Water Harvesting in Jordan: Building Resilience Through 3R

Water security
Jordan

Targeting Jordan’s northern regions, critical water challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and human security risks are addressed. This is done through rainwater harvesting, flood risk reduction, groundwater recharge, and reuse strategies. The initiative prioritizes capacity building, youth and women empowerment, environmental journalism, and awareness campaigns. With measurable outputs the project underscores Jordan’s integrated approach to sustainable water, food, and energy security.

Key Takeaways

  • National dialogues, symposiums, and training programs strengthen institutional knowledge while fostering women and youth empowerment in the water sector.
  • Dam rehabilitation, nature based solutions and the right positioning of hafirs, supported by catchment analysis create not only water availability but also new opportunities for water reuse and businesses.
  • The online knowledge hub showcases the project results, the rainwater harvesting opportunities for Jordan and is a database for all written results of the project.
  • Tangible impact with measurable outputs, such as harvesting 2.1 million cubic meters of water, supporting 176 farmers, creating jobs, planting 60,000 trees, and protecting 6,500 people from flood.

Project Details

Started: 2022 – To be completed: 2025
Ref: 211280 | Status: Ongoing
Project title: Water Harvesting in Jordan: Reality and Challenges (3Rs Project)

Background

The Water Harvesting in Jordan: Reality and Challenges (3Rs Project) was launched as part of the National Dialogue Project for Water Harvesting in Jordan to address the country’s pressing water scarcity challenges, particularly in the northern regions of Azraq, Mafraq, and the Jordan Valley.

The project builds on a scoping study that identified the urgent need for sustainable water solutions.

With Jordan facing increasing pressure from climate change, rapid population growth, and associated human security risks, the initiative focuses on advancing water harvesting practices through the 3Rs framework: Flood Risk Reduction, Groundwater Recharge, and Reuse.

By combining policy dialogue, scientific research, and community-based interventions, the project seeks to strengthen water resilience, support rural livelihoods, and promote long-term environmental sustainability.

Activities

  1. Initiation of a national water harvesting (3Rs) evidence – based policy dialogue with the aim of supporting relevant legislation and regulation.
  2. Implementation of water harvesting sites, smart farms, and monitoring practices.
  3. Capacity building of MWI government staff, local communities, and other key local stakeholders in the knowledge and skills around water harvesting practices.
  4. Promotion of the key learnings and success stories gained from water harvesting interventions, using tools such as a Media LAB.

Findings

The 3Rs Project in Jordan has achieved significant results in advancing sustainable water management, agriculture, and community resilience. The initiative successfully harvested 2.1 million cubic meters of water, created 54 permanent and 233 temporary jobs and 10 permanent, and directly supported 176 farmers. It has also engaged around 500 students annually in research and training, planted 60,000 trees, and provided water for 57,000 sheep, contributing both to biodiversity and food security. Importantly, the project has protected 6,500 inhabitants from flood risks and reduced 243,000 tons of CO₂ emissions, highlighting its climate mitigation benefits. Beyond tangible outputs, the project has conducted 23 awareness sessions, trained local journalists on environmental reporting, built institutional capacity through specialized training by IHE-Delft and Acacia Water, and initiated a women and youth empowerment strategy in water harvesting. These results demonstrate the project’s comprehensive impact, combining environmental conservation, livelihood creation, and knowledge transfer to strengthen Jordan’s long-term water resilience.

Project Areas

The project area is concentrated in the northern regions of the Kingdom of Jordan, which face acute vulnerability to water scarcity, climate change, and population pressures. Key focus areas include Azraq, Mafraq, and the North Jordan Valley, along with specific intervention sites such as Sama Al Sarhan, Al Mwaqar, Rehab, Wadi Al Ratami, and the Jordan Valley. These areas are characterized by limited rainfall, such as Azraq, which receives only about 50 mm annually, and long-standing issues of soil erosion, groundwater depletion, and underutilized water infrastructure. For instance, the Sama Al Sarhan Dam has historically suffered from evaporation losses, leaving its potential untapped for over six decades. Additionally, the University of Jordan’s Dryland Research Station in Muwaqqar and its 2000-dunum site in Azraq serve as natural laboratories and research hubs, equipped with climate and soil moisture sensors, for scientific study and practical demonstrations. Collectively, the project area reflects a diverse but water-stressed landscape where innovative approaches to harvesting, conserving, and reusing water are vital for community resilience and sustainable development.

Geographic scope: Regional

Downloads and Links

Documents, maps, photos are available in the knowledge hub.

Export Export 3R Knowledge Hub

In Cooperation With

Commissioned by:

Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture Jordanian Ministry of Water and Irrigation

Funded by:

Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jordan

Project partners:

Acacia Water INWRDAM IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (UNESCO-IHE Delft)

Contact

Maarten Waterloo

Ecohydrologist

+31 6 83 56 08 09
maarten.waterloo@acaciawater.com
dr-maarten-waterloo-0b35477

Related topics:

3R (Retention Recharge Reuse), Climate resilience, Drought, Freshwater harvesting, Nature-based solutions (NbS), Water harvesting, Water scarcity, community empowerment, groundwater recharge

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