Jordan Water Skills Enhancement and Information
to Decision-makers Project (JWSE)
Project Description
The Jordan Water Skills Enhancement and Information to Decision Makers (JWSE) project is a concept developed by a group of six Jordanian and US universities led by Washington State University (WSU) and University of Jordan (UOJ) in support of ongoing programs of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) to improve water resources management in Jordan. The project is the result of a series of discussions between the universities, MWI and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in order to better focus, access and utilize the capabilities of the higher education community to support achievement of identified water sector objectives in Jordan. In its initial two years (February 2000-March 2002), the project trained 290 persons, exclusive of the on-the-job skills enhancement of university and other personnel involved in teaching these courses and in conducting the Springs Study. The study of the Zara and Zarqa/Ma'in Springs, provided information that has been used to shape investments in the development of these water sources for conveyance and use in Amman. As a result, the partners have indicated their desire to extend the activities for two years. The following briefly describes the planned JWSE activities and expected results:
- To support human resource skills development in Jordan's Ministry of Water and Irrigation through action-oriented short-term training in the US, Jordan and possibly third countries; and
- To carry out one or more targeted analytical studies to fill information gaps identified by the Ministry with USAID, in order to provide practical information needed by decision-makers in the water sector.
Duration
2000 - 2005
Clients and Partners
- Jordan's Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) and its Human Resources Development Department
- The Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) and the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA)
- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its local USAID mission in Amman, Jordan
Collaborators
- Washington State University (WSU), Pullman, Washington, serving as prime grantee and lead institution in the US
- University of Jordan (UOJ), Amman, serving as the lead institution in Jordan
- Purdue University,
West Lafayette, Indiana - Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), Irbid
- Hashemite University of Science and Technology (HU), Zarqa
- University of South Carolina (USC), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Columbia, SC, may also participate in project activities, as needed.
Funding Agency
- U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its partners
WSU Contact Person
Dr. Micheal Barber, meb@wsu.edu
Jordan Contact Person
Dr. Manar Fayyad, water1@ju.edu.jo