Khaberni - In Al-Qadisiyah in Tafilah Governorate, Ibrahim Al-Salaymeh, a man in his fifties, stands in front of his new home well, watching the clouds hoping they will gather in the sky.
And with a smile filled with hope, he says, "Water only reaches us every 17 days, and when it does, it is weak because we live in a high area. Today, we are ready to welcome the rainy season and are optimistic that it will be good, so we can fill the new well and use it for household chores and watering the trees."
Ibrahim is one of dozens who have benefited from the "Building Climate Change Adaptation Capacity in Jordan through Improved Water Use Efficiency in the Agricultural Sector (BRCCJ)" project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with the Ministries of Water and Irrigation, Agriculture, Environment, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
From Suffering to Hope
For years, families in the heights of Tafilah faced significant challenges in accessing water. Long interruptions, weak pumping, and costly reliance on private water tankers.
But with the launch of "water harvesting" as part of the adaptation capacity building project, reality is gradually changing.
Mohammad Al-Ziadine from Beira says, "The water we get from the municipality is insufficient because of our high location. Thanks to the project, we now have a 22 cubic meter well to collect rainwater from our house's roof using simple gutters and pipes, now we await the winter with confidence because we will benefit from every drop of rain."
Community Impact: From Individual Experience to Collective Awareness
In Grendel, Ibrahim Mohammed talks about a major shift in his family's life: "We only get water once every 20 days and for only 24 hours. The well we obtained from the project has become an important water source in the summer, for watering the garden planted with fruit trees. After our neighbours saw the results, everyone started to want a similar well."
These testimonials confirm what engineers from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation have observed, where targeted areas have seen an increase in community awareness about the importance of rainwater harvesting as a practical and sustainable solution to deal with water scarcity caused by climate change.
Small Infrastructure... Big Impact
Since the project's launch, 114 home wells have been implemented in Tafilah Governorate as part of a broader plan that includes equipping 400 public buildings and 7850 families with rainwater harvesting systems in the provinces by the Dead Sea which, in addition to Tafilah, include: Karak, Ma'an, and Madaba.
Qais Al-Khazaleh, an engineer from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, notes that the ministry's teams conduct weekly field visits to oversee the contractors' work and ensure technical specifications are met, adding that all wells underwent storage trials and leakage tests to ensure their safety and sustainability.
Partnership for the Climate
This project is part of Jordan's vision for sustainable development and combating the effects of climate change, as the four provinces located within the Dead Sea basin are among the regions most affected by water stress.
The total value of the project is $33.25 million, aiming to enhance the resilience of agricultural communities and improve water management efficiency in the face of climate challenges.
Tangible Impact Towards Sustainable Development Goals
By constructing rainwater harvesting wells, the project contributes to several sustainable development goals: Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. And Goal 15: Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.
Rain... A Renewable Resource and Lasting Hope
Abu Talal, one of the beneficiaries in Tafilah Castle, says, "We used to buy water tanks weekly to meet our household needs and water the trees surrounding the house. Now we have a tank which has undergone all necessary tests, and we eagerly await the rain."
In those villages, rain is no longer a fleeting event but a chance for life.
Through cooperation between local communities and national and international institutions, rain harvesting transforms into a Jordanian success story that inspires other communities to address climate change with awareness, sustainability, and hope.
