Ministry launches 30.5m euros project to address water sector challenges

AMMAN — The Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Wednesday launched a 30.5 million euro water facilities enhancement project, aiming to address crucial challenges in Jordan's water sector.

The initiative, carried out by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), aims to enhance water availability, operational efficiency, and sustainability, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Secretary General of the Water Authority Wael Douiri emphasised the project's alignment with Jordan's Water Strategy 2023-2040, describing it as a key step towards achieving the strategy's objectives.

“This project focuses on integrated interventions to improve water access, operational performance, and environmental sustainability,” Douiri said, expressing gratitude for GIZ’s continued support.

Over the next four years, the project will address five priority areas: reducing water losses, lowering energy consumption in the water sector, enhancing wastewater management, promoting the sustainable reuse of treated sludge, and ensuring safe drinking water for rural areas, he noted.

Douiri added that the initiative also aims to strengthen Jordan's desalination capacity, targeting an additional 5 million cubic metres of water annually.

A key component of the project is empowering rural women to advocate for improved water services and fostering active community participation, he said.

Development Counsellor at the German Embassy Marius Roh commended the partnership between Jordan and Germany in addressing water-related challenges.

“This project builds on lessons learned from previous initiatives, integrating them into a comprehensive strategy to enhance efficiency, infrastructure, and water reuse,” Roh noted.

The launch event was attended by representatives from GIZ, USAID, and other stakeholders, underscoring strong international support for Jordan's efforts to secure water sustainability.