Three grant agreements totalling USD 111,000 to support environmental projects by non-governmental organizations were signed on 29th October 2009 by Mr Luc Stevens, UNDP Resident Representative in Jordan, and representatives of the concerned organizations. This comes as part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) activities for the implemented GEF Small Grants Programme in Jordan. This programme supports community based projects in the areas of biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation and persistent organic pollutants which all simultaneously contribute to enhance the livelihoods of the local communities and their capacities to manage natural resources.
In support of the aforementioned programme, the Aqaba Cooperative Maritime Tourism Society will implement a project entitled “Glass Boat Marine Pollution Reduction: Boat Renovation and Maintenance Centre” which aims at reducing marine pollution and marine habitat destruction on the coasts of Aqaba. This project will be implemented through the renovation and upgrading of the current functioning glass boats. The grant for this project amounts to a total of 50,000 USD.
Another project underway is “The Use of Solar Energy”, executed by Al Eman Cooperative, which aims at increasing the use of renewable energy within the local community in the Soof Refugee Camp hence reducing the demand on fire wood collected from National Forest and Dibeen Nature Reserve. The grant agreed upon for this project sums up to 24,000 USD.
Furthermore, Al Istiklal Cooperative has been granted 37,000 USD for a project called “Rain water harvesting” which aims at increasing the awareness of the local community to deal with the current water shortages; due to the change of rainfall patterns properly caused by Climate Change. This will take practical steps for better Sustainable Land Management by implementing traditional rainwater harvesting practices.
By signing these agreements, the total number of projects supported by the GEF SGP, since its establishment in 1992, amounts to 165 in various parts of the country for a total grant of around 5.5 million dollars.