SIWI to open new regional office in Jordan

What is to become the latest of SIWI’s three regional offices, is of great importance since MENA is the most water stressed region in the world, and Jordan the second most water scarce country in the world. Current trends imply that by 2025, Jordan could fall in the worst category of countries facing water shortage.

Presenting the planned office during a recent visit to Jordan, SIWI’s Executive Director Torgny Holmgren said that, “We feel that SIWI should contribute with our knowledge and expertise in this water-scarce region, especially in face of the worsening climate crisis. Our operations in MENA have grown substantially in recent years, and the demand is likely to grow further. We are therefore happy to be opening a new regional office in Amman.”

SIWI in Jordan

SIWI’s presence in the MENA region is critical when it comes to water governance, according to Manal Sami Alshraideh, Programme Officer for Water and Sanitation at SIWI. Alshraideh is Jordanian and believes that ”it is a big milestone” to have the regional office in Amman, as the city is a regional hub for several international and development organisations.

Manal has worked at SIWI for over a year. She says that “SIWI is unique when it comes to governance knowledge. There are gaps in MENA in linking the governance and integrity aspect to finance, institutional development, integrity, polices and strategy needed for adaptation to the changing climate situation. This knowledge is especially critical when developing national action plans, policies and strategies to align with international priorities and agreements.”