Foreign assistance stands at $465.4 million in first-half of 2020 — Planning Ministry

AMMAN — The amount of foreign assistance provided to Jordan by donor countries and international financing institutions in the first-half of 2020 totalled $465.4 million, the Planning and International Cooperation Ministry announced on Sunday.

The total sum comprised $120.757 for regular grants to support and implement development projects and emergency grants to face the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a ministry statement.

The amount also included $222.2 million as soft loans and $221.08 million as additional grants to support the Jordan Response Plan to the Syrian crisis (JRP), the ministry noted.

In addition, a total of $107.6 million was offered to support Syrian refugees under the JRP, which included direct assistance of food aid and medical assistance, as well as shelter services, among others. 

At a sector distribution for the foreign grants contracted till the end of June 2020, 30.6 per cent of the total was directed to youth and business technology and entrepreneurship, 21.7 per cent was directed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic for social security and 23.8 per cent to vocational education and training. 

As for soft loans, 73 per cent was directed to youth and business technology and entrepreneurship, 18 per cent to water and sanitation services and 9 per cent to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic in the health sector. 

Regarding the additional grants to support the JRP, 25 per cent of the value was directed to public services, 22 per cent to social protection and justice and 12 per cent to the health sector, the statement added.