by Hana Namrouqa | Apr 29,2012 | 22:48

AMMAN — A new initiative is working to raise women’s awareness of the country’s water shortage and ways to reduce water consumption.

The Leaders of Change programme is promoting efficient use of the Kingdom’s scant water resources at the household and community levels, Ministry of Water and Irrigation Secretary General Maysoon Zu’bi said on Sunday.

“The programme targets women with the aim of turning them into leaders of change in their local communities, especially as women control water use in households,” Zu’bi added.

Through the initiative, communities nominate groups of active women to become leaders of change. These women receive practical and scientific training to raise awareness within their communities about Jordan’s water problems and ways to cut down water use.

The programme is implemented in cooperation with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), the German Federal Institute of Geo-Science and Natural Resources (BGR), and the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, which trains the nominated women on water issues, according to the ministry.

Jordan suffers from an acute water shortage and is globally categorised as the fourth most water-poor nation. As conventional water resources are depleted, management of water use and raising public awareness on the importance of water efficiency are vital to meet rising demand, according to experts and officials.

http://jordantimes.com/water-saving-initiative-makes-women-leaders-of-change-in-communities