The Mayor of Greater Amman Municipality, Dr. Yousef Al-Shawarbeh, affirmed that Amman is the first Arab city to present its Voluntary Local Review (VLR) for the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reflecting the Jordanian capital’s strong commitment to a clear developmental vision founded on planning, governance, and innovation.
اضافة اعلان
Speaking in a special interview with the “The Mayor Speaks” podcast, published by the Arab Urban Development Institute, Al-Shawarbeh said that the Municipality of Amman prepared its VLR in 2022, in cooperation with international organizations such as ESCWA, UN-Habitat, and UCLG, alongside Jordan’s National Voluntary Review submitted to the United Nations — highlighting the high level of coordination between local and central authorities.
He explained that the Municipality developed real and objective performance indicators to measure progress in achieving its goals, within its 2022–2026 Strategic Plan, launched under Royal Patronage. The plan is built on four main pillars: quality of life and environment, transportation and infrastructure, investment, and legislation.
Al-Shawarbeh noted that the implementation rate of the plan has reached 82% to date, emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to establish an integrated system that achieves sustainable development and directly serves citizens.
Green Amman: A Comprehensive Vision to Confront Climate Change
Al-Shawarbeh stressed that the “Green Amman” plan goes beyond tree planting — it aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve the urban lifestyle.
He said: “Jordan is one of the world’s poorest countries in water resources, and declining rainfall poses a major challenge to the city. Therefore, we have established a clear executive strategy to deal with the impacts of climate change.”
He added that the Municipality is expanding green spaces, offering incentives for energy- and water-efficient buildings, and promoting environmentally friendly public transport, noting that sustainability is “a culture of the city, not just a set of environmental projects.”
E-Services: Combating Favoritism and Promoting Integrity
Al-Shawarbeh revealed that Amman Municipality is the first government institution in Jordan to fully digitize its services, eliminating all cash transactions — saving time and effort while minimizing direct interaction between citizens and employees.
He stressed that the digital system helps combat corruption and favoritism, enhancing citizens’ trust in public institutions.
The Municipality has also implemented fully automated, AI-powered end-to-end processes in 18 services that require no human intervention, to boost efficiency and accelerate service delivery.
Smart City: Institutional Partnership and Technology for People
Al-Shawarbeh clarified that the concept of a Smart City is not limited to the Municipality of Amman but involves a networked partnership among all state institutions and private-sector entities — including telecommunications, electricity, and water companies.
He emphasized that the key measure of a smart city’s success is its responsiveness to citizens’ needs in traffic incidents, fires, and emergencies, noting that technology has become a vital tool in enabling this responsiveness.
