UN and partners sign agreement to enhance urban services and strengthen municipal capacity in Jordan

An agreement signed between the United Nations and its partners aims to improve urban services and infrastructure in Jordan while strengthening the capacity of municipalities to address future challenges. 

The Cities and Villages Development Bank (CVDB) and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), in collaboration with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Jordan (RCO), formalized this partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Wednesday.

Osama Al-Azzam, General Manager of CVDB, emphasized that this agreement is part of a broader framework of cooperation to support urban development and enhance municipal revenues across Jordan. He noted that this initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision. Al-Azzam underscored the significance of this MoU in empowering municipalities to tackle environmental, social, and economic challenges through innovative solutions tailored to local communities’ needs, while contributing to long-term sustainability and improving the quality of life for citizens.

Rania Hedaya, Acting Regional Representative of the Regional Office for Arab States, expressed optimism about the partnership, highlighting its potential to strengthen sustainable urban development efforts across Jordan. Deema Abuthiab, UN-Habitat Program Manager in Jordan, added that this collaboration marks a pivotal step toward enhancing municipal revenues and fostering comprehensive, sustainable urban development at the local level. She expressed confidence that the MoU would lead to new policies and recommendations to improve municipalities' financial capacities in addressing local priorities.

This MoU is backed by a previous report prepared by the Economic and Social Council of Jordan and the United Nations in Jordan, titled "Taxation and Resource Mobilization: A Human Rights-Based Approach to Address Inequalities," published in 2022. The report called for mobilizing resources to fulfill economic, social, and cultural rights, improving transparency and accountability in public expenditure, and ensuring that investments are aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Under this new MoU, an assessment study titled "Public Finance for Human Rights – The Role of Municipal Revenues in Jordan" will be developed, underscoring the essential role of municipal revenues in supporting human rights and sustainable development in the context of local economic growth.