Jordan has joined the “Water for the Future” initiative launched by the World Bank Group, a global effort aimed at enhancing water security for one billion people by 2030, in partnership with multilateral development banks and development finance institutions.
اضافة اعلان
Jordan’s participation in the initiative comes as a step toward strengthening water security and transforming the challenges of water scarcity into opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan, stated that Jordan is among the most water-scarce countries in the world, where demand for water significantly exceeds supply, amid the impacts of climate change, regional pressures, and population growth.
She emphasized that Jordan’s involvement includes launching the “Jordan Water Pact 2030,” which comprises a package of policies and key investment plans for the coming years. These aim to secure new and sustainable water sources through major desalination projects, continue reducing non-revenue water losses, and maximize the use of treated wastewater.
Toukan explained that Jordan is working to turn this challenge into an opportunity by improving the efficiency of water services, strengthening governance frameworks, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the water sector, and enhancing resilience to climate change.
She added that these efforts contribute to supporting economic prosperity, strengthening food security, and providing better and more dignified job opportunities.
The initiative centers on country-led water agreements, whereby governments define reform priorities, commit to strengthening institutions, and establish investment pathways to develop their water sectors. On the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings, 14 countries—including Jordan—announced their national water compacts under the “Water for the Future” initiative, with additional agreements currently in development.
President of the World Bank Group, Ajay Banga, stated that challenges arising from the war in the Middle East are affecting many developing countries, while stressing the importance of maintaining focus on the medium and long term, where the water sector plays a central role.
He noted that progress requires alignment between public policies, private investments, and capable institutions that can implement projects at scale, emphasizing that fragmented projects alone will not be sufficient to achieve desired goals without broad partnerships with governments and stakeholders.
Banga added that his understanding of the importance of water issues was shaped through visits to the region, including discussions on Jordan’s water challenges, as well as meetings with leaders in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, all of whom stressed the priority of this issue. He also pointed out that the upcoming UN Water Conference 2026 will be held in the United Arab Emirates in December, reflecting the growing global importance of water issues.
Jordan is currently preparing to implement the Aqaba–Amman Water Desalination and Conveyance Project (the National Carrier), which has reached advanced stages of financial close, according to the government. The project is considered a national priority due to its importance in providing a long-term, reliable, and sustainable water solution, addressing shortages for domestic use, and supporting economic development.
The project includes a desalination plant in Aqaba with a capacity of 300 million cubic meters annually, a 438-kilometer conveyance system to transport desalinated water to Amman and other governorates, and a renewable energy system via a 281-megawatt solar power plant. It aims to reduce pressure on depleted groundwater resources, support aquifer recovery, and enhance the resilience of the water sector to climate change and population growth.
Ousmane Dione, Vice President of the World Bank for the Middle East and North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, stated that the World Bank Group’s support for Jordan is “firm and unwavering,” especially amid ongoing regional challenges. He highlighted a productive meeting with Toukan, which discussed key programs to boost job-creating growth, particularly for youth.
He noted that Jordan, as one of the most water-scarce countries globally, joined the first group of countries to launch national water compacts during the World Bank meetings, congratulating the Jordanian government on launching the national water pact as a reflection of its commitment to enhancing water security within an integrated reform and investment framework.
Anna Bjerde, Managing Director of Operations at the World Bank, also reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to supporting Jordan. She noted that discussions with the Jordanian side focused on water security and job-driven growth amid challenges linked to regional instability.
The “Water for the Future” initiative is a global platform aimed at enhancing water security for over one billion people by 2030, through aligning policy reforms, financing, and partnerships, expanding access to reliable water services, and strengthening water systems’ resilience to droughts and floods.
According to initiative data, water supports around 1.7 billion jobs worldwide, while approximately 4 billion people suffer from water scarcity—highlighting the urgent need to develop more efficient water systems to boost productivity and attract investment.
The initiative involves several multilateral development banks and development finance institutions, including the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development, among others, as part of coordinated efforts to accelerate investment in the water sector and enhance its sustainability.
