Local Administration Ministry project paves way for environmental conservation, community empowerment 

AMMAN — The objective of the Local Administration Ministry’s Municipal Services and Social Resilience Project (MSSRP) centres on achieving community priorities and sustained social change.

The MSSRP project is focused on environmental conservation, being pioneer in sharing best practices related to the local administration sector, according to a statement made available to The Jordan Times.

In a recent interview with The Jordan Times, director of the project management unit, Tufiq Al Khawatra, said: “Efficient municipal projects focusing on making a positive societal shift are a prerequisite of sustained development.”

Since the launch of the municipal services project in 2014, 28 municipalities have been served, with a total expenditure of some $110 million, according to Khawatra who said that the projects vary depending on the nature of activities in each municipality.

Projects include road rehabilitation and maintenance, municipal buildings, a variety of investment opportunities, solar power projects, aquaculture and parks.

Khawatra added that the project pays due attention to implementing best practices that help in addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Another priority is making municipalities more accessible and inclusive for all segments of the population, particularly people with disabilities.

“All of our space and building designs are viewed by the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” he said. 

All social and environmental guarantees are taken into consideration, as well as viewed in cooperation with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN).

“In early May, the project obtained a satisfactory rating…a rate not received previously,” he said, pointing out that this rating helped in receiving further funding.

According to Khawatra, there is constant communication with administrative governors, in order to ensure best execution of projects.

Currently there are 14 community projects, 23 street rehabilitation projects and three machinery procurement projects, Khawla Al Hasan, the project’s GBV specialist, said.

“We focus on giving GBV awareness sessions to contractors and workers who are working on the projects,” whereas they sign a code of conduct for prevention of GBV, Hasan said.

“The code of conduct represents creating and maintaining a GBV-free environment,” she added.