Ammon – The Italian government, represented by Italian Ambassador Luciano Pezzotti, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), represented by its Regional Director for West Asia Office Dr. Hani Al-Shaer, signed today a partnership agreement on the occasion of the launch of the Agricultural Management Initiative to Empower Resilience (AMER) in Jordan, funded by the Government of Jordan. Italy.
The project, funded by 1.5 million euros, and which will last for two consecutive years, aims to “strengthen sustainable economic mechanisms in the agricultural sector and food security as a basis for empowering Jordanian host communities and Syrian refugees in the southern regions of the Kingdom.”
The initiative will be implemented in the governorates of Madaba and Karak, targeting about 2,700 Jordanians and Syrian refugees, including youth, women, and small farmers.
“Despite progress in economic development in Jordan, livelihood and food insecurity are particularly prevalent in remote and rural areas,” said Pezzotti. And “to contribute to Jordan’s efforts to alleviate poverty and protect vulnerable segments of society, Italy provides funding for several initiatives aimed at increasing sustainable livelihoods, through smallholder agricultural productivity and capacity building,” according to him.
Thus, “this project is fully in line with the priorities set out in the Italian Cooperation Strategy, and also in line with Jordan’s endeavors to reduce vulnerability to climate-related risks through improved water management systems, in a country that suffers from severe water scarcity”.
This project is in line with the vision of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to conserve nature and address social and economic challenges. The project is designed to improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries through the application of income-generating agricultural practices and sustainable production methods
During the signing ceremony, Dr. Hani Al-Shaer, Regional Director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) West Asia, said, “IUCN is pleased to inaugurate a new phase of cooperation with the Italian government to improve and empower communities and Syrian refugees in southern Jordan through the water-energy-security nexus. food.”
The initiative seeks to “enhance the awareness and capacities of communities, local authorities, academic institutions, and schools in the targeted governorates regarding sustainable practices for agriculture and food security.”
In addition, the initiative aims to “improve the knowledge and skills of small farmers and educators in host communities, and Syrian refugees in targeted areas, to help them face challenges related to climate change.”
Among the actions that will be implemented, “the International Union for Conservation of Nature will help establish hydroponic systems, support new and existing small projects in the agricultural sector for women and youth, and establish water harvesting systems.”
It is noteworthy that the first phase of the project, which was concentrated in the governorates of Irbid and Mafraq, was concluded in 2020, as this successful project benefited more than a thousand Jordanian youth and Syrian refugees, including youth, women and small farmers.