EMPOWERS stands for "Euro – Mediterranean Participatory Water Resources Scenarios". It is a four year project funded by the European Commission and Care International and implemented by national and regional partners in three MEDA zone countries: Egypt, West Bank & Gaza and Jordan. It aims to improve rights and long-term access to water by underprivileged populations through participatory water governance within each country
This paper will describe methodologies developed over the last two years, and the initial results achieved by their application, in order to come to long-term visions, strategies and plans for improved water resource management and water service delivery in the Governorate of Jenin and three selected communities within it. The paper will focus particularly on the Municipality of Jalboon. Jalboon is one of the poorest communities in the Governorate, without own water sources and, with no drinking water infrastructure. It also suffers greatly from proximity to the Wall built by Israel that runs along its eastern boundary.