.7-14,2005)

IT(Network) Training Course in HRI,Egypt (July.16-Aug.12,2005)

3rd Syrian_Japanese Water Symposium(Sep.05,2005)

C2C Workshops (oct.03,2005)

C2C Workshops (2006-2007)

Goodbye for All Japanese Experts , Thank You Very much

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