Aqaba Community and Economic Development (ACED) Program

The Aqaba Community and Economic Development (ACED) Program is a five-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development, benefiting the people and businesses of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).

Program Goals and Priorities

- Improve ASEZA and ADC capacity to deliver services

- Enhance the skills of MSMEs and Aqaba citizens to maximize benefits from investments in Aqaba

- Increase citizen participation in decision making and improve access to social infrastructure

 

The ACED Program is based in Aqaba city and is composed of activities under three major areas:

Component 1 (Strengthening Government Institutions)

Will work to strengthen the government institutions and will be working directly with Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) to:

  • Build capacity at ASEZA and ADC
  • Enhance ASEZA planning and regulatory control functions
  • Improve public service provision in the ASEZ
  • Improve outreach and public participation
  • Enhance communication in ASEZ
  • Improve ADC’s HR and institutional development
  • Enhance infrastructure planning supporting the ASEZ.

 

Component 2 (Strengthening the Private Sector)

will strengthen the private sector by further-enabling the business environment to more effectively attract, support and enhance the numbers, competitiveness, and capabilities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs),            
  • Enhance the capabilities of the public sector organizations to understand and respond to the business and MSMEs needs.
  • Improve the capabilities of business associations to serve their members from SMEs. 
  • Develop capacity of Aqabites to participate in economic opportunities
  • Expand the base of MSMEs in Aqaba
  • Establish linkages between MSMEs and larger economic entities
  • Improve business awareness in Aqaba

 

Component 3 (Enhanced Community Development)

Will be working closely with the local community to develop its capacities and empower Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to:

  • Establish Mechanisms for the Local Community to Participate in Development Decision-Making for the ASEZ
  • Enhance the capacity of local Aqaba Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to provide relevant services
  • Encourage Local Citizens to Participate in the Modern Economy by Creating Opportunities for Interaction between Citizens and Private Sector
  • Coordinate and Improve Efforts Addressing Poverty in Aqaba Governorate

Component 4 (Supporting Technical Component Initiatives)

is devoted to supporting the activities of the other components by managing the available resources to achieve the Program’s goals by:

  • Administration and Financial project support
  • Monitoring and Evlauation
  • Communication and Outreach
  • Grants and Commodities
  • Gender equity
  • Training support