‘Authorities spend nearly JD200m on Amman development programme’

AMMAN – The total value of the government’s interventions and projects to implement the 2016 Amman Governorate Development Programme reached JD199.3 million, a minister said on Monday.

Through the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation’s programme to enhance economic and social productivity, a package of “special interventions” in the form of productive projects was implemented for individuals and other local community institutions.

“There are also new projects worth around JD5 million,” said Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury, while chairing a meeting to present the outcomes of the Amman development programme. 

Giving examples of the types of schemes carried out under the plan, he noted that JD500,000 was presented as a financing window for graduates in cooperation with the Development and Employment Fund. 

“The ministry has also coordinated with donor bodies on sector priorities for each governorate,” Fakhoury noted, adding that the USAID has carried out field visits to different regions to examine funding opportunities. 

He said that the selection of development projects ready for implementation are based on the priority list created as part of the 2016-2018 Amman Governorate Development Programme after a previous visit from a ministry team. 

As for the influx of Syrian refugees, he noted that the total amount of funds provided for projects approved in the Jordan Response Plan in Amman reached JD53.2 million during 2015 and 2016. 

The money supports the education, health, energy, water and wastewater sectors.