Amman: Greater Amman Municipality (GAM), in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), launched Amman's second Voluntary Local Review, under the theme "Towards a Smart, Resilient, and Livable City." The review focuses on 8 priority Sustainable Development Goals covering health and well-being, gender equality, clean energy, industry, innovation and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, peace, justice and strong institutions, and partnerships.
According to Jordan News Agency, Amman Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh stated that Amman has become the 2nd Arab city and the 10th worldwide to join the Quality of Life Index platform. Shawarbeh also highlighted that Amman is the first capital globally to receive the BSI Kitemark certification under the ISO 37106 international standard for smart cities and communities.
The review assesses Amman's progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identifies gaps and challenges, and proposes practical recommendations to support inclusive urban planning and strengthen the city's resilience and sustainability. This initiative coincides with Jordan's preparation of its third Voluntary National Review, which aims to strengthen coordination between local and national efforts to implement the 2030 Agenda and align urban development with the Economic Modernization Vision and Jordan's National Urban Policy.
Shawarbeh emphasized that the review marks a "new stage in Amman's efforts to promote sustainable urban development, good governance and quality of life." He mentioned that the process examines the city's achievements and links their axes with development priorities to support decision-making and direct policies and investments toward projects with the greatest impact on residents.
He further noted that Amman became the first Arab city to prepare a Voluntary Local Review in 2022. The second review, he said, reflects "institutionalization" of SDG localization and coordination among local priorities, Royal directives, the 2023-2033 Economic Modernization Vision, the National Urban Policy, and the third Voluntary National Review. The review was prepared under a "broad participatory" process involving ministries, national institutions, the private sector, universities, civil society organizations, and international partners.
In turn, UN-Habitat Jordan Program Manager Dima Abu Thiab said linking Amman's local review with Jordan's national review provides a leading model for localizing the SDGs and using community data, needs, and priorities to support national planning. ESCWA Sustainable Urban Development Officer Sukaina Al-Nasrawi stated that the review adopts an integrated approach that incorporates urban resilience and smart-city development across the SDGs while strengthening alignment between local and national priorities.
The review employs urban resilience and smart-city development as analytical frameworks, combining innovation, adaptability, digital transformation, and forward-looking planning to address complex urban challenges. On its goals, the initiative is expected to support Jordan's participation in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and strengthen Amman's position as a regional model for linking local urban planning with national and international development frameworks.
The review also provides a framework for translating recommendations into implementable projects, guiding investment, strengthening partnerships, and mobilizing resources to address current and future urban challenges.