Libya - Irrigation Infrastructure Evaluation, Crop Mapping and Agricultural Water Use Estimation – Technical Assistance

The proposed operation is a grant not exceeding Two Hundred Thousand Units of Account (UA 200,000) to the State of Libya from the resources of the Middle-Income Country Technical Assistance Fund. The targeted operation has been identified as a result of the continued close dialogue between the Bank and the Libyan authorities. This activity aims at responding to the pressing needs of the Government and providing adequate support to address a major challenge that the country is facing during this critical phase and will help prepare the reconstruction of the county’s infrastructures. The intervention will in particular, enable the Ministry of Agriculture to support the Government’s efforts in improving water resource management through improved irrigation management which is critical to Food Security and Livelihoods. It is aligned with the approved priority area for the Bank’s support to Libya, under the Country Brief. This operation is also reaffirming the Bank’s leading role among other partners and development institutions in the water sector and related activities. The proposed assessment of the agricultural water use efficiency is intended to provide a baseline which can be used to monitor, evaluate and rationalize the system. The project consists of three components as described below: (i) Baseline study and assessment of the damage to the national irrigation system; (ii) Cropland mapping and water consumption estimates using remote sensing data; (iii) Capacity development program. The project will be implemented over a period of 18 Months following its approval by the Bank and the signing of the Tripartite Agreement between the different parties.