AMMAN -- The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) is to receive proposals from local NGOs on Sunday for development projects to improve conditions in 10 of the Kingdom's poorest communities.
The ministry's call for proposals solicited project recommendations for a two-year development plan covering half of the Kingdom's poverty pockets.
MoPIC Social Productivity Programme (SPP) Director Omar Rafie, who heads the task force overseeing the plan, said he expects proposals from four local nongovernmental organisations with vast experience in community development initiatives.
"The projects slated under this first phase are designed to help improve living conditions in these 10 areas by establishing income-generating projects that will create a business environment from which these communities can benefit," Rafie said.
The government conducted a poverty assessment study early last year to examine living conditions among the poor.
The survey identified 20 impoverished districts including Ruweished, Duleil, Slehiyya, Deir Al Kahf, Al Jafr, Mreigha, Azraq and Ghweira.
The World Bank-funded survey showed that 70 per cent of residents in these communities earned less than JD150 a month, and 25 per cent earned between JD150 and JD250.
Aside from ongoing infrastructure development projects in these areas, the government instructed that additional support be channelled to these areas to alleviate economic hardship.
A special task force comprising various ministry representatives visited the 20 areas earlier this year to get a better idea of the challenges facing these communities.
The government allocated JD10 million from its 2005 budget to establish income-generating initiatives for the 10 impoverished communities.
The ministry will undertake similar projects in the 10 other poverty pockets under the second phase of its development plan.
According to the SPP director, the project proposals will be evaluated by a technical committee and designated to each area according to its needs.
By Dalya Dajani
© Jordan Times 2005
