‘UNDP committed to partnerships with local stakeholders’

AMMAN — The UN Development Programme (UNDP) celebrates this month five decades of efforts to realise a “better” world through investing in plans that contribute to sustainable development.

Since 1966, the UNDP has been working in more than 120 countries, to eradicate poverty, reduce inequality, and help states develop policies and institutional capabilities. 

“We do not have a special agenda. Our agendas are set by the national priorities,” said UNDP Country Director Zena Ali Ahmad on Tuesday. 

At a media briefing prior to the official celebration of the agency’s 50 years in service, she highlighted projects implemented in Jordan throughout the UNDP mandate in the Kingdom, which extends to 40 years. 

The UNDP is currently engaged in projects deemed “crucial” to the Kingdom, including poverty reduction, water and energy, training, unemployment, good governance, elections and municipalities. 

“The UNDP was one of the few entities that realised the impact of the Syrian influx on the host communities and worked to mitigate the problem,” said Ahmad.

To this end, the UN agency has established 600 micro projects — of which 240 are led by women — created 1,800 job opportunities and targeted 12,000 beneficiaries through training and support in regions hit-hard by the Syrian influx. 

On the other hand, the UNDP has cooperated with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation to draw up the Jordan Response Plan for the Syrian refugee crises. 

“Our budget for Jordan stands at $25 million in 2016,” said Ahmad, noting that $50 million were allocated for the agency’s 2013-2017 programme in Jordan. 

“However, this figure has doubled with the increase of Syrian refugees,” she noted, adding that the fund will start supporting Zarqa’s new refugee host community as well as Irbid and Mafraq. 

The fund is also engaged in waste and water management schemes, through which it is able to create a “development dimension”. 

Ahmad indicated that the UN fund will soon launch a project to combat terrorism that would target young people and the media.   

The UNDP, according to its country director, is committed to establishing “solid” partnerships with Jordanian stakeholders to best serve the interests of local communities.