Khaberni - Dr. Yousef Al-Shawarbeh, the head of the Greater Amman Municipality Committee, confirmed that Amman is the first Arab city to present its voluntary report to localize the Sustainable Development Goals, noting that this reflects the Jordanian capital's commitment to a clear developmental vision, based on planning, governance, and innovation.
Al-Shawarbeh said in an exclusive interview with the podcast Amin Speaks, published by the Arab Institute for City Development, that the Amman Municipality prepared its voluntary report in 2022 in collaboration with international organizations such as ESCWA, UN-Habitat, and UCLG, parallel to the Jordanian national report presented to the United Nations, confirming the high level of coordination between local and central administration.
He explained that the Municipality has established real and objective indicators to assess the progress in achieving its goals, within its strategic plan for the years 2022 to 2026, which was launched under royal patronage and is based on four main pillars: quality of life and environment, transportation and infrastructure, investment, and legislation.
He mentioned that the commitment to implementing the plan has reached 82% to date, affirming that the goal is to build an integrated system that achieves sustainable development and directly serves the citizen.
Green Amman: Addressing climate change with a comprehensive vision
Al-Shawarbeh mentioned that the Green Amman plan not only focuses on tree planting but also aims to reduce carbon emissions and improve the urban lifestyle.
He said: "Jordan is one of the poorest countries in the world in terms of water, and the decline in rainfall puts significant pressure on the city. Therefore, we have established a clear executive strategy to address the effects of climate change."
He noted that the Municipality is working on expanding the green area, offering incentives for green buildings that save energy and water, and promoting the use of environmentally friendly public transport, considering sustainability as a city culture, not just environmental projects.
Electronic services contribute to fighting favoritism and nepotism
Al-Shawarbeh revealed that the Amman Municipality is the first institution in the Jordanian state to offer its services entirely online, with no cash transactions, which saves time and effort and reduces direct contact between citizens and staff.
He confirmed that the electronic system contributes to fighting corruption and favoritism, and gives citizens greater confidence in the public institution.
He also mentioned that the Municipality has started implementing fully automated operations using artificial intelligence (End-to-End Automation) in 18 services that require no human intervention, to increase efficiency and speed up accomplishment.
Smart City: Institutional partnership and technology serving humanity
Al-Shawarbeh explained that the concept of the smart city is not limited to the Amman Municipality alone; it is a partnership system that includes all state and private sector institutions, from telecommunications to electricity and water.
He highlighted that the most important criterion for the smart city is the speed of response to the residents' needs in traffic accidents, fires, and emergencies, affirming that technology has become a key tool in achieving this effective response.
Amman's vision for investment and development: From asset management to stimulating the economy
He stated that the Municipality owns assets valued at nearly 3 billion dollars, of which about 1.5 billion dollars are investable.
He said that Amman Vision Company aims to manage these assets with a private sector mindset, adding that its projects are not built solely on profitability but on the city's needs.
He explained that the partnership with the Saudi Investment Fund includes building a hospital and a university on land owned by the Municipality, in addition to small and medium investment projects and electric charging stations, considering that the company is progressing steadily despite its recent establishment.
He added that Jordan has a recently modernized investment law that offers significant incentives to investors, with no restrictions on money transfer or commercial and industrial activities.
He said that Jordan is an open economy, with real investment opportunities, pointing out that the recent amendment to the investment law has enhanced the competitiveness of the business environment within the kingdom.
Al-Shawarbeh considered that the development axis in Amman is centered around the human and the city, affirming that the Municipality relies on direct communication with the citizens through 22 regional and field centers.
He added that city services cover all residents, including refugees and migrants, regardless of their legal status, because the city is responsible for providing services to everyone living in it.
He mentioned the launch of a new electronic platform titled Amman Listens to enable citizens to submit their comments and demands electronically.
The private sector is a partner in development, and during the interview, Al-Shawarbeh said that the private sector is a fundamental partner in sustainable development, and that the Municipality is working on granting it incentives and simplifying procedures.
He mentioned that companies such as Amman Vision for Transportation, Waste Management, the Central Market, and the new Slaughterhouse are all based on partnerships with the private sector, which achieves sustainability and reduces the cost of management for the Municipality.
He said: "There are no ready-made solutions for all cities, but the approach and thought can be transferred to be applied according to the identity of each city, its culture, and capabilities." Adding that the exchange of expertise and knowledge between Arab cities represents a fundamental pillar in building more sustainable and humane cities in the future.
