Ambassador Beecroft, Social Development Minister Present 63 Grants to Help Local Communities Conserve Water
May 26, 2009
AMMAN - American Ambassador Stephen Beecroft and Minister of Social Development Ms. Hala Lattouf today presented grants totaling $400,000 to 63 community organizations, extending U.S. support to Jordanian communities and their efforts to conserve water. Ambassador Beecroft presented the grants to those Community Based Organizations (CBOs) during a ceremony attended by government officials, NGO representatives, and local community leaders. During this awards ceremony, which represents the fourth cycle of grants, the Ambassador distributed 16 new grants of $15,000 each to CBOs in nine governorates. He also distributed 47 additional grants of varying amounts for a total of $160,000 to community organizations based in Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq and Zarqa governorates, which were recipients during the last round and managed the grants in an exceptional manner.
In his remarks, Ambassador Beecroft noted the past 60 years of close U.S.-Jordan cooperation on a range of mutually important issues. The Ambassador added, “We are pleased with the success of our collaboration in the water sector over the years. Your outstanding efforts demonstrate that when we work together much can be accomplished to improve lives across Jordan.”
Funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the grants are part of the Community-Based Initiatives for Water Demand Management project. This is a five-year effort to help Jordanian communities, especially in rural areas, use water more efficiently to meet local needs. The project is implemented by Mercy Corps, an international relief and development organization, in cooperation with the Jordan River Foundation and the Royal Scientific Society.
Over the five-year duration of the project (2006 – 2011), Mercy Corps will work in all 12 of Jordan’s governorates to provide a total of 165 grants (averaging $15,000 each) and build the capacity of 135 CBOs to conserve water resources. To date, 119 grants have been distributed, serving 1,657 people. Most of the grants managed by CBOs operate as revolving loan funds, supporting households to develop and implement projects that save water and use it more efficiently, such as rainwater harvesting cisterns and reservoirs, residential network maintenance and drip irrigation.
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