Establishment of the Fund  

The Hashemite Fund for the Development of Jordan Badia was established in 2003. The law establishing the fund and its purpose was issued that same year, and the Fund began operations in mid 2006. The Fund serves the Jordanian Badia and all of its regions: North, Middle and South.

The Fund primarily seeks to improve the socio-economic conditions in the Jordan Badia. It does this by:

• Contributing to poverty alleviation and unemployment reduction

• Employing the skill sets of the Badia’s people

• Building capacity through a variety of development projects

• Supporting various scientific, cultural, social, and capacity building activities

In its effort to achieve comprehensive development in the Jordan Badia, the Fund assesses the Badia's prevailing social, economic, and environmental conditions in order to establish a clear philosophy and a comprehensive plan for the Badia’s development. The Fund has two strategies or approaches: a direct approach, in which the Fund is directly involved in the design and implementation of projects; and an indirect approach, in which the Fund seeks collaboration with other national and international organizations.

Staff

The Fund’s staff consists of qualified professionals from several backgrounds, including agriculture, economics, development, planning, environment, and management. This diversity has brought together numerous disciplines, which is, and will continue to, be essential for the effective planning and implementation of the Fund’s various projects. All Fund staff are familiar with the issues facing the Badia, as many of them are originally Badia inhabitants from various local communities.

 Target Areas and communities

The Fund was established to serve all parts of the Badia (North, Middle and South), which means that its activities cover approximately 80% of the total area of Jordan. Key targeted communities are those located in the poverty pockets of the Badia, where incomes are low and resources are limited.