Amman: Ministry of Water and Irrigation Secretary-General, Jihad Mahameed, engaged in discussions with German officials on Monday to explore ways to bolster German support for enhancing the skills of Jordan's national team involved in shared water negotiations.
According to Jordan News Agency, the meeting took place at the Jordan University of Science and Technology and included water ministry officials, Development Counsellor at the German Embassy in Amman, Marius Rauh, and water and energy portfolio coordinator at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Trevor Surridge. The discussions aimed at strengthening Jordan's capabilities in water diplomacy through collaborative efforts.
Mahameed highlighted that the permanent national committee for transboundary water negotiations, which was launched in February, is composed of experts from various relevant ministries. This integrated team addresses legal, social, agricultural, and technical aspects to ensure Jordan's preparedness for future water negotiations.
The long-term objective, as stated by Mahameed, is to establish a central water negotiations unit within the ministry, serving as the primary reference for managing this strategic area. The project receives funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and support from GIZ, focusing on enhancing negotiation skills and fortifying water diplomacy. Jordan University of Science and Technology contributes by providing logistical and training support through its specialized facilities.
During the meeting, Mahameed and the German delegation participated in a training session to evaluate the team's progress and gathered feedback and recommendations from participants to optimize the program's effectiveness.