FAO and Japan launch a project to combat climate change and support resilient communities in Jordan

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Jordan funded by the Japanese Government, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), launched a project aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and natural resource crises in refugee hotspot areas of Northern Jordan. The project, titled “Emergency response to climate change and natural resource crises in refugee hotspots in Jordan,” will focus on disaster risk reduction, community-based solutions, and forest rehabilitation.

The workshop was held under the patronage of H.E Eng. Khalid Hneifat, Minister of Agriculture, in the presence of H.E the Ambassador of Japan to Jordan, Mr. Jiro Okuyama, and several representatives of project’s stakeholders and government partners.

The project will be implemented in Zaatari Refugee Camp, Ajloun, and Jerash governorates, targeting 150 beneficiaries, including Syrian refugees and host community members. Key activities include the rehabilitation of forest areas through cash-for-work programs, capacity building on disaster risk management, and the establishment of community-based disaster response mechanisms.

H.E. Mr. Jiro Okuyama, the Ambassador of Japan, highlighted "Through this project, we aim to build stronger, more resilient communities. I hope that through the participation of both refugees and host communities in the rehabilitation of forests and risk reduction management activities, we can enhance food security and protect the livelihoods of those living near the forests."

On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, the Secretary-General of the Ministry, Eng. Mohammed Al-Hayari, stated, “The Ministry of Agriculture is determined, with intensive efforts, with partners and stakeholders, to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change on the agricultural sector, by working to establish smart agricultural projects that take climate change into account and move away from traditional projects.”

“This project is crucial in addressing the urgent needs of both refugees and host communities,” said Eng. Nabil Assaf, FAO Representative in Jordan. “By investing in forest rehabilitation and building community resilience, we aim to create a lasting impact and contribute to sustainable development in the region.”

The project is expected to contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 2: Zero hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture, and SDG 15: Life on land, protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.