Jordan expands rural development, approves new international cooperation deals
Cabinet greenlights $15 million IFAD-backed project to boost small farmers, alongside Korean grant and new UNICEF offices
AMMAN, Jordan (MNTV) — Jordan’s Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, has approved the expansion of the Rural Economic Growth and Employment Project – Phase III, a six-year initiative aimed at empowering small-scale farmers and agricultural enterprises across the Kingdom.
Implemented by the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) and funded with $15 million from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the project seeks to strengthen farmers’ technical skills, competitiveness, and market access while creating new employment opportunities for young Jordanians.
According to a Prime Ministry statement, around 30 percent of the project’s programs will target climate change adaptation and mitigation, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and water resource efficiency.
Since its inception, the initiative has created more than 7,000 jobs, distributed over 2,000 grants for productive and entrepreneurial projects — including hydroponics, water harvesting, and well rehabilitation — and financed 2,300 small-scale agricultural ventures. It has also helped farmers and exporters obtain certification for product quality and standards.
In the same session, the Cabinet endorsed an amendment limiting the seizure of immovable assets by the Ministry of Finance’s Public Funds Directorate to the value of outstanding debts, ensuring fairer enforcement procedures.
Jordan also secured an $11 million grant from South Korea to establish the Korean-Jordanian Institute for Engineering and Technology Training at the University of Jordan.
The institute will enhance engineering education and provide a modern learning environment aligned with international standards as part of the broader Jordanian-Korean cooperation framework.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved procedures to establish a new UNICEF Global Office and Regional Office in Amman, covering the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, and Central Asia.
The move aims to deepen cooperation with UNICEF, strengthen child-focused programs, and reinforce Jordan’s status as a regional hub for humanitarian and development organizations.
Lawmakers also approved a draft law to ratify an extradition agreement between Jordan and Uzbekistan for 2025, which will now be referred to the Lower House for further consideration.
In environmental matters, Jordan signed a memorandum of understanding with Rwanda to enhance collaboration on climate change, clean energy, and natural resource management, in line with national and international sustainability goals.
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