Amman, May 19 (Petra) -- The Ministry of Water and Irrigation on Tuesday launched a workshop on the Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Safety Planning (CR-WSSP) roadmap, aimed at advancing a comprehensive strategic transformation in the Kingdom’s water sector through proactive and preventive risk management approaches.

Opening the workshop, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation Jihad Mahamid said the roadmap seeks to transition the water and sanitation sector from a traditional reactive model to a proactive framework based on integrated risk management across all stages of water supply and sanitation services.

Mahamid said the roadmap aligns with Jordan’s National Water Strategy 2023-2040 and supports the sector’s broader vision of ensuring sustainable water and sanitation services.

He highlighted the importance of adopting risk-based methodologies to protect public health, ensure service sustainability, and strengthen the resilience of areas most vulnerable to water scarcity and climate-related risks.

Mahamid also stressed the ministry’s continued regulatory and coordination role, while the Water Authority of Jordan maintains oversight of water companies and service providers to ensure effective implementation of the roadmap. He said the initiative’s success depends on sustained cooperation and coordination among all stakeholders.

First Secretary for Water and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jordan Mariska Lammers said strengthening climate resilience in Jordan’s water sector requires robust partnerships, international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and long-term collaboration.

She described the roadmap as a major step toward ensuring more sustainable and reliable water and sanitation services, while commending the level of coordination among Jordanian institutions during the roadmap’s development process.

Chief of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Section at UNICEF Jordan Jesus Trelles said ensuring sustainable water and sanitation services has become essential to protecting public health and enhancing communities’ resilience to climate change.

He added that the roadmap supports proactive planning and risk-based approaches that help ensure the continuity of safe and reliable services across the Kingdom.

Secretary General of Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA) Khaldon Khashman said climate-resilient water and sanitation safety plans represent a strategic shift from conventional risk response mechanisms toward integrated planning and risk management.

He noted that the approach strengthens service reliability and public health protection by incorporating risk management throughout the entire water and sanitation chain, from water sources and treatment systems to wastewater management and environmental discharge.

Khashman stressed the importance of focusing on practical implementation, capacity building, and enhanced coordination among stakeholders during the next phase, affirming ACWUA’s commitment to continuing technical support and knowledge-sharing efforts through its regional network.

At the conclusion of the workshop, organizers and partners reaffirmed the importance of sustained cooperation to ensure effective implementation of the roadmap and translate its objectives into practical measures that enhance the resilience and sustainability of Jordan’s water and sanitation sector.

//Petra// AJ