Quarterly Progress Report: October - December 2018

The purpose of the project is to increase water conservation in Jordan by focusing on water efficiency in the agricultural sector, community, and household levels. The project goal is to promote the adoption of new and existing water-saving practices and technologies, with a focus on facilitating the uptake of financing and advisory services. The project uses a market-based approach to promote sustainable and scaled adoption of water-saving practices and technologies in agriculture and households. WIT targets key water sector market actors who work directly with agriculture users, communities, and households in the North and Jordan Valley. The project works in collaboration with the Government of Jordan through the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Social Development. The project aims to achieve three complementary outcomes: improve access to water-saving technologies for agriculture and household use, improve access to finance for water conservation technology adoption, and strengthen institutions to support water conservation. WIT designs activities that bring improved and affordable water-saving practices and technologies into use among farmers, households, and communities, and that also enhance the functioning of the market for those technologies. During the first quarter of FY19 (October-December 2018), the main project activities focused on identifying interested suppliers, supporting them, and facilitating their participation in the 10th International Agriculture Exhibition (SAWSANA 2019) to enhance their marketing capacities. The project also carried out the Agriculture and Households Financial Needs and Access to Finance Assessment to identify barriers and opportunities to facilitate financial services among suppliers and financial institutions. Promisingly, cumulative water savings for the current quarter account for 36,431 cubic meters of water after the installation of water-saving technologies in one early-adopter farm and the installation of 38 water-saving devices in households, as well as two grey water systems and one decentralized wastewater system in the project's target areas through agriculture and household interventions. The project's objective to increase the adoption of water-saving technologies in the agriculture sector will be achieved by providing timely and tailored information to farm owners and managers. WIT is working with suppliers to improve their outreach approach to provide farmers with the information, practices, and technologies necessary to get high-quality produce while saving water. Planned activities for FY19 include the installation of demonstration sites with suppliers and as part of the Investment Fund activities. The project has identified several suppliers who are willing and able to promote and advocate for the "full package" of irrigation services. These suppliers include MAIS, NDICO, and TADSHEEN, which have estimated water savings of 770,000, 866,250, and 49,000 cubic meters, respectively, for FY19. The project also plans to install demonstration sites, which are expected to save an estimated 389,655 cubic meters of water. Overall, the WIT project is making progress in promoting the adoption of water-saving technologies in Jordan, with a focus on improving access to water-saving technologies, access to finance, and strengthening institutions to support water conservation. The project's activities are expected to lead to significant water savings and improved water management practices in the country.