
Developing Water Solutions Within the Context of Climate Change and Mitigation Approaches
WHAT IS WIL?
The Water Innovation Lab, known as WIL, is a front-running, immersive leadership training designed to accelerate collaborative innovation, fast-track global knowledge-sharing and devise new innovations that improve water security. WIL supports emerging leaders (18-35 yrs) to implement Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets connected to water both in their organisations and their projects. WIL develops future water leaders to think holistically, design innovatively, and communicate effectively across cultures.
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3 years
in numbers
125 Participants
20+ Partners
24 Projects
50+ Experts (Mentors)
$30,000 USD
Seed Resources
WATER in LEBANON needs
INNOVATION
Lebanon has long been challenged by inherited instabilities and the urgency of the situation peeked ever since the revolutionary year of 2019. With the growing political, economical,environmental, and social uncertainties, Lebanon calls for structural and holistic changes that intervene for a promising rebound.
Sustainable innovations is the needed change amid a country’s struggles and the drive that contributes to the establishment of regenerative growth. It is, during the critical situations, where individuals should push boundaries to cultivate innovation and develop leadership skills.
WIL Lebanon recognizes the need in Lebanon and the region to support emerging leaders (18-30 years) to accelerate collaborative innovation, share fast-track knowledge, and devise new innovations that improve water security in their organisations and projects while implementing water SDG targets. Our approach is groundbreaking as it is cross-sector, cross-disciplinary, and focused on co-innovation leadership.
Applications are now open.
Applications close June 23, 2021
WIL Lebanon 2019
Experts were invited to share their experience in round tables with young participants providing stories and lessons learned from their own journeys in order to ground and push the innovations that emerge from teams’ projects
WIL Lebanon 2019
During the field tour, participants had the chance to visit Jeb Jennine wastewater treatment plant in the Bekaa to see on-the-ground management and hear about challenges in handling not only domestic waste water but also industrial waste water (mainly from dairy farms with high organic concentrations).
WIL Lebanon 2019
As part of displaced communities focus from social and infrastructure perspective field tour, participants had an Interactive session with displaced communities at Ghazzeh Camp in Bekaa to understand the reality and complexity of WaSH challenges.
WIL Lebanon 2019
With facilitation at its core, WIL Lebanon enables more female leadership to bridge the gender gap in the Arab world generally and in the water sector specifically. During WIL Lebanon 2019 more than 80% (11 projects) were led or co-led by women!
WIL Lebanon 2020
Bou7ayrit el Ibtikar - Virtual session on innovating in the water sector discussing and exploring new and traditional technologies with experts from different fields (IoT, Data Sciences, Artificial Intelligence - and Traditional Wisdom and Practices)
WIL Lebanon 2020
Bazaar al Afkar - Virtual session on ideas marketplace and team formation around industrial water challenges / circular economy, agricultural run-offs / sustainable farming methods, and domestic water use / municipal and behavioural water management trends.
WIL Lebanon 2020
Phase 2 - A follow up - “Test Zone” workshop was delivered in collaboration with Berytech in order to achieve proof of concept on how to Build their Prototype or Pilot Project
WIL Lebanon 2020
Phase 2 - WIL Lebanon 2020 Phase 2 - A follow up - “Test Zone” workshop was delivered in collaboration with CEWAS middle east to Set up a sound operational and financial strategy
Previous
Next
PROGRAM DETAILS
WIL Lebanon 2021 will be delivered in Arabic.
Certificates will be offered to participants who attend a minimum of 5 live sessions outlining the topics covered in this innovation lab.
Phase I:
6 weekly virtual sessions held on Wednesdays at
5:00 pm Lebanon Time
+ 1 closing virtual session on August 18
OPENING
SESSION
Wednesday
June 30
2021
2 hours
SESSIONS
2-5
Wednesdays
July 7-28
2021
3 hours
SESSION
6
Wednesday
August 11
2021
3 hours
CLOSING
SESSION
Wednesday
August 18
2021
2 hours
Phase 1
Phase I focuses on immersive innovative and leadership training that concludes with co-innovative solutions designed at a conceptual level within multidisciplinary teams.
Participants who meet all requirements and present their projects are selected to participate in Phase II.
Phase 2
October - November 2021
Phase II supports the co-innovative solutions to achieve proof of concept through designing a pilot or prototype of their project; with a training workshop called “Test Zone”.
Details to come
THEME
BASED
WORK
2021
Developing water solutions within the context of Climate Change and Mitigation approaches
WIL Lebanon team will leverage local context and train a new co-hort of young leaders and students to develop water solutions within the context of Climate Change and Mitigation approaches and geographically continue WIL Lebanon focus on the Litani River and Bekka region, looking at:
- Socio-economics: Flooding and drought & Nexus
- Water Governance: Effectiveness, efficiency & management
- Climate Mitigation: Hydropower and Renewables
- Water Quality: Industrial, agricultural & wastewater
2020
A focus on the Litani River in the Bekaa Region through designing innovative water solutions
WIL Lebanon 2020 focuses on the Litani River’s industrial , agricultural and social water challenges. It provides an opportunity to engage youth and young leaders in coming up with innovative solutions to tackle water challenges facing Lebanon’s Litani River, looking at :
- Circular economy
- Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus
- Iot, Data Sciences, Artificial Intelligence
- Revival of Traditional Knowledge
2019
Building Resilience in Water-Energy-Food-Health Systems in an Arid and Semi-Arid Region
WIL Lebanon 2019 focuses on climate change and human demographic impacts on water, energy, food and health. It provides an opportunity to engage youth and young leaders in coming up with innovative solutions to tackle water in an arid and semi-arid region, looking at:
- Rural water challenges: designing frugal water solutions for low-income and high-risk displaced communities.
- Urban water challenges: growth and planning
- Industrial water challenges: circular economy
- High tech solutions: AI, IoT, Data Science
- Revival of Indigenous Knowledge
WHY JOIN?
PAST PARTICIPANTS
“It was such an amazing experience! I have never seen such an organised program that seeks to develop intellectual and entrepreneurial capabilities for youth while searching for innovative water solutions that benefits our society. WIL Lebanon made me a better researcher, problem solver, public speaker and critical thinker. Thankful for this life changing opportunity.”

Fatima Zbib
WIL Lebanon 2020 Alumna
"I learned a lot during my journey with WIL Lebanon. This workshop helped me look at things from a different perspective, and ask questions beyond my field of studies and knowledge."

Rita Al Hachach
WIL Lebanon 2020 Alumna
“It’s a great efficient experience in terms of stretching our knowledge regarding water issues, and setting a platform to facilitate collaboration between the Lebanese to innovate for our nature. WIL Lebanon is providing what is needed to transform our ideas to prototypes. Thank you for this huge great work!”

Rabih Hamid
WIL Lebanon 2020 Alumnus
TEAM PROJECTS
CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH PROJECT
WIL LEBANON
RESOURCE GUESTS

Kevin Bonel
Emergency WaSH Consultant- UNICEF
Kevin BONEL is the Emergency WASH Consultant for UNICEF Lebanon Country Office since February 2020. Kevin has a Masters degree in hydrogeology, specialized in the modelling of crystalline aquifers. He has worked for consulting firms in France before joining the humanitarian sector in 2010. He has worked in Pakistan, Myanmar, South Sudan on emergency and early recovery projects. Since 2015, he has been workingis working in the Middle East region, primarily on the Syrian crisis in Lebanon, North-East and North-West Syria, and Iraqi Kurdistan. Kevin is currently supporting developing a project aiming at identifying innovative wastewater treatment solutionssolution for the Informal Settlements in Lebanon financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. In parallel, he supports the sector by Co-leading the Sanitation Thematic Group and supporting the rolling-out of the WASH Assessment Platform WAP

Suzy Hoayek
Advisor to the Minister - Ministry of Energy and Water
Suzy Hoayek has been an Advisor to the Minister of Energy and Water in the Water sector since 2016. She has been coordinating with international donors, consultants and NGO’s in the water sector, as well as different governmental institutions, in order to enable the implementation of the ministry’s projects, but also to manage and coordinate the update of the National Water Sector Strategy within the ministry, and to review the Water Code within the dedicated Parliamentary commission. Following her graduation as a civil Engineer from the Lebanese American University, Suzy had the chance to lead many projects in many countries such as Angola and Saudi Arabia within Dar el Handasah (Shair & Partners) in Beirut as a Team leader and project engineer in the Resources & Environment department, enabling her to extend her technical knowledge and expertise in water and wastewater. In 2014, Suzy graduated with Honors from “Agroparistech” well-known University in Paris, where she obtained an International Masters in the “Management and Treatment of Water, Wastewater, Soil and Solid Waste”. Suzy Hoayek was born in 1984 and has grown today to be an independent Lebanese woman and an expert in her field. She is a pioneer of the Water Sector and strives every day to make water in Lebanon more accessible for every citizen and a source of wealth to the Lebanese Government.

Maria Saidy
Water Sector Field Coordinator-Bekaa - UNICEF
Maria holds a BSc. in Environmental Health and MSc. in Environmental Technology from the American University of Beirut. Maria has over 8 years of experience in the water sector in Lebanon that includes program development and management, coordination, and research. She has a wide range of work experience with governmental counterparts and international agencies in the humanitarian and development settings, and more specifically in the Water, Sanitation and Public Health program. Maria has been working with UNICEF Lebanon Country Office since 2013 and is currently a Program Officer and Water Sector field coordinator for Bekaa and Baalback/Hermel Governorates. She oversees a wide portfolio of WASH projects in the areas of community support for host communities and refugees in Informal Settlements (ISs) including project planning, designing, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and regulatory compliance.

Rebecca Bushby
WASH Officer- UNICEF
Rebecca Bushby is the UNICEF focal point for climate change and peace building in Lebanon. She has a masters degree in water, sanitation and health engineering and has experience working with epidemic preparedness and climate change in WASH projects. Before joining UNICEF in 2020, she worked as the
regional advisor on community-based surveillance for the Norwegian Red Cross in Africa, covering Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan and Senegal. She has also previously worked on WASH projects with the World Bank in Indonesia, conducted research on hygiene in Informal Settlements in Lebanon, and supported global youth-led WASH innovations through Young Water Solutions. She currently works on developing UNICEF Lebanon’s climate change portfolio, as well as leading the community mobilization working group in the WASH sector and managing research on WASH and peace building.

Dr. Rabi H. Mohtar
Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB)
Expert Resources Guest

Dr. Rabi H. Mohtar
Dean, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences (FAFS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB)
Dr. Rabi Mohtar, Professor and Dean Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut and Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and Zachary Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Texas A&M University. He has expertise in the interrelationships of the water, energy, food, health Nexus and developing quantitative tools to assess sustainable resource allocation and trade-offs and empower dialogue between stakeholders, policymakers and science to ensure long term resilience and sustainable management of resources. He has also been working on soil and water processes, modeling and characterization and long term impact of alternative water on soil and water processes.

Dr. Nadim Farajalla
Director of the Climate Change and the Environment Program at Issam Fares Institute
Expert Resource Guest

Dr. Nadim Farajalla
Director of the Climate Change and the Environment Program at Issam Fares Institute
Dr Farajalla is the director of the Climate Change and the Environment Program at the American University of Beirut’s Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs. His current research focuses on the impact of climate change on human settlements and activities through extreme events of flooding and droughts; the nexus of water-energy-food and climate change with focus on adaptation and resilience; and recovery of devastated land due to anthropogenic activities such as wars, farming, quarrying, etc. Dr. Farajalla started out his graduate academic studies in irrigation engineering attaining an MS from Utah State University in Logan, Utah, USA and then an MS and a PhD in environmental engineering from the University of Oklahoma, USA. He worked in the private sector first as a senior scientist at Stone Environmental, Inc., Montpelier, Vermont, USA and then at Dar al- Handasah (Shair and partners), Beirut, Lebanon as a Senior Environmental Engineer on projects which focused on water resources and associated infrastructure; environmental impact studies and management plans, hydrological studies and erosion assessment and mitigation. Dr. Farajalla founded and headed the Land, Water and Environment Department at the consulting firm SETS sarl with projects in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, and Oman.

Cynthia Kayem
LEPAP M&E Officer at UNDP
Cynthia Kayem is an agricultural engineer who graduated from the Saint Joseph University in 2010. She has been working at the Ministry of Environment (MoE) since 2011 where she was involved in projects related to the protection of natural resources and the management of industrial pollution. Her work at MoE included following up on the National Reforestation Plan and applications related to quarries and crushers and land reclamations. She was also involved in the provision of technical and administrative support to industries benefiting from the technical assistance provided to industries for abatement of resulting pollution under the GIZ/Environmental Fund for Lebanon project.
Ms. Kayem is currently working as the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer of the Lebanon Environmental Pollution Abatement Project (LEPAP) implemented by the MoE through UNDP. LEPAP is financed by the World Bank and the Italian Government and aims at setting-up an environmental compliance mechanism for industrial enterprises through the provision of (1) free of charge technical assistance and (2) financial facilities for the implementation of pollution abatement interventions. In addition, the LEPAP supports in strengthening the monitoring and enforcement capabilities of the MoE, commercial banks and industrial sector.

Hassan Harajli
Program Advisor and Project Manager Energy and Environment Programme at UNDP
Expert Resource Guest

Hassan Harajli
Program Advisor and Project Manager Energy and Environment Programme at UNDP
Hassan Harajli is the manager of the current EU co-funded UNDP-CEDRO & SE4S projects and UNDP Energy Advisor since 2009. He is a holder of a PhD from the University of Bath in renewable energy policy and economics, an MSc from Imperial College in Environmental Technology (focus on environmental economics) and double undergraduate degrees from the American University of Beirut and the London School of Economics in Political Science and Environmental Policy with Economics, respectively. He has several peer-reviewed publications and several years of experience in environment-related consultancy. Mr. Harajli also lectures, part-time, at the American University of Beirut (AUB) in energy policy economics, planning and policy.

Jihan Seoud
Program Manager Energy and Environment Programme at UNDP
Jihan Seoud has been working for the Energy and Environment Programme at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lebanon since 2004. She works on managing a team of experts that implement environmental projects throughout Lebanon in support of the government as well as local communities. She also provides technical policy support to the UNDP on environmental matters and mobilises resources for projects in the sector. She has experience in sustainable energy and climate change, conservation of natural resources, water management and protection and environmental policy initiatives. She holds a bachelor degree in Environmental Health from the American University of Beirut and a graduate degree in Environmental Science and Technology, with a focus on water chemistry, from UNESCO-IHE Delft, The Netherlands.

Dr. Chadi Abdallah
Director of Research and Geologist - CNRS
Chadi Abdallah is a Director of Researcher and Geologist holding a PhD in GIS and RS of natural resources (Paris VI University-France), a Post-doc in Radar Interferometry (University of Missouri-USA). Researcher at the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS-L), Remote Sensing Center. Principle Investigator on several projects related to natural disasters, water information management, modeling and decision-making; assessment, monitoring and management of natural resources and sustainable development. Deputy Director and responsible of the Early Warning System platform, Chair of the Arab Science and Technology Advisory Group (Arab-STAG) for Disaster Risk Reduction of the UNDRR, Member of the CIHEAM scientific Advisory board. Managing Editor for the Lebanese Science Journal (LSJ). Authored and co-authored over 80 scientific papers in peer-reviewed international journals, and conference proceedings.

Marie-Helen Nassif
Coordinator ReWater MENA – IWMI
Marie-Helene is a Lebanese researcher and consultant in the fields of water resources development and management, water governance and policy. After graduating in agricultural engineering from the Lebanese University in 2009, she completed a Master in ‘Management and Institutions of Water Territories’ at the IAMM of Montpellier (France) where she was initiated to a more systemic and multidisciplinary approach to water management. She pursued a PhD in Geography and Space Management at Université Montpellier 3 and was a doctoral fellow at IRD-GEAU research lab until she defended her PhD in December 2019. Her thesis focused on a multi-scalar analysis of water management and governance on the Litani River Basin in Lebanon. Her research is largely based on field work as she was actively involved in parallel research and development projects with different organizations such as UNDP, USAID and IWMI. Marie-Helene currently works with IWMI as the Lebanon coordinator of the regional ReWater MENA project where she is coordinating research activities and participatory workshops in the field of wastewater treatment and reuse in agriculture.

Maya Mhanna
Head of Rural Projects and Irrigation Department - Ministry of Agriculture Lebanon
Expert Resources Guest

Maya Mhanna
Head of Rural Projects and Irrigation Department - Ministry of Agriculture Lebanon
Maya Mhanna is an Agricultural Engineer with a Masters Degree in Irrigation and Water Management from the American University of Beirut. Mhanna started her career as an Irrigation Engineer at the Litani River Authority. She then joined Dar el Handasah Shair and Partners for 3 years where she also held the position of an Irrigation Engineer. In 2010, Maya joined the Ministry of Agriculture as the Head of Irrigation and Rural Development Department. She worked on solving different irrigation and water management issues, reusing of treated wastewater in agriculture, preparing of the national guidelines for the reuse of treated wastewater (TWW), and working on increasing crop water productivity in different regions mainly Akkar and Bekaa.

Ziad Khayat
Economic Affairs Officer in the Water Resources Section - ESCWA
Mr. Ziad Khayat serves as Economic Affairs Officer in the Water Resources Section in the Climate Change and Natural Resources Sustainability Cluster at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Beirut. Mr. Khayat joined ESCWA in 2015 focusing on implementing regional initiatives and efforts to support Arab States in the areas of integrated water resources management, transboundary water resources management, climate change impacts on groundwater resources and the water-energy-food security nexus, and the water-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) all within a Human Rights-based approach. Prior to joining ESCWA he worked for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as project manager for the groundwater assessment project of Lebanon and with Dar Al-Handasah Consultants on various hydrogeological assessments and groundwater management issues in the Arab region. He has also taught Hydrogeology graduate courses at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. He holds degrees in Hydrogeology from the University of British Columbia in Canada and the American University of Beirut in Lebanon.

Darine Saliba
Project Officer, Embassy of Switzerland
Darine Saliba has worked in the social work field for 9 years, with experience focused on protection, communication, and social mobilization. As a social worker, she has worked with detainees, migrant workers, asylum seekers and refugees in addition to leading awareness initiatives in universities and schools regarding migrant workers’ rights. As a protection officer she has planned and prepared protection events, worked with local partners and explored sites in negotiating these locations for developing notice boards for announcements about refugee services and supporting protection advocacy research and surveys. Currently in her role as Project Officer with the Swiss Cooperation Office in Lebanon (Project Office Zahle) at the Embassy of Switzerland Darine oversees the water management project in Bekaa Valley which is based on a conflict sensitivity approach. She is assisting in conducting social and conflict assessment and analysis, helping in the design and implementation of strategies and appropriate methods to implement activities in terms of sustainability, and implication on the existing structures and dynamics especially with their partner Bekaa Water Establishment. Darine is passionate about the humanitarian and social field and will bring this perspective to WIL Lebanon.

Michelle Jalkh
SDC/ Embassy of Switzerland – SDC
Michelle is a humanitarian / development worker who has been involved in the field since 2011. Michelle currently works at the Embassy of Switzerland, Swiss Cooperation Office as National Programme Officer (NPO) for Water and Sanitation, mainly projects related to water, basic needs and services and disaster risk reduction.She holds a bachelor and master degree in Agriculture Sciences, Agri - Food Marketing / Food Quality and Security, awarded the Degree of Agriculture Engineer. Throughout her engagement as NPO she managed a portfolio with a combination of quick impact and complex-projects covering diverse sectors. She also advises on capacity building components to local NGOs in order to improve the quality of their project delivery and reporting. At the strategic level, she regularly takes part in donor meetings where she leads and contributes to discussions related to coordination and cooperation across different sectors of interventions.

Ramy Boujawdeh
Deputy General Manager of Berytech
Ramy Boujawdeh is the Deputy GM of Berytech since 2014, leading the Incubation and Entrepreneurship Business Development arm that supports Innovative Lebanese Startups and SMEs, providing Business Support, Mentorship, Coaching, Fundraising, Hosting, Networking and Internationalization and part of Innovation and Entrepreneurship regional programs. He designed and Leads the A.C.T. Smart Innovation Hub, a first of its kind in MENA focusing on both Agtech and Cleantech. Between 2000 & 2014, Ramy amassed a diversified knowledge in the fields of change management, quality management, operations, as he filled roles in General and Regional Management in different industries across 3 continents. He is keen on mobilizing his knowledge and connections to the best interest of the stakeholders he supports. He advises startups in Lebanon and is an Angel Investor with SEEDERS. Ramy is also the Vice President of a Lebanese NGO, Rural Entrepreneurs, He is also a member of the council of representatives at the order of Engineers and Architects. Ramy holds a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Engineering from AUB, and a master’s degree in Business Management and Economics. Ramy is a Lebanese and Canadian citizen.

Elias Nicolas
Cleantech Specialist – Berytech
Elias Nicolas is the Cleantech Specialist in the Cleantech Track of ACT Smart Innovation Hub at Berytech. He is the prime interface with stakeholders in the Cleantech sector, responsible for leading the operations, planning, marketing and development of this Track. He continuously ensures the day-to-day smooth running of the program, with high levels of client satisfaction focusing on creating the best possible environment in which startups and SMEs can grow and succeed. Elias is passionate about innovation with genuine interest in supporting the success of startups. With more than 7 years of technical and sales experience across the MENA region, he acquired a rich knowledge in new technologies and trends in Cleantech and many other high-tech industries. Elias holds a B.E. in Electrical Engineering from the Lebanese University and a Master of Research in Industrial Control from the University of Technology of Compiegne in France.

Johanna von Toggenburg
Country Manager Lebanon - cewas
Johanna is cewas’ country manager in Lebanon, where she combines her over 10 years of water and sanitation sector experience with her passion for training and coaching entrepreneurs. Previously, Johanna coordinated the WeWorld-GVC’s water development programme in Lebanon, focusing on non-revenue water reduction, capacity building for the Water Establishments, and behavioural change, as well as developing projects on agriculture and local economic development. Her trajectory in Lebanon started with UN ESCWA, where she advised policy makers on water and waste management and coordinated science networks. Before this, she worked with Oxfam as part of the EWASH Advocacy Task Force on the right to water and the think tank Ecologic Institute, where she bridged the gap between stakeholders from the business, academic and public sector to implement water and climate policies. Johanna studied development studies and holds post-graduate degrees in water management and economics. She currently works to scale impactful Lebanese water and sanitation entrepreneurs through cewas’ Green Accelerator Middle East Programme and leads several EcoSwitch Coalition Task Forces, streamlining green entrepreneurship programmes.

Vahakn Kabakian
Climate Change advisor/Project Manager at UNDP
Vahakn has been leading the UNDP-Lebanon Climate Change Team (in the Ministry of Environment) for almost 15 years, focusing mainly on developing policies and investment portfolios that enable the transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy. He has also been the head of the national climate change negotiating team under the UNFCCC, and has been responsible for ensuring the Lebanese government’s compliance with the reporting provisions of the UNFCCC, as well as with the Paris Agreement including the development of both the 2015 and 2020 nationally determined contributions, the national low emission development strategy, and the Lebanon Green Investment Facility.
He is the national designated expert within the Union for Mediterranean Climate Change Expert Group, the co-representative of Lebanon in the NDC-Partnership, where he also serves as member of the Steering Committee for the regional constituency.

Lea Kai
Project Manager, Climate Change Projects at UNDP and MoEW
Ms. Kai is the Manager of UNDP’s climate change projects at the Ministry of Environment where she works closely with the Lebanese government on designing and implementing sectoral climate policies and promoting policy reforms. Through providing strategic support, she guided the development and implementation of various programs, laws and regulations. Ms. Kai is a lead expert on greenhouse gas accounting and brings more than 15 years of experience working on the issue of climate change. She is also a member of Lebanese delegation to international climate change negotiations held under the UNFCCC.
Ms. Kai regularly contributes to the broader sustainability landscape through academic contributions, speaking, and mentoring students and young professionals.
Ms. Kai holds degrees in Environmental Health and Technology from the American University of Beirut and in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School for Government.

Dona Geagea
NEWAVE Early Stage Researcher (PhD)/Former WIL Gobal Lead
Dona is an Early Stage Researcher (PhD) with NEWAVE – Next Water Governance, an EU funded Marie-Curie Innovative Training Network hosted at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her research investigates emerging re-commoning water governance practices as a response to the austerity crisis. Dona is also the recipient of the Rotary Foundation Global Scholar Grant (2020-2021) and an Aura Fellow, selected as one of ten women for Be the Earth Foundation’s Aura Fellowship (2020-2022). Dona’s professional experience encompasses ten years of consulting in the water sector as a stakeholder engagement specialist, and until November 2020 as Global Lead for Water Innovation Labs with Waterlution. In this position, Dona contributed to the design and delivery of social innovation labs with a focus on water knowledge-mobilization. Under her leadership over 500 young leaders across 4 continents were trained, and she supported 25+ teams to develop their innovation projects (in India, the Netherlands, Portugal, Australia, Canada, Lebanon and Mexico). Dona has also co-moderated and facilitated several activities including GIZ's Annual Retreat for the Partnership on Transparency in the Paris Agreement and at World Water Forums.

Joseph Hakme
WASH specialist- World Vision
Joseph Hakme is the WASH specialist at World Vision Lebanon, he has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and has seven years of experience in the water and wastewater domain. Through his role at WVI Joseph is technically leading the WASH projects’ development and implementation. Before WVI Joseph was the WASH technical advisor at Solidarites international Lebanon. He also worked in the Lebanese private sector in a water and wastewater treatment specialized company. During those years he participated in designing and implementing many water and wastewater projects including, but not limited to, domestic and industrial wastewater treatment plants, water treatment plants, water supply systems and sewer networks. He has wastewater certifications from Office International de L’eau and PUM for industrial wastewater treatment methodology, activated sludge, SBR, MBR and MBBR.
Alumni Mentors
More to Come

Fatima Zbib
Alumni Mentor

Fatima Zbib
Fatima is a biologist, currently pursuing her Masters degree in Marine Biology and Ecology(2nd year). Having demonstrated abilities in implementing strategies and researching, she is seeking a role in a dynamic research environment.
She has always been determined to get involved in the water field, rather than just learning about it, that's why I have participated in WIL Lebanon 2020, which was quite an experience.She also did an internship concerning marine invasive species at Diaries of the Ocean NGO that focused on the lionfish in the Mediterranean Sea and how to combat its invasion using strategic planning. During which she had the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge to a practical situation which further sparked her interest in learning environmental issues. Over the past years, she was actively volunteering (Red cross, DSC, LUTF). She even volunteered with INJAZ where she was trained to give a workshop “More than Money” to 6th grade students about entrepreneurial thought and business planning. Beyond that she has a strong capacity to conduct an independent research, as well as working in a team environment. She also has the ability to work under pressure and multitask whilst being committed and enthusiastic to the fullest.

Marc Karam
Alumni Mentor

Marc Karam
Marc Karam holds a Masters in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Saint Joseph of Beirut, Lebanon. He worked as an Environmental Consultant in Lebanon at ELARD for three years where he led hydrometry and meteorology monitoring projects across the country. He managed the EU funded Palm Islands protection project (PROMAPIR) in Tripoli, overseeing the operation of procured seawater quality stations to monitor oil spills from the Port activities. He also worked with the Dutch delegation and the AUB to install a meteorology and water quality monitoring station for irrigation control, with an assisted one-month monitoring timeline. Marc also collaborated on the implementation of the “Litani River Environmental Industrial Compliance'' and “Public Marine Domain Legalization” programs at ELARD. More recently, Marc started working with makesense Lebanon - supporting Lebanese social entrepreneurs to accelerate their business and grow their impact, by designing impact programs and sparking collaborations between engaged citizens, social entrepreneurs and forward-thinking organizations to collectively tackle the social and environmental issues of today.
Along with two other team members, Marc was part of the "iLand" team, a nature-based solution relying on aquatic plants and natural processes to remove contaminants and pollutants in wastewater produced by the F&B industries, by reproducing wetlands on recycled floating matrices.
Aside from his professional background, Marc enjoys being connected with world politics, has an interest in history and languages (currently learning Spanish), and is an overall change-seeker.

Layla Fleyfel
Alumni Mentor

Layla Fleyfel
Layla Fleyfel holds a Bachelor degree of nutrition and dietetics (2016), and a Master degree in Food Technology (2018) from Saint-Joseph University. She’s a registered dietitian after passing the Lebanese colloquium exam in 2018.
She’s pursuing her Ph.D. degree in olive mill waste water treatment in co-direction between Saint-Joseph University and Poitiers University,
France. Layla’s research interests follow three paths: olive mill waste water treatment by coagulation / flocculation method and oxidation, valorization of its by-products, and water foot print.
She was a speaker for different conferences: MT180s 2019, Falling Walls Lab 2019, USJ 2nd nutrition and food technology conference 2018, SQUAD 2018. In addition, she was a poster presenter in GRUTTE- France international conference 2020. Layla participated in different projects such as WIL Lebanon 2020, where she learned more about the water sector in Lebanon and how to find an applicable solution.

Rayan Bachik
Alumni Mentor

Rayan Bachik
Rayan Bachik, has more than 3 years of experience in Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Founder of SolaRay startup. My interest goes to AI and renewable energy. He has experience with NGO's and is involved in many trainings with them such as Entrepreneur skills, Leadership skills and waterpreneurs skills.
He participated in GIL "Generation of Innovation Leaders" powered by UNICEF , Injaz Darb & Dar program for rural tourist, Berytech and TEC Building my BMC and developing my startup, and in WIL Lebanon 2020 with Waterlution where I worked on a project to save our Litani's river.

Mariam Bazzi
Alumni Mentor

Mariam Bazzi
Mariam Bazzi is a landscape architect and urban designer interested in water management.Her research addresses issues of Riparian Reclamation, water harvesting, and water governance. During her participation in WIL Lebanon 2020, she joined a team of designers and biologists to design a nature-based solution for water treatment in the Litany River.

Rabih Hamid
Alumni Mentor

Rabih Hamid
Rabih is leading Spring Construction into the future with a commitment to widening Spring Construction scope of activities while retaining the culture and principles that have been central to our success.
He established Spring Construction in 2010 as the offspring of Moustafa Hamid’s company, founded in 1980, which dealt primarily with concrete works. Rabih works on assuring and expanding company market positioning which is now known for quality, safety, time management, efficiency, and competitive costs in all the services provided.
Currently Rabih activities involve renovating the industries and segments of the company. He is expanding Spring Construction by adding new segments and assuring their sustainability:
AgroSpring is an ecological regenerative agro farming model investing in dormant resources in Lebanon rural areas. Our target is to achieve building an efficient circular economy model to be replicable and scalable to contribute to food security . We are currently working on developing an Agriculture arm for our holding.
As part of his active participation in WIL Lebanon 2020, Rabih and his team BADEAL ENERGY team were selected to further advance with their project. They are currently building their first anaerobic bio-digester prototype.

Jana Al Hassanieh
Alumni Mentor

Jana Al Hassanieh
Jana Al Hassanieh is an environmental and social justice activist and an avid learner within the fields of environmental and public health. She has diverse professional and volunteer experiences across an array of domains: WASH, IWRM, energy, chemical safety, disaster management, health, education, and media. Jana is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Health at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She has worked within the Climate Change and Natural Resources Sustainability Cluster at the United Nations ESCWA, the Department of Chemical Safety in the Lebanese Ministry of Environment, the Environmental Health Department at AUB, the Center for Public Health Practice at AUB, The Phoenix Daily national newspaper, the Global Youth Biodiversity Network Lebanese Chapter, and the Lebanese Red Cross Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Management sector. Jana has also participated in WIL Lebanon 2020 where her team’s idea was selected to continue with Waterlution in customized coaching and training, towards working to reach an efficient prototype.

Ahmad Al- Hazaymi
Alumni Mentor

Ahmad Al- Hazaymi
Ahmad graduated as a Civil Engineer from Jordan University of Science and Technology. After graduation he joined the UNDP as an Environmental Engineer with SURE ( Sustainable Urbanization and Resources Efficiency) project to reduce emissions of CO2. After that, he joined FES's program Young Leaders and learned to defend human rights (environmental, political etc). Last year he joined WIL Lebanon 2020 to solve water problems in the Litani River and start our own business.
All of that provided me with experience in Environmental Engineering, leadership skills and the ability to try to solve water issues across the world.
WATERLUTION TEAM

Sara Dia
Sara is the project lead for Water Innovation Lab Lebanon at Waterlution from 2019. She has over six years of experience in surface water quality monitoring, analysis and treatment. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Environmental technology from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon in 2016. Currently, she is pursuing her MBA at emlyon business school in France. Sara worked as an assistant researcher at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the American University of Beirut on monitoring the Qaraoun reservoir’s water quality in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, contributing to the historical dataset. She also worked with the Dutch company World Waternet on the “Strengthening Lebanese Water and Agriculture Sector” project as a water quality specialist. Throughout her career, Sara offered expertise on different environmental projects, as an independent consultant, for several solid waste and WASH related tasks.
Sara’s leadership skills are also promoted through her active role as the vice president of Lebanon Youth Parliament for that aim to empower young professionals, promote innovation, and advocate inclusion in national water decision making processes. Sara participated in Waterlution’s H2O Global Leaders and Water Innovation Lab Canada 2018. WIL Canada’s empowering and remarkable training in tackling complex water issues enthused Sara to be part of the WIL Lebanon team and deliver the same rich and motivational experience with the youth in Lebanon and the region.
- Email:sara.dia@waterlution.org

Rewa Assi
Rewa, WIL Lebanon Coordinator, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon in 2019. After graduating, She joined UNDP as an Individual Consultant with the LHSP unit to support the "Forest Management" and "Employment and Peacebuilding" projects.Her motivation to encourage youth to be innovative is highlighted in her role as a Youth Leadership Advisory Board Member with the UNDP and her past role as a WIL Lebanon Alumni Mentor. She is also working with her team on their water innovation project as part of a WIL Global Alumna.
Rewa's environmental background,leadership skills, experience in innovation, and her youthful enthusiasm empowered her to join the WIL Lebanon team in order to develop the next Water Innovation Labs in Lebanon.

George Gharios
Georges is a PhD Candidate in Water Law at the University of Dundee in Scotland, UK. His work focuses on ancient water laws, traditional knowledge, sustainable development, legal pluralism, and social water arrangements. He is particularly interested in customs and practices of water conservation in Lebanon and on water diplomacy in the Levant. Georges held teaching posts during five years at the American University of Technology in Halat, Lebanon, and is an active member of the International Water Association (IWA), the Arab Integrated Water Resources Management Network (AWARENET), the Mediterranean Water Youth Network (MedYWat), and the Lebanon Youth Parliament for Water (LYPW).
- Email:g.gharios@dundee.ac.uk

Dr. Bassel Daher
Dr. Bassel Daher, a Research Scientist at Texas A&M University, is interested in bridging science and policy on topics related to water-energy-food nexus, circular economy, and sustainable development. With a commitment to systems thinking, interdisciplinary research, and multi-stakeholder engagement, Bassel is dedicated to making contributions toward a future that is more sustainable, equitable, and water, energy, and food secure for all.
Bassel's involvement with Water Innovation Labs started by serving as a core team member at the inaugural WIL in Lebanon 2019. A few months later, he joined the core team that delivered WIL Global in Calgary in Fall 2019. Through his involvement at different WILs, Bassel shared case studies related to Water-Energy-Food Nexus and Sustainable Development Goals, and guided teams to develop their own. Despite 2020 challenges, Bassel together with his Waterlution colleagues delivered the second WIL Lebanon remotely in 2020 and looks forward to continue delivering new WILs in the future.
- Email:basseldaher@gmail.com

Kawthar Esseili
Kawthar has an MS degree in Environmental Science (Class of 2016) with a focus on Soil Ecology form the University of Toledo, Ohio – USA. A non-thesis master’s in Molecular Biology at the Lebanese University, Beirut, and a BS degree in Biology.
So far, she has gained more than 10 years of a diverse professional experience that enriched her knowledge and provided her with the kind of challenges she seeks. Her experience ranges from working at academic institutions to NGOs in the following fields: (1) teaching (at both school and university level). (2) Scientific research, (3) Solid waste management and water quality (WaSH Sector) (4) Health promotion, and (5) Translation.
She is a Climate Reality Leader, with Climate Reality Project ngo. She is trained to give informative talks regarding climate change to the public, to employees, students, etc.
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Applications close June 23, 2021