EDAMA sets an innovative road map for energy, water and environment productivity

The initiative aims to improve Jordan's productivity of energy, water and the environment.

The launching event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman, and was attended Cabinet Ministers, the USAID Mission Director in Jordan, Members of the Diplomatic Corps in Jordan, and private sector representatives.

The private sector led initiative, 'EDAMA', draws a roadmap that streamlines efforts towards effective energy productivity in Jordan. EDAMA, the Arabic term for sustainability, pledges to boost energy sector performance, increase private sector participation and investment, and reduce environmental impacts of energy and water production and use. The initiative is set to rationalize energy demand growth in Jordan, which imposes significant costs on the national economy.

EDAMA adopts a methodology for operation that divides tasks amongst eight components, whereby each working team in any one component has representatives from both the private and public sectors, as well as voluntary organizations. Once teams deliver on their assigned missions, a comprehensive set of recommendations that achieve EDAMA's goals is announced.

In his speech at the launch event, Mr Jay Knott, USAID Mission Director said that the USAID's energy mission around the world seeks to empower economic and social development in host countries.

"In Jordan, increased energy, water and environment productivity will improve the performance of the economy at large. Such productivity opens the doors wide for growth opportunities and investments," said Mr Knott.

"The challenges that we face in energy, water and environment require a private-public partnership to address them. EDAMA builds on the efforts that have been preceded and contributes in materializing those strategies and recommendations," said Ambassador Kawar, Chairman of EDAMA Initiative "Our ultimate objective is to develop Jordan as a model for energy independence using renewable sources which has a direct impact on our country's long term economic competitiveness, water resources and the environment."

The USAID Jordan Economic Development Program (SABEQ) is a five year broad economic development initiative implemented by Bearing Point, 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.