Amman, Oct. 12 (Petra) -- Jordan is seeking to strengthen its partnership with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and expand access to climate finance to support municipalities and local communities in addressing the impacts of climate change.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Local Administration Walid Al-Masri, who chairs the board of the Cities and Villages Development Bank, outlined these priorities during a meeting with a GCF delegation to discuss cooperation opportunities and the development of climate projects at the national and regional levels.
The delegation included Thomas Eriksson, the fund’s Director of the Department of the Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Middle East Region, and Regional Director Amgad Elmahdi.
Al-Masri stressed that cooperation with the fund should extend beyond project financing to include institutional capacity-building, programme development and stronger partnerships among national institutions, international organisations and the private sector. Such efforts would help translate climate priorities into practical projects with lasting development benefits.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of securing GCF accreditation for the Cities and Villages Development Bank, which would strengthen Jordan’s direct access to international climate finance. This would enable the bank to channel funding towards the needs of government institutions and municipalities and help develop projects eligible for climate financing.
The discussions covered several priority areas, including zero-waste initiatives, the circular economy, reuse and recycling, and more efficient resource management. These initiatives could help municipalities reduce environmental pressures and financial burdens. Water harvesting projects and sustainable solutions to support local development were also discussed.
Al-Masri underscored the need to strengthen early warning systems, improve preparedness for climate-related risks and accelerate response efforts to minimise potential losses and damage to communities, infrastructure and essential services, while addressing the needs of municipalities and local residents.
He also highlighted the importance of a regional dialogue scheduled for December, describing it as an opportunity to exchange expertise, identify shared priorities and build partnerships among public- and private-sector stakeholders and institutions working in climate finance, development and climate action.
Al-Masri said stronger partnerships would help attract climate finance, develop projects with tangible and sustainable benefits, and reinforce Jordan’s role in advancing climate action across the region.
//Petra//WH
