USAID Jordan

The United States and Jordan have worked in partnership in development for nearly 60 years. Today, focus areas under USAID’s development strategy include education, water, economic development and energy, democracy and governance, family planning and health, gender equality and female empowerment. USAID also supports Jordan’s efforts to address increased challenges resulting from the influx of refugees due to regional volatility.

DEMOCRACY AND GOVERNANCE

USAID focuses on strengthening civil society, expanding civic participation, improving governance and transparency, and enhancing the resilience of communities. Programs also support democratic reform by promoting human rights, representative political parties, and free and fair elections

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY

USAID programs promote economic growth by improving the business enabling environment, increasing competitiveness, creating a skilled workforce, and helping vulnerable groups. Since 2006, USAID has helped attract $1 billion in new investments to Jordan and create tens of thousands of jobs. Its efforts have accelerated growth in tourism, medical services, and Internet and Communication Technologies, and have helped create a microfinance industry that serves over 300,000 people with a $187-million portfolio.

POPULATION AND FAMILY HEALTH

In cooperation with the Government of Jordan, USAID’s health program improves family planning/reproductive health (FP/RH) through increasing access to, and quality of, FP/RH services. In 2014, health outreach workers provided 677,000 low-income women with FP/RH information through home-based counseling visits. USAID also focuses on improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes by ensuring safer pregnancies and deliveries through upgrading obstetric and neonatal wards, institutionalizing protocols within facilities, providing clinical training and expanding outreach.

EDUCATION AND YOUTH

USAID programs support the GOJ in education reform by building the capacity of teachers and administrators and by enabling school construction and rehabilitation. USAID works with the GOJ on strengthening reading and math skills in the first few grades of school both inside the classroom and in a child’s community.

WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT

Jordan is one of the driest countries on Earth. Demand for water exceeds Jordan’s renewable freshwater sources. The influx of refugees has placed additional demands on Jordan’s already stressed resources. To address increased needs, USAID is improving water resource management through community empowerment, institutional reform, demand management, improved pricing, integrated water resources management, and water and wastewater infrastructure. Efforts include small loans and grants for water catchment and storage, and support to local water companies for infrastructure repair and maintenance.

GENDER EQUALITY AND FEMALE EMPOWERMENT

Enhancing gender equality and female empowerment is a priority for USAID. USAID includes and empowers women and girls across its entire portfolio, promoting changes in discriminatory norms and practices, enhancing advocacy and policy reforms for gender-based issues, and increasing access to female-centered services.