Social and Environmental Thematic Evaluation of the Khan Younis Waste Water Treatment Plant (KY WWTP)

Project Overview

In response to the rapidly increased population in the city of Khan Younis, followed by the increase in their needs in life with special focus in water and hygiene; the UNDP initiated the Khan Younis Waste Water Treatment Plant (KY WWTP) as an emergency response to the vital hygienic and environmental needs of Khan Younis residents. The intervention is a strategic environmental project that aims to improve access to adequate, inclusive and equitable sanitation and hygiene for the residents of Khan Younis Governorate with special attention to the needs of women. The UNDP intervention comprises two major components/projects: first, the construction of the KY WWTP, and second, the construction of a solar energy system to guarantee providing electricity on a continuous basis for proper and sustainable operation of the treatment plant. The project is directly executed by UNDP in coordination with the project partners: the Palestinian Water Authority (PWA) as sector regulator; the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) as service provider and final operator of the project, Khan Younis Municipality as a direct beneficiary. The evaluation will cover both the construction of KYWWTP and energy system projects. While the main focus of the evaluation is the KY WWTP and the solar energy system projects which were constructed on site during the period 2017 - 2021, they evaluation may reflect on the conditions and challenges encountered during the design stage before the actual construction. The evaluation is planned to be conducted at the final stage of the projects’ implementation period and shall be finalized by end of December 2021. More specifically ,the main objective of this evaluation is to provide a comprehensive and sufficient analysis of the projects by conducting an independent external assessment of the level of achievement, performance of the set objectives and expected results/outputs/outcomes/activities listed in the project documents, the uniqueness, added value and significance of these projects, observing the projects impacts on the community of Khan Younis Governorate and the Gaza Strip, determining the successes and/or shortcomings, as well as factors that have hindered or facilitated the success of the projects, identifying lessons learned and best practices, in addition to provide evidence on the achievements and results of the projects, actionable recommendations related to the theory of change, performance management framework, and strategic interventions of the projects under evaluation. As well as recommendations to be shared with key stakeholders and to be used by UNDP for follow up and to enhance the quality of future projects and programming as well.To this end, UNDP has contracted General Consulting and Training (GCT), to accompany UNDP PAPP the evaluation according to their requirements and expectations.