The proposed programme consists of a dual approach, where the governorates of Anbar, Suleimanyah and Thi-Qar are benefitting from direct physical and technical interventions leading to the formulation of sector master plans for water and sanitation (WatSan) and solid waste management.

In addition, to the physical interventions limited to these three governorates, capacity building will be provided both to the three governorates and three adjacent selected ones; thus, the adjacent ones will also be able to formulate their own master plans and replicate the physical interventions undertaken in Anbar, Suleimanyah and Thi-Qar. Moreover, specialized equipment and machinery shall be procured for the usage of the governorates of Anbar, Suleimanyah and Thi-Qar, including water tankers, sewage tankers, jetting vehicles, garbage compactors and garbage collection containers.

Hence, the programme includes:

• A WatSan Master Planning and Capacity Building exercise for three governorates and undertakes a capacity gap analysis, outlining training needs feeding into a joint capacity building programme.

• Development of Integrated Solid Waste Management Master Plans is proposed for the three above-mentioned governorates of Anbar, Suleimanyah and Thi-Qar, that will be developed in partnership with the government authorities.

• The three additional governorates, adjacent to the target governorates, will benefit from capacity building initiatives in the WatSan and solid waste management. Capacity assessment in Water and Sewerage Sector will be carried out for Anbar or Thi-Qar governorate (selection of the governorate will be done in consultation with the counterparts) while Technical skills training will be provided to  officials responsible for WatSan waste management in the Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works based in local offices within the six governorates.

In addition, the WatSan and solid waste management capacities shall be augmented through the provision of water tankers, sewage tankers, jetting vehicles, garbage compactors and garbage collection containers.

Moreover, the programme will in all of the six governorates be accompanied by:

• Sanitary inspections on main water resources,
• Strengthened capacity building of government staffs in sanitary inspections and water quality monitoring through on-the-job training and specialized training programmes.
• Awareness campaigns on sanitation and hygiene issues to safeguard public health in the peripheral/ high risk areas in the selected governorates.

In addition to the local population, who will receive improved access to potable drinking water and adequate sanitation, the beneficiaries, will include the relevant technical directorates and service providers in the three target governorates and the three adjacent ones.