US, World Bank top list of foreign aid donors to Jordan, contributing $8.5b

AMMAN — In a report presented by the Planning Ministry on Sunday, the US and the World Bank topped the list of foreign aid donors to Jordan over the past four years, contributing about $8.5 billion in total, Al Mamlaka TV reported. 

According to data reviewed by the Kingdom, the US has provided $5.323 billion to Jordan over the past four years, while the World Bank has provided $3.205 billion.

In 2021, the total volume of foreign aid, including grants and soft loans contracted to Jordan amounted to $4.416 billion, equivalent to JD3.129 billion, of which 42.4 per cent was in the form of regular grants, 40.8 per cent in loans, and 16.9 per cent directed to the Syrian crisis response plan.

The US provided $1.243 billion in 2018, $1.262 billion in 2019, $1.399 billion in 2020, and $1.418 billion in 2021, with the largest proportion of this aid being grants worth $3.665 billion and $1.657 billion directed to the Jordanian Response Plan to the Syrian crisis.

The World Bank has provided Jordan with $2.953 billion in loans over the past four years, $126 million in grants to support the Syrian crisis response plan, and $125 million in other grants.

The bank transferred $515 million to Jordan in 2018, $1.151 billion in 2019, $674 million in 2020, and $864 million in 2021.

Germany has given the third most aid over the past four years, providing $2.36 billion, of which $1.459 billion was given as grants and loans, and $900 million was directed to the Syrian crisis response plan. 

Germany provided Jordan with $654 million in 2018, $453 billion in 2019, $542 million in 2020, and $710 million in 2021. 

Over the past four years, the EU has granted Jordan $1.896 billion, of which $520 million was in response to the Syrian crisis, $952 million took the form of loans, and $422 million in grants.

The European Investment Bank has offered $579 million over the last four years, with an amount of $556 million in loans and $22 million in grants. 

Additionally, France has provided $552 million, of which $32 million was in response to the Syrian crisis, $469 million as a form of loans, and $51 million as grants.

The UAE gave the seventh most aid, providing $233 million, of which $222 million was in grants, with the remainder allocated to support Jordan's response to the Syrian crisis.

Following the UAE, Kuwait has contributed $216 million over the past four years: $11.3 million in grants, $141 million in loans, and $63.7 million in response to the Syrian crisis.

Saudi Arabia followed Kuwait, granting Jordan $207 million, distributed as grants worth $150 million, loans worth $50 million and $7.4 million in response to the Syrian crisis.

Offering Jordan $118.25 million, the UK has provided $58 million in grants and loans, and $123 million in response to the Syrian crisis, while Canada provided $118.24 million: $24.5 million in grants and loans, and $93 million for the Syrian crisis response plan.

Planning Minister Nasser Shraideh mentioned in a previous statement to Al Mamlaka TV that grants and loans are allocated for several purposes, including financing capital projects and development programmes as part of the general budget law approved by Parliament.

They also contribute to bridging the funding gap for the Treasury or for financing priority development projects, “which reflects donors and funders’ confidence in the transparency of Jordanian domestic governmental systems in managing foreign aid in line with the best international practices”.

With regard to disbursement and control of foreign aid, the minister said the Ministry of Finance and Jordan Audit Bureau maintain oversight. 

In regard to loans obtained through the Planning Ministry, Shraideh said that they are directed to support the general budget and finance priority developmental programmes and projects, with interest rates ranging between 0 and 4 per cent and repayment periods extending for 35 years, including grace periods extending from three to 10 years.