FAO launches a project to enhance climate change adaptation in Jordan

9 November 2022 Amman, Jordan – Today, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Jordan held an inception workshop for the project “Building resilience to cope with climate change in Jordan through improving water use efficiency in the agriculture sector (BRCCJ)”. The event was held under the patronage of the Prime Minister, Dr. Bisher Al-Khasawneh, attended by FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu and brought key stakeholders together to mark the start of the seven-year project’s activities, which will increase the country’s resilience to climate change by ensuring the long-term sustainability of its water management systems.

Participants discussed the core elements of the project, such as implementation plans to increase the country’s water supply through the storage of treated wastewater and rooftop water harvesting, and by reducing household water consumption through the use of water saving devices.

Project partners gathered to discuss the implementation of project activities – valued at USD 33.2 million – in four Governorates in the Dead Sea Basin – Karak, Madaba, Tafilah and Maan – which are particularly vulnerable to climate change and climate-induced water scarcity.

The event saw the participation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the main financier of the project, as well as partners and co-financiers, including representatives from Jordan’s ministries of Environment (MoE), Agriculture (MoA), and Water and Irrigation (MWI); FAO; and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

FAO Director-General, Mr. QU Dongyu stated that, “Jordan is one of the most water-stressed countries in the region and in the world, made worse by climate change. This project is an important contribution to the country and the region’s climate action agenda. It will help the country address the complexity of the climate crisis.” 

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Engineer Khaled Hnaifat, Minister of Agriculture, explained that water resources are among the most important challenges facing the agricultural sector, which needs concerted efforts at the national and regional levels. And the international community to help Jordan improve the efficiency of use, whether at the level of legislation or initiatives that can contribute to providing the quantities of water needed for the agricultural sector. 

The GCF Forest and Land Use Specialist, Marc Dumas-Johansen, said, “The project will shift the paradigm in the agriculture sector from looking at crop productivity per unit of land to crop productivity per unit of water. By reducing the demand on groundwater sources through efficient cropping and water use practices, the project will bolster vulnerable farmers' climate resilience - particularly women who play a critical role in Jordan’s agricultural sector.” He added, “The lessons we will learn from this project will be extremely important to the global community allowing us to replicate and be inspired when developing and implementing projects in other places in the world facing similar challenges.”

The main objectives of the workshop were to strengthen collaboration between all project partners, including GCF, the Government of Jordan, non-governmental partners and stakeholders. Part of the session was dedicated to reviewing the Project Implementation Manual and confirming the respective roles, responsibilities and interventions of the Executing Entities within their respective mandates.

Overall, the Inception workshop underscored the urgent need to take action and address the impacts of climate change at the country and regional level, particularly in drylands and vulnerable ecosystems, where rural communities’ livelihoods are at risk.