USAID/Jordan Water Management Initiative (WMI) Quarterly Progress Report 1: FY2016 Q3 (April 1, 2016-June 30, 2016)

Agency for International Development (USAID) implemented by Tetra Tech. The Activity's purpose is to support the Government of Jordan (GOJ) in achieving measurable improvement and greater sustainability of the water sector by providing technical assistance to strengthen the GOJ's reform, policy development, and implementation, and capacity-building efforts. Through targeted technical assistance and capacity building, the Activity supports implementation of improved utility management practices, including reduced non-revenue water and improved cost recovery. WMI also supports improved groundwater and irrigation management, enhanced wastewater treatment performance and water quality protection, sector regulation and governance, and water demand management. Behavior change and strategic communications activities support all facets of program implementation, including a focus on gender mainstreaming and youth engagement. WMI supports the USAID/Jordan Intermediate Result (IR) Accountable, Sustainable Management of Water Resources Increased through implementation of four components corresponding to the following Sub-IRs: National Sustainable Water Supply System Improved; Water Conserved; Water Sector Governance Improved; and Water Supply and Resources Protected. In addition, the Activity implements activities to achieve four crosscutting objectives: Gender equality and female empowerment enhanced; Opportunity, well-being, and civic engagement for youth improved; Impacts of rapid population growth alleviated and/or mitigated; and Institutions and mechanisms to build cohesion and resilience strengthened. WMI works in close collaboration with GOJ through the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI) and its Performance Management Unit (PMU), the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), water utilities including Miyahuna and Yarmouk Water Company (YWC), Water User Associations (WUA) and civil society organizations. The Activity collaborates with other GOJ ministries, agencies, and municipal authorities, as well as other bilateral and multi-lateral donor programs. Tetra Tech is implementing WMI in close collaboration with two Jordanian organizations, Orient Engineering Consulting and Design and the Jordan Social Marketing Center (JSMC), and two international organizations with strong ties to Jordan: SEGURA Consulting and Water4Life Solutions (W4LS). The Activity has a nationwide focus, with a particular emphasis on Miyahuna (serving Amman and Zarqa) and Yarmouk Water Company (serving Ajloun, Irbid, Mafraq, and Jerash). During the first quarter of implementation, the project team and USAID Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) held their first weekly meeting on May 4, 2016, and standing weekly meetings were established. The project team held dozens of meetings with key project stakeholders to introduce the project and solicit input, including Government of Jordan water sector entities, water utilities, USAID, and other donor programs, and subcontractors. Stakeholder meetings included, among others, the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), Performance Management Unit (PMU), Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA), Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), and Miyahuna and Yarmouk Water Company. Technical activities during this quarter included initial meetings with key counterparts and stakeholders, including the Ministry of Water and Irrigation (MWI), Performance Management Unit (PMU), Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ), Jordan Valley Authority (JVA), and Arab Countries Water Utilities Association (ACWUA). The project team also initiated meetings with water utilities, including Miyahuna and Yarmouk Water Company, to discuss project implementation and stakeholder engagement.