• New Center Addresses Global Climate Change Impacts on Water, Energy, Food, and Health Systems.
Funded by NIH, 2024-2026, CAN will be part of the advisory board for the Global Center on Climate Change and Water-Energy-Food-Health Systems (GC3WEFH) led by UC San Diego. CAN is going to be the chair of the board for community organizations and will be participating in leadership and as part of the community engagement core, doing reach out, education and supporting the research project. CAN will be the responsible to coordinate with the members of the board of community organizations regarding related components of the center in support of UCSD coordination efforts of the center at UCSD as the main contact to support the center goals. The specific contributions of CAN will include participation in coordination with local stakeholders, monthly team discussions, monitoring and evaluation, and supporting the rest of the center team in its various endeavors.
• Adaptive Circular Economy Approach in Schools
Funded by Mitsubishi Corporation, 2023-2024, the project is structured to address critical water challenges in Jordan, which include issues such as water scarcity, limited wastewater treatment, and mounting stress on available water resources. The program encompasses several key activities aimed at mitigating these challenges. These activities involve scaling up water systems to enhance water reuse, thereby increasing agricultural and food production while concurrently expanding community awareness and capacity-building efforts. The initiative focuses on implementing school-level system modifications to enable the reuse of greywater within schools. Additionally, there is an emphasis on testing and implementing system modifications that meet stringent reuse standards, particularly concerning toilet flushing. Furthermore, the program introduces a sustainable business model to generate income by reusing treated greywater for activities like irrigation and the sale of local herbs. To enhance sustainability and environmental responsibility, the project also integrates solar panels and renewable energy solutions with the water treatment systems.
• Jordan – Deliver Policy Analysis and Recommendations on SLCP Mitigation
Program Activities:
Funded by CCAC-UNEP, 2023 -2025, this project aims to provide support to Jordan's Ministry of Environment in the identification of priority measures for mitigating short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), which will be integrated into Jordan's revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Building upon previous efforts, including the development of a draft national SLCP action plan, the project's objectives include securing government endorsement for the policy analysis and recommendations on SLCP mitigation measures. The key deliverables of the program involve generating target audience reports regarding the adoption of electric cooking technology in the final project survey. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the capacity of the government of Eswatini to raise awareness about the numerous benefits of clean household fuels and technologies, with the ultimate goal of increasing the adoption of electric cooking in households. Furthermore, the project intends to share public awareness-raising materials with interested countries in the region, aiming to promote a higher percentage of electric cooking in regions with similar accessibility levels and among countries keen on improving electricity access.
• AACSOD
Funded by the American University of Bierut, 2023-2024, the program's primary objective is to engage in an institutional strengthening process, guided by a comprehensive assessment of support gaps identified in Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). This capacity-building initiative unfolds gradually over the development period, involving multiple audit visits to foster progressive growth. The program encompasses activities such as institutional strengthening and development, contextualization, and Arabization efforts. It also emphasizes the certification of organizations, the digitization of content, and the facilitation of knowledge sharing, alongside extensive training and capacity-building measures to empower these entities.
• Climate Adaptation and Resilient WASH Program
Funded by Unicef, 2022-2024, this program is driven by the overarching goal of enhancing climate resilience and fostering an optimal Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) environment. It does so by conducting comprehensive assessments of WASH infrastructure and management within all of Jordan's Health Care Facilities (HCFs). The program is strategically centered on reaching 40 targeted institutions, including 35 schools and 5 mosques in the Irbid and Mafraq regions. It emphasizes building the capacities of these institutions and the surrounding communities to effectively adapt to water scarcity challenges. Additionally, the program focuses on the implementation of innovative and sustainable greywater treatment and reuse technologies. Key program activities encompass conducting a National Baseline Assessment of Climate-Resilient WASH in Health Care Facilities (HCFs) and implementing replicable and scalable adaptation measures in the identified 40 institutions to foster climate resilience and sustainable WASH practices.
Green Links
Funded by the EU, 2023 -2026, seeks to promote increased sustainable resource partnerships, the implementation of innovative green solutions, and the provision of inclusive livelihood services within the complex interplay of energy, water, and food systems in Azraq and Zarqa. The program is set to facilitate the collaborative development of a circular economy strategy for Azraq Camp and Zarqa in partnership with Syrian refugee volunteers and student green researchers and entrepreneurs. Additionally, it aims to establish a portfolio of 15 project initiatives designed to enhance the adoption of innovative green practices across the energy-water-food nexus. Furthermore, the program will focus on the creation of design and printing skills, as well as the development of operational and health and safety manuals and guidance materials, to facilitate knowledge transfer to workers operating within the energy-water-food nexus.