Prince Mired signs memorandum for integration of disabled people in water sector

AMMAN — HH Prince Mired, Lord Chamberlain and President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (HCD), signed on Sunday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Minister of Water and Irrigation,Raed Abul Saud, to support the inclusion, integration and capacity development of persons with disabilities in the National Water Fellowship Programme.

The MoU aims to coordinate efforts to increase the participation of persons with disabilities in the water sector, improve the services provided to them as beneficiaries, employees, trainees and partners, and align water sector services and facilities with the accessibility requirements of building codes, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

It also focuses on providing all the necessary data and information in accessible formats to enable persons with disabilities to access and understand them.

Under the memorandum, a group of young disabled peoplewill receive a training to join the National Water Fellowship Programme launched by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, with the support from the USAID-funded Water Sector Governance Project.

His Highness highlighted the importance of the National Water Fellowship Programme in enhancing the scientific and technical skills of young people, integrating them into the water sector institutions, and developing water services to higher standards.

The prince also advocated the involvement of young people with disabilities in building and developing the sector’s institutions through specialised training programmes and equipping them with advanced technical and managerial skills to address various challenges and enhance their performance.

Abul Saud stressed the water sector’s interest in expanding cooperation with HCD to enable the persons with disabilities to strengthen their efforts in raising awareness and leading change in the water sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Leslie Reed, the USAID Mission Director for Jordan, said that the memo serves as an important step towards enhancing inclusivity and integration in the water sector and reaffirmed the shared commitment to ensuring equal opportunities and rights for youth and persons with disabilities.

The USAID-funded Water Sector Governance Project aims to support the water sector in achieving sustainable development by providing the necessary technical assistance to initiate institutional reform initiatives, develop and implement water sector strategies and policies, and build the capacity of sector workers. 

The project also aims to improve the performance of water sector institutions by reducing water losses, increasing water supply efficiency and improving cost recovery.