What is the Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program?

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The Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program is a five-year economic opportunities program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The Aqaba Community and Economic Development Program does this through three initiatives. The below information is illustrative of the areas of work.

Component 1: Strengthened Government Institutions

The objective of the Strengthened Government Institutions Component is to ensure that ASEZA and ADC become sustainable efficient institutions capable of carrying out their respective roles as regulator and developer of the Zone. This will be accomplished through legislative and regulatory reform if required; through internal institutional capacity strengthening of both organizations; and by building linkages with other public and private institutions, including civil society, to ensure that development in ASEZ is broad-based and sustainable over the long-term.

Component 2: Strengthened Private Sector

The objectives of the Strengthened Private Sector Component are two fold: 1) to ensure that Aqabites are in a position to join the modern workforce; and 2) to improve the ability of the private sector in Aqaba to be competitive. This component will work directly with the private sector to enhance the ability of MSMEs (both male and female) to provide services and products for the tourism industry, support manufacturing and the logistical (ports, trucking, warehousing, etc.) services sectors. It will also work jointly with the private sector and the government through the Vocational Training Centers to prepare better trained labor to fill the long-term jobs that will be created in Aqaba over the next five to ten years.

Component 3: Enhanced Community Development

The objectives of the Enhanced Community Development Component are: 1) to establish mechanisms for the local community to participate in development decision-making for the ASEZ; 2) to enhance the capacity of local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide relevant services to members; and 3) through a range of activities to encourage both male and female local citizens to participate in the modern economy and have access to social services and infrastructure.

The (ACED) Program is currently accepting concept papers for activities to be funded under its grants program for potential activities between October 11, 2007, and October 31, 2012. The grants should support activities and programs that complement existing ACED activities and help achieve the program’s intermediate results. Specifically, the grants will provide assistance to programs yielding results. Please note that ACED’s performance management plan is being developed, and thus these results will change though now used as illustrative.