Difaf: Pioneering Water Sustainability in Lebanon
“The vitality of environmental water resources is a prime indicator of a civilization’s progress,” said Hussam Hawwa, Founder of Difaf SAL, a business enterprise concerned with water sustainability and environmental solutions and an AMWAJ member. Difaf, an environmental consultancy and a technical design bureau born in 2014 in Lebanon, comprises a team of engineers, scientists, and policy experts. “Our guiding objective is to produce and sustain measurable improvements in the status of water and environmental resources,” he added.
Difaf has already achieved a 10-year milestone, a decade in which it has navigated catastrophes and pushed for hope in a new Lebanon under a clear motto: assess, design, and restore. “After everything we have been through, we believe we are more resilient having survived it all and, as Lebanon stabilizes, we are ready to reach out for more regional presence and international collaboration,” said Hawwa. Beyond its involvement in large-scale consortium projects across the Mediterranean, such as PRIMA , ENI CBC MED, and Next Med program, Difaf is now consulted at the national level, providing assistance to the EU on all environmental projects funded in Lebanon within the agricultural, water/wastewater, solid waste, and energy sectors.
The true value of the enterprise lies in its dual identity as a social and technical agency, always tailoring projects from the ground-up. “We adopt bottom up approach in designing sustainable solutions, and not purely top-down as commonly practiced. Therefore we focus on decentralized build up of net positive impact on local levels and natural systems,” Hawwa stated.

The company’s services range from field assessments, feasibility studies, and the delivery of complete turnkey solutions targeting sectors with the largest environmental impact. “With a focus on nature-based systems, we are eager to deliver scalable environmental solutions that can improve freshwater conservation (rivers, lakes, aquifers), manage rainwater harvesting and retention landscaping, treat and reuse wastewater, minimise water footprints (such as through water-wise irrigation and household water-use), and decrease environmental impacts through waste-to-energy projects,” Hawwa explained.
Many of its recent projects exemplify these principles. One such initiative is a collaboration between Difaf SAL and the Municipality of the coastal city of Sidon. “The idea is to take water from the Awali River, which has a certain level of pollution, treat it using nature-based, low operational cost systems, and store it in public ponds for irrigating the public park,” Hawwa explained. “These natural treatment systems are functional and aesthetically inviting, encouraging people not only to use the area and enjoy the space, but also learn about advanced techniques that are truly green and sustainable.” Thanks to this process, the water is eventually returned to the river delta in a much cleaner state before it empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
Difaf’s extensive experience includes collaborations with municipalities, local authorities, central governments, international NGOs, and private sector entities. The company offers a broad range of technical and qualitative services, including environmental mapping, sampling, analysis, modelling, monitoring, and designing environmental Greentech, such as biogas, small hydropower and wastewater treatment solution development.

In 2018, Difaf partnered with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture in Zahleh, where it was commissioned to assess, sample, and analyse wastewater from small-scale dairy industries. Difaf recommended treatment technologies tailored to the specific needs of these industries in the Bekaa region.
Now Difaf is channelling this experience into a Research and Development project with a promising example of innovation under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) innovation programme. It is set to be Difaf’s first green-tech product for irrigation. “It’s a polymer made from natural materials that can be placed in soil to absorb water during irrigation and then release it slowly,” Hawwa said. Preliminary results highlight the product’s incredible potential, showing at least a 20% reduction in water and energy requirements for irrigation.
Within a year, Hawwa expects to have a clearer picture of the hydrogel’s scalability. For now, he expresses excitement about how the product, made entirely from organic waste, could support reforestation and aid areas experiencing water stress.
By combining innovation with a commitment to sustainability, Difaf delivers solutions that address both immediate challenges and long-term goals. It mainly focuses on solutions that are economically, socially, and technically feasible by providing tailored designs, appropriate solution selection, flawless project implementation with adequate supervision, and transparent monitoring and evaluation of key performance indicators.

“We believe that human and natural systems are fundamentally interlinked. Therefore, complementary with its technical edge, Difaf also has a discerning eye on policy, and is ready to employ participatory methods for engaging various actors to reach a balance between bottom-up and top-down developmental goals,” Hawwa said.
After 10 years of operations, reflecting on lessons learned is essential. A key takeaway is the importance of creating tangible value for people on the ground. “If you want a mix of environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and economic viability, you must convince communities and bring products to them in a way that offers clear cost-benefit advantages. Focusing on just one of these elements doesn’t make sense anymore,” Hawwa noted.
What’s next? The future looks promising for Difaf, but concrete steps are essential to sustain its growth. “I’d like to grow further in the Mediterranean region, the Levant, and maybe Southern Europe—Italy, Spain, Greece, and beyond.” The Netherlands also holds a special place in this journey, as it was at Wageningen University where Hussam anchored his approach to sustainability in development, a guiding principle for Difaf. As part of this vision, the team is preparing to apply for the Interreg fund, a crucial step in securing support for its development. Moving forward, he also highlighted the importance of enhancing Difaf’s visibility through stronger communication and outreach strategies to attract new partners and clients.
For inquiries or partnership opportunities, reach out at inflow@difaf.org or hussam.h@difaf.org.