The Jordan Times April 21, 2008 By Hani Hazaimeh - AMMAN - A score of income-generating, poverty reduction and job-creating projects were recently considered by municipalities, ministries and the private sector, in an effort to streamline development at the local level.
The proposals were discussed during a two-day workshop entitled, “Working Together Towards a Sustainable Local Development,” which ended last week.
Sponsored by the ministries of planning and international cooperation and municipal affairs, the sessions brought together mayors and council members of 93 municipalities in an effort to improve services and local development.
Several national and local development programmes were presented by the Planning Ministry in cooperation with international aid agencies and the private sector, all with the aim to upgrade development in the Kingdom.
Among those highlighted were the EU support programme for poverty reduction through local development, the local development programme, the local governance development programme and the popular markets project.
Launched in 2007, the JD32-million local development programme finances infrastructure projects such as waste management, road maintenance, sidewalk paving and street lighting in addition to providing potable water and sewage system grids.
According to the Planning Ministry, a total of 72 municipalities benefited from the programme, while 21 others are engaged in a poverty reduction programme through which each municipality will receive around JD200,000 to establish income-generating projects.
The projects aim to enhance the municipalities’ capabilities and services as well as encourage public and private participation in municipal works.
“It was an opportunity for all of us to meet and exchange ideas and discuss scopes of establishing joint projects and benefit from those with many years of experience in municipal work,” Mafraq Mayor Abullah Arqan said.
It was also a chance to hold a direct dialogue with ministries over development projects, he added.
For Ain Al Basha Mayor Jamal Faori, the meetings were an excellent opportunity to highlight issues of interest to municipalities such as urban planning techniques and municipal financial resources.
“Most municipalities are already suffering from budget deficits. Without support, we cannot do or jobs properly,” Faori warned.
Abdul Rahman Tawarah, Shobak mayor, reiterated the role the private sector plays in the development process.
“There is huge potential for partnerships between municipalities and the private sector to alleviate poverty and enhance services provided to the public,” Tawarah said.
“Together we can tackle poverty and create job opportunities through joint economic projects,” he added.
In 2002, the Planning Ministry launched an enhanced productivity programme to enhance the economic and living conditions of citizens through sustainable local development and encouraging productivity.
Since its establishment, the programme helped in the creation and expansion of around 3,800 productive projects in which around 1,800 received on job training on several projects which created 13,000 job opportunities.
Between 2002-2008, the ministry spent JD140.4 million on several socio-economic projects on the local level to enhance productivity.