Water Innovations Technologies (WIT) Quarterly Progress Report No 4 FY 2018 – January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018

The project's purpose is to increase water conservation in Jordan by focusing on water efficiency in the agricultural sector, community, and household levels. WIT's theory of change states that if barriers to the adoption of water saving technologies are systematically broken down at multiple levels, with different groups of water users and market actors through enhancing knowledge, forming partnerships and providing advisory services, in addition to improving access to finance and strengthening institutions that support water saving, then adoption of water saving technologies by farmers, households, and communities will increase, leading to increased accountable, sustainable management of water and natural resources. The project goal is to promote the adoption of known and new water savings technologies at the center of the program's strategy, facilitating uptake of financing and advisory services while using social marketing to overcome individual and institutional behavioral change barriers. WIT has three complementary outcomes: 1) Improve access to water saving technologies for agriculture and household use; 2) Improve access to finance for water conservation technology adoption; and 3) Strengthen institutions to support water conservation. WIT's market-based approach promotes sustainable and scaled adoption of water saving technologies and practices to conserve water. WIT will target water saving market actors working directly with agriculture users, communities, and households in the North and Jordan Valley. WIT works in collaboration with the Government of Jordan (GOJ) through the Ministry of Water and Irrigations (Jordan Valley Authority and Water Authority of Jordan), the Ministry of Agriculture (National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension), and the Ministry of Social Development. The project has adjusted its work plan to encompass the Market System Development (MSD) approach, which includes activities such as regulation of products and repayment terms, financial product development, and development and provision of skills to bank entities. These activities will target farmer managers and owners, and through delivering training and new technologies to households, WIT will help activate market sectors. WIT has developed an investment manual stipulating guidelines and principles for managing market system development investments awarded by Mercy Corps/WIT. The manual contains information on the design, management, monitoring, and close out of awards to eligible recipients. WIT is also developing a community grants process and e-wallet manual to promote the adoption of water saving technologies. WIT has started working with numerous early adopters of water saving technologies, including farmers and households in the North and Jordan Valley. The project has made significant progress in implementing its activities, including the development of an investment manual and the establishment of a community grants process. WIT continues to work with its partners to promote the adoption of water saving technologies and practices in Jordan.