- Implementation Support Agency (ISA): World Bank
- Total project financing: $125 million
- Funding from GCFF: $23.9 million
- GCFF Financing Approval Date: 05/31/2022
- Project Closing Date: 05/30/2029
- % Disbursed: 45.3%
- Project Rating: Satisfactory
- Status: Under implementation
About the project
After a relatively moderate contraction in 2020, the Jordanian economy rebounded at 2.2 percent in 2021, supported by accommodative monetary and fiscal policies and the reopening of the economy. Jordan is facing increasing pressures on poverty, income distribution, and inclusion. The inflow of Syrian refugees has presented challenges and opportunities for the development of the agri-food sector. Fresh fruit and vegetables offer major export opportunities but face challenges of (i) loss of key market access due to the Syrian and Iraqi civil wars and (ii) an inadequate enabling environment with poor public enabling services. The Program is focused on results that improve livelihoods and boost job opportunities for the poorest people, in alignment with the Bank’s FY17–FY22 Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Jordan. It reflects the priorities of the WBG Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Enlarged Strategy, which focuses on harnessing human capital, leveraging digital technologies, and maximizing finance for development (MFD).
Project Development Objective (PDO)
To strengthen the climate resilience and enabling environment for agriculture development in selected value chains in Jordan. The program’s activities will benefit a broad range of stakeholders in the agri-food sector under:
1. result area 1, climate resilience and sustainability, and
2. results area 2, competitiveness and exports.
Project Implementation Status
The World Bank team conducted a supervision mission from April 14 to 18, 2024, to take stock of the implementation progress of
the Agriculture Resilience, Value Chain Development, and Innovation (ARDI) Program for Results (PforR). The mission noted
satisfactory implementation progress toward the Project Development Objective. Key achievements include the development of a
national rainwater harvesting plan and increase of rainwater harvesting capacity to 2.2 million m³ which enhance the climate
resilience of rainfed agriculture, protecting related employment for refugees and vulnerable host communities engaging in olive
farming and livestock herding; updating of the national extension and veterinary plans; training over 2,000 beneficiaries in climate smart agricultural technologies; launching reimbursable grants for water saving. Two DLRs were not achieved due to design issues and are proposed to be restructured: DLR 2.4, focusing on small ruminants’ vaccination, should be adjusted to comply with the national regulations, and DLRs 3.3.2. as the traceability system to pilot commodities is not in place yet.
The Government of Jordan, expressed interest in additional financing for this operation which can focus on (i) scaling up current
DLIs related to building climate resilience through rainwater harvesting and use of water use efficiency technologies; (ii)
introducing two new DLRs on skilling up labor which will support increased competitiveness through new virtual reality training
centers, e-marketing, and improved farmer aggregations.
Relevant Documents: