Amman: Secretary General of the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), Hisham Heisa, and EU Ambassador to Jordan, Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, conducted an inspection of the "Adaptation to Climate Change in the Jordan Valley" project on Tuesday. In a statement released by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Heisa emphasized that the project is part of the Kingdom's efforts to tackle the effects of climate change and boost the resilience of agricultural communities, particularly in light of Jordan's water scarcity and increasing droughts.
According to Jordan News Agency, Heisa described the initiative as a strategic move aimed at enhancing water security in the Jordan Valley. The project focuses on improving water use efficiency and ensuring the sustainability of water resources for farmers, who are considered a key component of the national economy. The implementation of the project is slated to begin following the completion of tender and technical and financial qualification procedures in the first quarter of 2026.
Ambassador Chatzisavas expressed his pride in supporting the project, highlighting the European Union's commitment to collaborating with Jordan to address climate change challenges and achieve sustainable development. The project aims to stabilize irrigation water supplies by expanding the use of treated water, thereby reducing pressure on freshwater resources and directing quantities to domestic use, increasing water use efficiency, and enhancing agricultural sustainability in the Jordan Valley.
The project is set to benefit 257,800 people, including 4,453 farmers and their families, through the rehabilitation of 44,000 dunums of the agricultural water network across various regions of the Jordan Valley. It will also provide additional water for these areas by reducing losses and improving the efficiency of network distribution.
Funded by the European Union, the German Development Bank (KfW), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the Kingdom's government, the project has a total cost of 87.13 million pounds. The initiative also includes the construction of a reclaimed water reservoir and the provision of advisory services to farmers on water-saving agriculture.