UN-Habitat, ESCWA convene stakeholders for Water Climate Adaptation talks in Jordan"

In the context of the “Resilient Water Solutions Against Climate Change in Jordan and Lebanon” project, led by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA)), the first National Steering Committee meeting in Jordan for 2024 has concluded on 29 February, chaired by the Ministry of Environment of and gathering representatives from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan, along with United Nations coordinators, local authorities, implementing partners and other relevant stakeholders. 

During the meeting, participants discussed the project’s workplan, current progress, achievements, and upcoming milestones. Major progress has been made since the last national steering committee for the project was convened in Jordan in June 2023. Since then, UNICEF Jordan has installed 37 greywater reuse systems in schools and other public entities. The Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), an executing entity for the project, has also identified beneficiary sites targeting vulnerable communities for the installation of 64 rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. Additionally, the consultant groups LDK and Royal Scientific Society in Jordan have finalized their assessment reports for developing climate-resilient urban master plans and setting up two urban observatories for both the municipalities of Irbid and Mafraq.

“This is a strategic project that aims to better respond to the impacts of climate change and vulnerabilities in the context of the Syrian crisis in Jordan and Lebanon”, said Abdelmajid Khabour, representative of the Ministry of Environment in Jordan. “It raises the resilience of both displaced and host communities and enhances their ability to adapt to the negative effects of climate change in the most important and sensitive sectors affected by these changes, which are the agriculture and water sectors, and influences the economies of the local community,”, he added. 

In his remarks, Bassem Hassan, representative of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan, highlighted the ministry's team great efforts to follow up on the project. “One of the greatest components and lessons we learned through this project is how to be resilient, flexible and credible”, he said.

For her part, Deema Abu Thiab, National Programme Coordinator of UN-Habitat Jordan, said this meeting not only reflects the importance of all partners’ joint efforts, but also highlighted the commitment of the Jordanian Government in addressing water challenges related to climate change. “Today's meeting is an important opportunity to discuss the project's progress, challenges and opportunities, and to exchange experiences and learn from best practices and lessons learned. It is also an opportunity to enhance coordination and cooperation between all partners and parties concerned to ensure the project is implemented effectively, efficiently and sustainably”, she said.

Financed by the Adaptation Fund, the project aims to provide innovative measures to promote climate change resilience with a focus on ensuring climate change and gender mainstreamed urban planning. It also encourages the sustainable management and use of water resources through promoting water-efficient irrigation methods and permaculture, in addition to using non-conventional water sources, such as treated wastewater and harvested rainwater. In Jordan, the cities of Mafraq and Irbid are the project’s targeted areas due to recurrent droughts, extreme heat and a shift in rainfall patterns which have recently become major concerns for these areas.