As part of the “Permanent National Transboundary Water Negotiation Committee" project, Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) welcomed a high-level delegation from the German Embassy in Jordan and the GIZ Water Sector Governance (WSG) Project during an official visit aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fields of water governance, diplomacy, and transboundary water negotiations.

On Sunday, 26 April, JUST Vice President, Prof. Ahmad Al-Ajlouni and WDC Director, Prof. Mutawakil Obeidat met with the Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Jordan, Mr. Marius Rauh, the Water and Energy Cluster Coordinator at GIZ Jordan, Mr. Trevor Surridge, and representatives of the GIZ WSG Project, together with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation. Discussions focused on ongoing cooperation, capacity-building efforts, and the WDC's role in supporting Jordan's transboundary water governance agenda.

The delegation also toured the WDC and attended part of the third training session delivered under the project, engaging with participants and observing the program's progress. The session provided an opportunity for participants to share feedback and discuss ways to further strengthen Jordan's readiness for future water negotiations.

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and is being implemented by the Water Diplomacy Center (WDC) hosted by the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST).

Launched in February 2026, the project aims to institutionalize and strengthen national water negotiation mechanisms and enhance Jordan's capacities in transboundary water governance. Given that around 40% of Jordan's water resources are shared with neighboring countries, strengthening cooperation and building national expertise in managing shared water resources remain strategic priorities.

Through this initiative, the WDC is implementing a comprehensive capacity-building program targeting government officials and water experts working on transboundary water issues. The program includes specialized technical training sessions, negotiation workshops, and international study tours benchmarking regional and international best practices in water diplomacy and cooperative water governance.

The visit comes at an important time as Jordan continues efforts to strengthen cooperation with neighboring countries, including initiatives with Syria aimed at improving technical coordination and the management of shared water resources.

This initiative reflects the shared commitment of Jordan and Germany to advancing evidence-based water diplomacy and strengthening institutional capacities for cooperative water governance, while reinforcing the WDC's role as a leading national and regional hub for water diplomacy and transboundary water cooperation.

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