Jordan Sparkles with JEWEL
Khalid Al-Naif, Director of WDI's Development Consulting Services (right) dicusses JEWEL progress with Dr. Wajih Owais, President of Jordan University for Science and Technology (left) in Jordan
WDI’s JEWEL project entered a new implementing phase fall 2007. Three consulting engagements were completed in a matter of months.
Dr. Carl Dutto carried out a stipulated natural resources management needs Assessment. Dr. Dutto verified that the Jordan University of Science and Technology has the capacity to develop a MS program in natural resource management. The assessment also concluded that students from a diverse range of disciplines are interested in the new program and that USAID is fully committed to support it financially and technically. Dr. Dutto surveyed Jordanian faculty, students, private sector and government officials. The assessment also reviewed current curriculums, content, past and existing programs, needs/skills assessment, the methodology to follow, and the mid to long term strategy for capacity building.
Dr. Mark Milstein worked in Jordan on the curriculum for the new MS program in Natural Resources Management. Dr. Milstein built consensus among faculty and students at JUST and developed a vision of what the MS degree should represent, including a strong emphasis on the development of management and leadership skills. He stressed the fact that traditionally natural resources management tends to be too heavy on natural resources and anemic on management as well as the role that private enterprise has in NRM. Dr. Milstein gained support among the key stakeholders in Jordan by illustrating the importance that developed skills be transferrable among the government entities, private sector and NGOs. He also stressed that the greatest need is for understanding the sustainability of the management approach including the knowledge of law, environmental policy, and health issues. In his presentations, Dr. Milstein emphasized the necessity for R&D, strategic management skills and the knowledge of finance and investment are all necessary for the project to succeed. His work will be on-going throughout the life of the project.
The visit by Khalid Al-Naif, Director of WDI’s Development Consulting Services was to work with JEWEL stakeholders on the annual implementation plan. All indicators are that the JEWEL will have tremendous impact in Jordan, a country facing substantial environmental challenges that are aggravated by the scarcity of water and energy supply, deterioration of water resources, land contamination, desertification, mismanagement of land use and air pollution.
WDI has a 3 year agreement with Higher Education for Development to implement JEWEL. The project is designed by WDI with the objective of empowering leadership and decision making and to create resources and knowledge networks to improve such decision-making in integrated natural resources management in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. WDI’s partnership with the Government of Jordan is ambitious and focuses on developing leaders at all levels in the public, private and community sectors. The aim is to help future Jordanian leaders understand how to use and develop new decision-support tools for natural resources management.
Khalid Al-Naif said, “WDI has made a lot of effort to insure that its partnership goes beyond training: to incorporate the principles of integrated natural resource management and to focus on multidisciplinary training and experience. Accordingly, we designed the program to emphasize management and decision making which is a departure from traditional education in natural resources.”
Dr. Milstein discussing Natural Resoureces Management Program with JUST Faculty in Jordan
WDI consultants discuss natural and cultural resource management in a meeting with Parliamentarian Nariman Rusan
Dr. Munir Rusan, JEWEL Project Director in Jordan, and WDI consultant Dr. Carl Dutto
WDI consultant Dr. Carl Dutto (far right) meets with JEWEL Project field consultants and prospective NRM students at Mount Nebo in Jordan (from left: Farid, Michele, and students)