Jordan Signs EUR 47 Million Agreement with Germany

to Enhance Water Security

Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Zeina Toukan, has signed a €47 million financing agreement with the German Development Bank (KfW) to support the Development of New Water Resources Project in Jordan. This agreement reflects the ongoing strategic partnership between Jordan and Germany in supporting development priorities, in line with the National Water Strategy and the Economic Modernization Vision.

The agreement was signed on behalf of the beneficiary by Raed Abu Saud, Minister of Water and Irrigation, and on behalf of the German side by Judith Etsler, Head of Water and Environment Projects for the Middle East at the German Development Bank (KfW), and Matthias Schmidt-Rosen, Director of KfW’s Office in Jordan. The signing ceremony was attended by Dr. Bertram von Moltke, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The project aims to improve water supply by extraction and desalination of brackish water and enhance climate resilience, in line with national efforts to address water security.

"Jordan experiences one of the most difficult summers regarding availability of water since decades. Germany supports Jordan significantly to cope with these challenges. Increasing water supply is one of the areas, e.g. with our support to the planned Aqaba-Amman National Conveyer. This project contributes to the same objective. I congratulate Jordan for the progress it made towards reducing water losses, enhancing energy efficiency and treating waste water for irrigation and leading preparations for the National Conveyer into the final lap. But huge challenges (e.g. still high levels of water losses, huge investment needs, financial sustainability in the sector, raising awareness about the severe water scarcity) are ahead and need all of our attention. Germany will continue supporting Jordan in this endeavour,” said Ambassador Bertram von Moltke.