Context
Jordan is one of the most arid countries in the world. The population of its capital city Amman has doubled in the last ten years. Most of the city’s population are settled in East Amman, which is more disadvantaged than other areas. During the rapid process of urbanisation, priority was not given to the planning of public green spaces. As a result, the residents of East Amman have little access to green public open spaces.
Inhabitants of these areas are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change. An additional burden is that the very low share of green public open spaces puts pressure on the remaining biodiversity.
Objective
The participatory development of green infrastructure in Amman’s disadvantaged areas has improved.
Approach
The project works in partnership with the Jordanian Ministry of the Environment and the Greater Amman Municipality. As part of six construction measures, it is adding elements of green infrastructure that contribute towards improving residents’ quality of life by facilitating access to local public transport, increasing walkability and preserving biodiversity.
Residents are actively involved in planning and designing the pilot projects taking into consideration gender-specific aspects in areas of interaction and paying special attention to the particular needs of women. As a result, integration and social cohesion are improving. The knowledge transfer and the capacity building trainings provided by the project is improving the capabilities of its partners.
The pilot project’s participatory activities and workshops raise awareness among local actors about the social, environmental, and economic benefits of green infrastructure and contributes towards Amman’s urban resilience and climate change mitigation.