Jordan Times
Thursday, June 3, 2004
US grants $72.45m in
economic assistance
New agreements finance water, education, health and governance projects
AMMAN (JT) — The US government and Jordan signed two grant agreements yesterday, that provide $72.45 million in economic assistance to the Kingdom, focusing on the water, education, health and governance sectors.
The agreements are part of an overall 2004 US
economic assistance package to Jordan totalling $348.5 million, according to a
statement released by the US embassy.
Under the first grant agreement, the US government will provide $39.58 million
to assist the Kingdom to enhance water resource management and promote greater
sustainability within the vital water sector.
Individual projects financed include the Zara-Maain water treatment and
conveyance project (that will enhance drinking water supplies in the Amman and
Zarqa areas by 40 per cent) and technical assistance to the Jordan Valley
Authority and the Aqaba Public Company; as well as other engineering services
for the water sector.
Each of these projects is carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Water
and Irrigation.
Under the second grant agreement, the US will provide $32.85 million in funds
for projects in support of the health, education and governance sectors.
This includes $7.4 million for the Ministry of Health's Primary Health Care
Initiative, a Kingdom-wide programme to enhance the provision of health services
for mothers and children.
US support for this programme will result in the eventual renovation of each of
the country's 380 primary health centres, located in large urban areas and small
villages, alike, the statement said.
Funds in this agreement will also be used to carry out early childhood education
initiatives and expand employment opportunities for youth through education.
Finally, funds will support activities aimed at strengthening the rule of law
and transparency in an effort to support the broad-based reforms initiated by
His Majesty King Abdullah.
US Ambassador Edward W. Gnehm and acting USAID Mission Director in Jordan David
J. Barth signed the agreement with Minister of Planning and International
Cooperation Bassem Awadallah.
Minister of Water and Irrigation and Minister of Agriculture Hazem Nasser,
Minister of Health Saeed Darwazeh, and Minister of Justice and Minister of State
for Cabinet Affairs Salah Bashir, as well as other Jordanian and US government
officials attended the signing ceremony.
The assistance programme to Jordan is among the largest US assistance programmes
in the world.
US assistance to Jordan is a reflection of the strong bonds that link the
Jordanian and American people and the support the US government is prepared to
offer the government of Jordan as it seeks to build stability, prosperity and
peace in Jordan and throughout the region, the statement said.
Over the past decade, US economic assistance to the Kingdom totalled more than
$2.3 billion.