The Libya–EU Water Resources Management Facility, a new programme designed to improve sustainable water governance and climate resilience in Libya has been launched.
The German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) performed the launched ceremony on the initiative that aims to modernise water infrastructure, boost efficiency in water use, and introduce advanced management and distribution technologies.
Developed in partnership with Libya’s Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Local Government, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project forms part of the broader “Sustainable Transformation and Energy and Environment Partnership (STEP)” programme, co-financed by the EU Delegation to Libya and Germany.
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Water security
The initiative is jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The launch event brought together senior Libyan officials, EU and German diplomats, Italian representatives, and international development partners. Speakers emphasised the project’s importance in safeguarding Libya’s water resources amid rising climate pressures and decades of weakened institutional capacity.
Germany’s Chargé d’Affaires, Daniel Schimsky, said water security is essential for peace, development, and stability, reaffirming Berlin’s commitment to supporting Libya’s long-term environmental resilience. Libya continues to face significant political and economic challenges more than a decade after the 2011 uprising that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.
The country remains divided between rival administrations, with instability affecting critical sectors, including oil production. The prolonged conflict has deepened the humanitarian crisis and slowed progress toward planned national elections. Security issues, including the continued presence of foreign fighters, also threaten efforts to rebuild infrastructure and strengthen governance.
Through the new Water Resources Management Facility, European and Libyan partners hope to reinforce institutions, improve service delivery, and lay a foundation for more sustainable and climate-resilient development across the country.
