USAID and Jordanian ministries create land use plan for Jordan Valley Area

The planning exercise began in October 2007 at the request of and, under the coordination of, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

The plan includes the northern shore of the Dead Sea and extends approximately 42 kilometers between Sweimeh and the edges of Wadi Mujib.

The Land Use Plan was developed to guide sustainable land use in the area north east of the Dead Sea Basin as a result of increased investor interest in tourism development in the area.

The Plan allows for efficient land and asset management while protecting the unique natural environmental features of the area, and also permitting for a broad spectrum of tourism and development opportunities.

USAID, through its Economic Development Project (SABEQ), developed alternative approaches for the land that were presented to an interagency steering group headed by H.E Prime Minister Nader Al Dahabi.

The Government's decision was to pursue the "Balanced Vision" approach, supporting conservation and protection of the environment as well as economic development. The result is a Plan that provides opportunities for sustainable and balanced growth and that takes into account the environment, community needs and economic development.

The planning exercise reflects the result of extensive consultations that occurred between a variety of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Ministry of Environment, the Jordan Valley Authority, representatives of Jordan's private sector, several non-governmental organizations and private communities.

Outreach to these local communities played an important role in the planning process; several public events were held to determine the needs of the residents in the areas concerned and to gauge their support for the proposed land use plan.

"It is crucial for governments and communities to work together when planning for the future," stated USAID Mission Director Jay Knott.

"Not only does a government have the responsibility to grow its economy, but it must do so while protecting its heritage and natural resources. "

As part of the report, the project provided a series of recommended steps that will assist in implementing any action plans.

These recommendations include the adoption of land use regulations, determining infrastructure and access requirements, improving living conditions for communities, empowering local communities, and establishing public-private partnerships to develop and implement tourism projects.

The USAID Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five-year broad economic development initiative implemented by BearingPoint, Inc. and a sizeable team of international and Jordanian partner firms.

By both supporting improvements in the business environment and providing assistance to expand innovation and productivity in Jordanian businesses, it supports the main objective of building up the private sector as a powerful engine of economic growth.