Jordan Times
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Gov’t to launch JD8m fund to tackle poverty
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — The government will launch a JD8 million development scheme this year to tackle poverty in 16 of the
country’s most impoverished communities, an official said on Tuesday.
Omar Rafie, head of the Ministry of Planning’s Social Productivity Programme, said the two-year plan includes
intervention mechanisms to target the key problems as identified in a recent socio-economic assessment of these areas.
“The assessment helped identify some of the major challenges facing these communities and the type of intervention
needed to address them,” said Rafie.
The official said the ministry will implement the programme with the help of “an expert NGO” and in cooperation with
the local communities.
The areas identified as the most impoverished are: Wadi Araba, Al Husseinieh, Al Jafr, Al Mreigha, Deir Al Kahf, Ghor
Al Safi, Al Jiza, Al Hashemiyyeh, South Shuneh, Um Rassas, Ghor Al Mazar, North Mazar, Muwaqqar, Balama, North Ghor
and Rhab.
These poverty pockets constitute some of the largest segments of country’s poor, who are scattered in remote rural
areas characterised by inadequate infrastructure, large families and limited skills.
Rafie said the plan, undertaken by the ministry’s Economic Enhancement Programme, will involve upgrading infrastructure,
training and capacity building, and funding income-generating activities.
The ministry issued a tender yesterday inviting qualified NGOs to take part in the scheme.
Official figures place the per capita poverty threshold in Jordan at JD504. Based on this figure, the government
estimates that nearly 15 per cent of the population lives below the official poverty line.
Unofficial figures put poverty and unemployment levels as high as 30 per cent.
Rural areas are the most affected, with poverty rates as high as 22.8 per cent, compared to an average of 13 per cent
in urban areas.
Out of the country’s 101 municipalities, 40 are said to be below the poverty line.
The Kingdom has been attempting to alleviate poverty through a variety of measures, including the establishment of
special economic and industrial zones, microfinance initiatives, investment in the tourism industry and the National
Aid Fund assistance.