Jordan’s Minister of Environment Visits UNDP Office

BirdLife Middle East took part in a productive meeting during the visit of H.E.  Mr. Nayef Al-Fayez, Jordan’s Minister of Environment and his team to the UNDP Jordan Office on Wednesday May 16th. The Migratory Soaring Birds Project – Tranche II was presented at the meeting as the only regional environment project led by UNDP Jordan.

Mr. Anders Pedersen, UN Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator and Mrs. Sara Ferrer Olivella, UNDP Country Director, opened the session welcoming and thanking him being the first Minister of Environment to visit UNDP premises in Jordan. In addition, Ms. Majida Al-Assaf, UNDP Programme Manager gave a presentation on the work of UNDP under the Jordan Vision 2025 umbrella, guided by the Country Program Document 2018 – 2022 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Assistance Framework (UNSDAF) with environment as one of the five pillars of work.

Focused discussions involved Jordan’s most pressing environmental needs and solutions took place during a presentation from Nedal M. Al Ouran, UNDP’s Programme Specialist. A run of all UNDP-supported environment projects included videos and samples of local products along with important work results in the areas of MEA’s especially the RIO Conventions, biodiversity conservation, sustainable tourism, waste management, water solutions and Badia restoration.

UNDP’s and the Ministry’s representatives had general discussion on the strong existing cooperation between UNDP and the ministry and new possible areas of expanded cooperation. During the discussion, Mr. Nayef Al-Fayez underlined the importance of the environment projects and initiatives undertaken by UNDP and pointed out those such projects have major role in implementing the long-term national vision and strategy of Jordan.