Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Saturday concluded a several-day visit to Jordan that focused on the longstanding partnership between the United States and Jordan.
Throughout her trip, Coleman check firsthand on USAID’s humanitarian efforts and development assistance that address the urgent needs of Jordanians and refugees, according to a USAID statement on Sunday.
Coleman met with U.S. Ambassador to Jordan Henry T. Wooster and engaged USAID Jordan and USAID Syria leaderships.
She discussed the priorities, challenges, and opportunities related to water security, public sector reform, private sector-led economic growth, and the leadership of women and youth in Jordan.
She also discussed challenges threatening Syria’s stability and the effects of a prolonged humanitarian crisis that have left 80% of Syrians food insecure, and met with prominent Jordanian women activists on the obstacles and opportunities facing women in the country.
Ambassador Wooster and USAID Jordan Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin, along with Coleman, met with senior officials from the government of Jordan where they emphasized the importance of the US-Jordan relationship and highlighted USAID’s priority to advance economic opportunities for women and youth throughout the Kingdom.
She toured the Wild Jordan Nature Center and spoke with the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, the owner of the center, about the USAID-funded program that supports the socioeconomic development of local communities.
Coleman also toured the Citadel archeological site, which was enhanced with USAID funding to increase the tourism industry in Amman. In a visit to Kama, a USAID-funded women-owned business, the Deputy Administrator spoke with founder Jumana Jacir and discussed challenges facing women who are engaged, or looking to engage, in Jordan’s economic sector.
During her visit to Al Addasya Diversion Weir and King Abdullah Canal, Coleman immersed in discussions regarding Jordan’s water crisis and the impact on regional dynamics with Mohammed Al Najjar, Minister of Water and Irrigation, to better understand Jordan’s water supply challenges and expressed USAID’s commitment to helping Jordan address the water security issues that face the region.
Coleman visited a home for Syrian refugees, and met with refugee community representatives and their Jordanian neighbors to discuss the difficulties created by the ongoing Syrian conflict. She commended the Jordanian government and people for their continued hospitality and support for Syrian refugees.
Source: Jordan News Agency