BADIA, UN-Habitat sign an agreement of cooperation on climate change resilience

Amman - Under the patronage of Her Royal highness Princess Basma Bint Ali, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia, the United Nations Human Settlement program (UN-Habitat) and The Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia signed an agreement of cooperation on February 1st, 2023 for the “Increasing the resilience of both displaced persons and host communities to climate change-related water challenges in Jordan” project that is funded by the Adaptation Fund.

The director of the Hashemite Fund for the Development of the Jordan Badia, Jamal Trad Al-Fayez, stated that the project aims to relieve the pressure on natural water sources by resorting to non-traditional, alternative sources in agriculture, in the face of drought and extreme heat and changing patterns of rainfall which has become a major source of concern. He also pointed out that the Al-Mafraq-Badiya area, which has hosted a large number of refugees in recent years, has led to an increase in pressure on available water quantities and infrastructure, which has put the water supply and sanitation systems at risk.

Al-Fayez stressed that the Fund will work through this project to implement and manage the reuse of treated wastewater from the Al-Mafraq treatment plant, and establish agricultural projects in the western North Badiya region, through the establishment of new and effective recycling technology, as well as building the capacities of farmers and raising awareness about water management and effective irrigation systems.

The Senior Urban Program Officer at UN-Habitat, Lubna Shaheen, stated that the program focuses on four strategic goals, aimed at reducing spatial inequality and poverty in communities, enhancing shared prosperity for cities and regions, promoting climate-related actions and improving urban environment, and preventing and responding to crises in urban areas effectively.

The Regional Project Manager at UN-Habitat, Hussien Muhsen, emphasized that this is the first regional project from the Adaptation Fund in our region, stressing the importance of sharing knowledge and experiences between Jordan and Lebanon in this context, especially in adaptation implementation aspects. The project also looks into expanding the adaptation knowledge scope through creating a community of practice that involves all projects and initiatives in the region, and this will be led by the UN-Habitat Regional Office for the Arab States in Cairo and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia in Beirut.   

On the other hand, Engineer Jawad Dukhgan, the National Project Manager at UN-Habitat, Jordan, emphasized that the project will boost the recognition and visibility of the region, especially with regards to addressing climate change. The impact will first be seen within the community and among decision-makers, highlighting the significance of future initiatives. The focus will be on improving the environment and quality of life, such as promoting sustainable water collection practices and distribution through rooftop rainwater harvesting and grey water systems in residential buildings, schools, and mosques. Additionally, upgrading wastewater treatment plants, implementing new irrigation technologies using treated water, and creating a Permaculture demonstration site at the University of Jerash.

Resilient water solutions against climate change project

The project is funded by the Adaptation Fund and implemented by UN-Habitat in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia – ESCWA and national executing partners in targeted countries. The project aims to increase the resilience of both displaced persons and host communities to climate change-related water challenges in Lebanon and Jordan.