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Municipal needs assessMent RepoRtMitigating the Impact of the Syrian Refugee Crisis on Jordanian Vulnerable Host Communities

UnIted natIonS deVelopMent pRogRaMMe

Copyright © 2014

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UnIted natIonS deVelopMent pRogRaMMe

Municipal needs assessMent RepoRtMitigating the Impact of the Syrian Refugee Crisis on Jordanian Vulnerable Host Communities

MItIgatIng tHe IMpaCt oF tHe SYRIan ReFUgee CRISIS on JoRdanIan VUlneRaBle HoSt CoMMUnItIeS 5

taBle oF ContentS

1. Executive Summary 92. Background and Introduction 113. Report Overview 124. Needs Assessment Methodologies 13

• Quantitative-Self-administeredQuestionnaire 13• Qualitative-FocusGroups/Q&ADebriefingSessions 13

5. Historical and Political Context 15• TheJordanianState,Tribes,StateAlliancesandtheMakingofJordan 16• TheTribalExtensions 16• TheDemographicandFinancialDimension 17• TableofSyrianRefugeeNumbers 18

6. The Northern Governorates 207. The Latest Municipal Elections 23

• ANewExperience…AUniqueOpportunity 24• TheNewMunicipalCouncilsInheritedADifficultLegacy 24

8. The Relationship between Central Government, Local and International NGOs and UN Agencies

29

9. FINDINGS - Municipal Needs Assessment Results: Problems and Priorities 30Municipal Services and Delivery 31• SolidWasteManagement 31• Water 34• Infrastructure:RoadBuildingandMaintenance/StreetLighting 35• ElectricitySupply 36• Sanitation 36Government Services 39• Education 39• Healthcare 40Other Issues 44• Housing 44• Employment,BusinessandTrade 48• Agriculture 51

10. Conclusions 5411. Recommendations 5512. ANNEX I: Municipalities Needs 5613. ANNEX II: Municipalities Priorities and Wish Lists 57

• MafraqGovernorateMunicipalities 57• IrbidGovernorateMunicipalities 66


Theconflict in Syriawhichbegan in2011has resulted inmassive refugee crisis inneighboring countries, includingJordan.Jordanhasmaintainedanopenborderpolicysincethestartoftheconflict,resultinginreceivingahugeinfluxofrefugees,posingenormouschallengestothecountry,withstrongimplicationsforthesocio-economicmakeupofthecountryingeneralandformunicipalservicedeliveryinparticular.ThespillovereffectsoftheSyrianrefugeecrisisaretakingaheavytollonJordanians,especiallyonthemostvulnerablesegmentsofthepopulationinthenorthernpartofthecountry,whereover600,000Syrianrefugeescurrentlyreside,swellingitstotalpopulationby11%.ThiscrisisisexacerbatingexistingvulnerabilitiesinJordaniancommunities.

ThemajorityofSyrianrefugeesinJordanhavesettledincities,towns,andvillagesinthenortherngovernoratesoutsidetherefugeecamps.Asaresult,onepreoccupyingchallengetothemunicipalitiesisprovidingadequatesupportforhostcommunitieswhoseservices,resources,andinfrastructurehavebeenstrainedbythesuddenandenormousinfluxoftherefugees,withsometimesdestabilizingeffectsontheirownlivelihoodsandnaturalenvironments.

Municipalneedsarehugeandincludesolidwastemanagement,cashassistance/budgetsupport,waterandsanitation,social services support, energy resources, and so forth.

Host communities have often demonstrated enormous generosity towards new arrivals, welcoming them into their homes, sharing scarce resources and permitting them to access health and education services within the community. However,asthecrisishasdraggedon,theburdenonlocalcommunitiesisbecomingtoomuch.

Realisingthesufferingof the host communities, UNDP has focused, since the beginning of the crisis, on supporting thesecommunitiesincopingandsustainingtheirlivingconditions.UNDPin2013undertookanadvocacycampaigntoshedlightonthesufferingofthehostcommunities,andtheneedtopreservehard-wonhumandevelopmentgains.UNDPaimedtoestablishthenecessarybaselinesatthemunicipallevelforexaminingtheimpactoftherefugeecrisisonhostcommunitiesinIrbidandMafraqthroughthisstudy.Theassessmentwasundertakenthroughasurveyandfocusgroup meetings covering the 36 municipalities in the two governorates, and will form the basis for many interventions to be implemented in the two governorates.

UNDPwishestothankitspartnerssincerelyforcontributingtothisassessment,withoutwhosesupportthisassessmentwouldnothavebeenpossible:theMinistryofMunicipalAffairs,andtheLocalDevelopmentUnitsoftheMinistryofInterior,thegovernoratesandmunicipalitiesofIrbidandMafraq,andtheGovernmentofJapan.UNDPalsowishestothanknationalconsultant,MuinKhoury,whoundertooktheassessment.UNDPhopesthattheresultsofthisassessmentwillguidetheprioritizationofsupporttobeprovidedtomunicipalitieshostingSyrianrefugeesinthecountry.

Zena Ali AhmadUNDP Country Director

Foreword

MItIgatIng tHe IMpaCt oF tHe SYRIan ReFUgee CRISIS on JoRdanIan VUlneRaBle HoSt CoMMUnItIeS8

those who lost everything are hosted by those who have already little… those who lost everything are hosted by those who have already little…

Za’atari Village, 2014 © Undp/alessandra Blasi


The findings of both the quantitative and qualitative components of the project, based on a self-administeredquestionnaire and focus group discussions respectively, indicate similar problems and challenges that variousmunicipalities intheNorthernGovernoratesofMafraqandIrbidface,aswellastheirpriorities,withsomevariationsfrom one municipality to another.

Inmanycasestheproblemsofmunicipalservicessuchassolidwastemanagement,water,sanitationandinfrastructure(streetlightingandroads)arepreexisting,buthavebeencompoundedduetotheSyrianrefugeeinflux.

Thecurrentsituationhasexposedthevulnerabilityofthemunicipalinstitutionsandlocalgovernance.

Thesameappliestogovernmentbasicservicessuchasschooleducationandhealthcare.However,thelargeinfluxofSyrian refugeeshasaggravatedunemploymentand, toa lesserextent, alsohousing shortages.Thecompetition foremployment and housing, along with crowding of schools and healthcare centers, are potential sources of tension, antagonism, and disruption of social peace.

Infacetofacediscussions,municipalandcivilsocietyrepresentativesdidnotexpresshighconcernforpotentialtension,as many of those communities share connections through intermarriage. However, the quantitative results clearlyindicatesucha trendandmunicipalandgovernorate levelexecutiveswarnthat tensionsarebuildingupandcouldfurther develop.

• As far as municipal services are concerned, the number one priority is solid waste management due to increased tonnage and aging infrastructure. There are insufficient vehicles, and pesticides; maintenance is lacking,containersareinsufficientorbroken-down,andthereisnotalargeenoughworkforcetorunthesystem.Allthisresultsinpollution,andproblemswithinsects,rodents,andstraydogs.Thefindingsindicateagreatneedinmunicipalitiesforanimmediateinterventionintheformofvehiclesincludinggarbagetrucksandcompressors,lightpickuptrucks,dumptrucks,loaders,foggingtrucksandequipmentsuchasfoggingmachines,containers,garbagewheel-barrows,andpesticides.

• Thenumber twopriority is addressing the inadequatewater servicedue to increase indemand.Thewaterdistributionnetwork isdilapidated, resulting inhigh losses. It requiresmaintenanceandexpansion tocovernewhousingareas.Insomeareasover-groundnetworksriskcontamination;thewaterpurityisdeteriorating,withwaterinmanyareasbecomingsaltyormuddy.Waterpressureisweak,whichmeansthatitdoesnotreachmountainousareas.Thereisaneedforfreshwaterandrainwatercisterns,rooftanks,citywatertowers,andmunicipality-ownedtankertrucks.

• Thenumber threepriority is road infrastructure, alsoapreexistingproblem.The roads to, around,orwithinmunicipalitiesintheNorthern/North-WesternBadiaareindireneedofmaintenance,especiallythosethatareimmediatelyaffectedbytheZa’atariCamptraffic.Newroadsneedtobebuiltduetogeographicexpansion.

• Streetlightingneedsmaintenancefromrepairstoreplacingpartsandnewexpansionstocovernewlyoccupiedareas.Manymunicipalitiesareindebtedtotheirelectricityprovider.Hence,rationingisbecominganimperative.Somemunicipalitiesturnoffstreetlightsatmidnight,resultinginincreasedcrimeandinsecurity,withtheftofcattlebecomingacommonproblem.Solarpaneloperatedstreetlightingmightbeanoption.

• Sanitationisthenumberfourpriorityandisalsoapreexistingproblem.WiththeexceptionofIrbid,Mafraq,andRamtha,almostallothersmallermunicipalitieshavenosewagesystems.Homesewagecisternsareoverflowinganddisposalcostisbecomingprohibitiveduetothedistanceoftreatmentplantsfromtheseareas.Thereisariskofcontaminationofundergroundwaterandaquiferswithsewageinsomelocalities.ThewholeZa’atariareaislocatedaboveamajoraquifer.Municipality-ownedsewagetankertrucksareaproposedsolution.

1. executive Summary


Theotherprioritiesrelatetogovernmentservices,education,andhealthcare,whichneedattention,asthestraincreatedbytheadditionalSyrianpopulationmeanstheymayalsobecomesourcesoftension.

Education isanumberonegovernmentservicepriority.Someschoolsarebecomingtoooldandneedmaintenanceorexpansionduetopopulationincrease.WithSyrianarrivals,manyschoolclassroomsareovercrowded.Manyschoolshave adopted double schedules, which entails shortening classes to 35 minutes from 45, and means that teachers are nowworkingovertimethattheyarenotcompensatedfor.Exceptforfirstgrade,Syrianstudentsdonothaveahealthcertificate.Casesofjaundiceandotherrarediseaseshavebeenobserved.IncreaseinclassroomsisneededinordertoabsorbSyrianstudentsinparticularareas.OneindicationthattensionsarebuildingisthatJordanianparentsandschooladministratorshavestarteddemandingthatSyrianandJordanianstudentsbesegregated.However,therearealsomanyvoicesrejectingsuchideasandcallforintegrationofSyrianstudents.

Healthcare isthenumbertwogovernmentservicepriority.HealthcareinJordanwasproblematicbeforetheSyriancrisis,whichhasexacerbateditsweaknesses.Healthcenterswerealreadyshortofstaffandfacilities,especiallyinremoteareas.Doctorsmovebetweenseveralcenterseachdaytoservedifferentcommunities,andarethereforeonlyavailableforafewhoursperday.TheseissueshavebeencompoundedwithSyrianarrivalsovercrowdinghealthcentersandcompetingfortreatmentandmedication.Aswithschools,someSyrianssufferfromanarrayofseriousconditionsassociatedwithescapingawar-torncountry,includingtrauma,jaundice,skindiseases,andmalnourishment.

Duetotheconservativeculture,manyamongthehost/refugeecommunitiesarecallingforthepermanentpresenceoffemalenursesandmidwives.Intermsofmaterialneeds,hereisanacuteshortageofambulancesandhearses.

Syrianrefugeesarecompetingwiththelocalpopulationforhousing,whichhaswitnessedasharprentalincreaseontopofthealreadyexistingshortage.

SyriansarealsocompetingwithJordaniansforwork opportunities,especiallyinlowerpaidjobssuchasfarmhandsandvocationaloccupations,wheretheypossessbettertrainingandexperience.SometimesentirefamiliesofSyrianssetupcampsnexttoJordanianfarmsforwork,andtheyusuallyacceptlowerwagesthanlocals.70%ofJordan’slandtransportusedtocomethroughSyria;asaresult,businessandtradehasbeenhithardbytheclosureofbordersandtraderoutes.Thishasaffectedvarioussectorsoftheeconomyinthenorth,particularlytheinformalsectorandtransport.Thiscouldbe yet another cause for social tension.

Notwithstanding the many challenges the newly elected municipal councils face, UNDP feels that the latest municipal elections, held on 27 August 2013, present a unique opportunity to improve local governance and democraticparticipation that should be nurtured.

Inspiteofthelowturnout,thereformedstructureunderwhichthelatestelectionswerecarriedoutisacauseforhope,andisexpectedtoleadtoincreasedaccountabilityofmayorsandotherpublicofficials.

Inspiteoftheseimprovements,themunicipalitiesstillrequirelegislativereform,tostrengthentheirindependence.Thiswouldinturnguaranteetheirroleascivilinstitutionsthatmanagelocalaffairsaccordingtothewilloftheirconstituents.Suchamendmentscouldalsobeexpectedtocontributetotheeconomicdevelopmentofthesejurisdictions.

exeCUtIVe SUMMaRY


Thepresent crisis comes at difficult time for Jordan.Despitemany efforts to engage in economic stabilization andliberalization, Jordan faces realeconomicandsocialchallenges.TheSyrian refugee influx isdrainingalready limitednationalresources.TheMinisterforMunicipalAffairssaidinastatementin2013thattheMinistrywasunabletocopewiththeSyrianrefugeeimpactonvariousmunicipalservices.

TheUnitedNationshasestimatedthecostofhostingSyrianrefugeesinJordanfor2013-2014at$5.3billion(3.9billioneuros).In2013,internationalaidamountedtoonly$777millionorjust39%ofthetotalcost.

“International assistance isnotmovingquickly enough tohelp Jordan shoulder theburdenof theSyrian crisis,”HisMajestyKingAbdullahIIsaidinaspeechtoParliamentrecently.

Moreover,resentmentandgrowingfeelingsofunfairnessandexclusionareemergingincertainaggrievedareasthatcould, in the medium and longer terms, threaten social peace and stability of the North, and trigger wider adverse effectsonJordanasawhole.

Consequently, it is important that direct support beprovided to vulnerable Jordanians in host communities of theNortherngovernoratesofIrbidandMafraq,andtohelptheGovernmentofJordanmitigatetheimpactoftheSyriancrisisontheirlives.Inaddition,itisessentialthattheassistanceprovidedinthecontextofthecurrentsituationcomplementgovernmental development efforts, as is highlighted in the Government of Jordan National Agenda 2006 – 2015,governorates’developmentplans,andrelatedpoliciesandstrategies.

Inviewoftheabove,a localcommitteeheadedbyeachGovernor,comprisedofrepresentativesoftheGovernment,NGOs,andtheprivatesector,wasformedtosupervisetheimplementationoftheproject,andfacilitateitsmission,aswell as help prioritize needs of the two governorates.

2. Background and introduction


Boththequantitativeself-administeredsurveyandqualitativefocusgroupdiscussionsaremeansforUNDPtounderstandtheneedsofSyrianrefugees,vulnerablehostcommunities,andmunicipalities.Inaddition,theyenableUNDPtogaugetheperceptionsofcivilsocietyandcommunityleadersthroughface-to-facediscussionsabouttheSyrianrefugeecrisisand its impact on the daily lives and livelihoods of their communities, and constituents.

Theself-administeredsurveywasdesignedtoassessthemunicipalneedsandchallengesfromanofficialandtechnicalperspective,focusingontheneededsupportfordeliveryofpublicservices.Thefocusgroupdiscussionsthatwereheldwiththelocalpopulationinthe36communitiesthatmakeupthegovernoratesofIrbidandMafraqweredesignedtoassess those needs from the perspective of regular citizens, and to detect any signs of tensions or antagonism towards theSyrianrefugees.

Thetimingofthesediscussionswasopportuneastheyfollowedthelatestmunicipalelections(August27,2013),whichwill be discussed in greater detail further down.Thus the discussions facilitated dialoguewithmayors and councilmemberswhohadbeeninofficeforjustoveronemonthwhenthefocusgroupdiscussionswereheld.Itwasanadvantagethattheyatsuchashorttenurecoulddiscussfreelytheissuestheyfacedwhentheytookoverthemunicipalitiesfrom‘appointed’municipalcommittees.Officialswerekeentodiscussthechallengestheyfaceinordertofindsolutionsthatwouldenablethemtoservetheircommunitieseffectively.Manyexpressedfrustrationatthelimitationshamperingtheirwork,includingthetroubledfinancesoftheirmunicipalities.Nevertheless,officialsalsoexpressedoptimismregardinghowservicescouldbeimprovedwithassistanceintherightareas.Thediscussionsprovidedmunicipalcouncilswithaplatform to engage with civil society and address problems together.

Thehighlightof thosediscussionswerethecontributionsmadebythefemalecouncilmemberswhocountedthreeor fourdependingon thequota system in theirmunicipal category– thereare four categoriesaccording to sizeofpopulation-andcivilsocietyleadersandactivists.Theseladieswerearticulateandknowledgeableduetotheirdaytoday engagement with issues of basic services such as water and garbage collection as well as schools or healthcare for theirnextofkin.

3. rePort overview


Quantitative

1. Self-administered Questionnaire

UNDP drew up the ‘Municipal, Social Services andInfrastructure Needs Assessment Questionnaire,’ inorder to specify the needs of the municipalities and host communitiesinthegovernoratesofMafraqandIrbid.

The questionnaire addressed the main areas that wereaffected negatively by the influx of Syrian refugees.These include municipal services such as solid wastemanagement, sanitation, water, infrastructure (primarily street lighting and roads), government services such as health, education, and housing, as well as areas outside of direct government control such as employment, business and trade, and the agricultural sector.

The questionnaire was reviewed by local committeesfrom Mafraq and Irbid, who discussed and amendedboth the content and structure. The questionnairewas then approved and sent to the executive councils,administrative rulers, heads of municipalities, and heads of other social services.

Thisneedsassessmentexercisecovered18municipalitiesin the Irbid Governorate and another 18 in the MafraqGovernorate.

Qualitative

2. Focus groups/Q&a debriefing Sessions

In close cooperation with the Local DevelopmentUnit representatives (Ministry of Interior) in the twogovernorates, UNDP conducted 8 focus group meetings overtheperiodSep8–Oct2013withmunicipalitiesandcommunity leaders to assess the municipal services and infrastructureneeds for 36municipalities inMafraq andIrbid.TheLocalDevelopmentUnitattheGovernor’sOfficeinvited participants.

The ‘Q&A debriefing sessions’ (focus group meetings)lasted anywhere between 90 -120 minutes in each ofthe designated municipalities, typically in council halls, schools, or other community venues and were attended bygroupsof15-30people.

These included the newly elected municipal councils

(mayor and members, including four female members, community leaders (youth and women included), tribal elders, school principals, doctors, religious leaders, and former council members.

SeatingarrangementswereeithercircularorU-shapedinorder to put participants at ease and foster an inclusive discussion.

The‘Mutassaref’ (AdministrativeRuler)ormayoropenedeach discussion with an introduction to the local community followed by UNDP representatives presenting aProjectBriefing,outliningtheaimsofthediscussion.Thiswas then followedbyQ&A sessions ledby amoderatorand assisted by a UN rapporteur.

Discussions were initiated by the moderator with the followingquestionputtothenewlyelectedMayor:

“Taking all things into consideration, what is in your opinion the most pressing and challenging problem the municipality is facing today?”

ThemoderatorproceededthentotheQ&Aonmunicipalservices (solid waste management, sanitation, water, and infrastructure), government services (education and healthcare) and other (housing, employment, business and trade, and agriculture).

Sessionswereconcludedwithamunicipal‘prioritiesrecap’that saw key themes from the discussion summarised.Mayors and/or tribal elders signedoff thepriority sheetthatwillconstituteanimportantprojectdocument.

4. needS aSSeSSment methodologieS


Za’atari Village, 2014 © Undp/Salah Malkawi


Undp is the first international agency to have visited all municipalities of the northern governorates since the start of the Syrian crisis.

group discussions Involved 18 Municipalities in Irbid governorate and 18 in Mafraq governorate.


The Jordanian State, Tribes, State Alliances, and the Making of Jordan

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis, humanitarianassistancehasconcentratedprimarilyonSyriansrefugees.Theresourcesofthehostcommunities,particularlyintheNorthern governorates, are being stretched beyond their limits to accommodate the resulting surge in inhabitants. AllthisunderminestheJordanianGovernment’sabilitytoprovideeffectivepublicservicesandfosterdevelopmentofitsownpeople.ThesituationalsohasseriousimplicationsforthestabilityandsecurityofJordan’snorthernregions.

A brief overview of Jordan’s history since its founding in1946 will inform our analysis of current vulnerabilities faced bythehostcommunitiesindealingwiththeeffectsoftheSyriancrisisinJordan.Tribalcommunitiesbothcontributedto the construction of Jordan’s national identity in thepost-colonial era and provided the first independentgovernments with political support and security. Due to the impactoftheSyriancrisis,someresentmentandagrowingfeelingofunfairnessandexclusionareemergingincertainaggrieved areas that could, in the medium and longer term, threaten social peace and stability of the North, and trigger wideradverseeffectsonJordanasawhole.

5. hiStorical and Political context

The Tribal Extensions between Syria’s Southand Jordan’s North

ManyofthemunicipalitiesnotonlysharetheJordan-Syrianborderbut also share tribal links, through intermarriageandfamilialrelations,withcommunitiesinSouthernSyria.(See Northern Governorates section for more details).Whilethishashelpedmitigatesomeofthestrainnormallyevidentinrefugee-hostcommunityrelations,itisalsotruethat those amongst the host community who are sharing what little they havewith extended relatives from Syriaare bearing a more burdensome load with every year that the crisis continues. There is a general feeling that thisgoodwill is eroding with time and that tensions could spill over into actual confrontation.

The Demographic and Financial Dimension

JordanCarriestheBurdenandSharestheCost

According to theMinistry of Interior, the number of Syrianrefugees now accounts for almost one fourth to one third of thelocalpopulationinmanyareas;inRamthatheyaccountforup to 40 percent of the population, while in certain areas in MafraqSyriansaccountforupto100percentofthepopulation.

Map1-JordananditstribesbyHRHPrinceGhazibinMuhammad,Page 71.

Source:TribesofJordanatthebeginningoftheTwenty-firstCentury


Jordan currently hosts some 600,000 Syrian refugeesin camps (112,000 in Za’atari) and host communities,which depletes Jordan’s already limited resources andputsenormouspressureonitsinfrastructure.Inaspeechto parliament on Sunday November 3 2013, HM KingAbdullah II stated that the influx of Syrian refugees isdraining Jordan’s resources and called for internationalassistancetodealwiththeproblem.HealsowarnedthatiftheinternationalcommunitydidnotmovequicklytohelpJordan shoulder theburdensof the Syrian crisis, Jordanwouldbeobligedtotakemeasurestoprotecttheinterestsof its people.

TheUnitedNationshasestimatedthecostofhostingmorethan500,000SyrianrefugeesinJordanfor2013and2014combinedat$5.3billion..Thisfigurecovershumanitarianand development funding requirements to address theimpact of Syrian refugees in Jordan. These tallies withGovernment estimates at $2.1 billion. In spite of thispublicizedneed,internationalaidamountedtoonly$777millionorjust39%oftotalcostin2013.

“Humanitarianagenciesandhostcountriesaredoingtheirverybest,butwealwaysseemtobeovertakenbyeventsand never manage to scientifically plan the responseto the crisis andmanage the assistance given to Syrianrefugees,”saidDavideTerzi,Jordan’sChiefofMissionoftheInternationalOrganizationforMigration(IOM)inaJordanTimesinterview.*

Humanitarianaidandfundsarequicklydryingupandtheresources of the host communities, such as Jordan, areexhausted,heelaborated.

In an interview with The Jordan Times on November 42013, Sima Bahous, UN Assistant Secretary General andChair of theUNDG, explained thatwhile theUNDGwillcontinue to provide essential humanitarian support to Jordan,itwillalsocatertoitsdevelopmentneeds.

Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis,“we have beenalways concentrating only on humanitarian assistance for Syrians”,shenoted.However,now,andwithsome600,000Syrians living in camps and host communities, “theserefugeeshavehadanimpactonJordaniansociety”.

“Thegovernmentissupportingalltheseservices,whichmeans that now, instead of serving only its own people, it also serves some 600,000 Syrians,” Bahous said. Thisputs more pressure on the national budget which means

“the government is not able to fully cope with its own developmentandneedsmoresupport.”

The greatest impact was evident in the NorthernGovernoratesofJordan,IrbidandMafraq,whichtogetheraround 375,000 Syrian refugees outside Za’atari Camp,including around 86,000 school children.

TheNumbersareExpectedtoGrow

The United Nations expect another 2million Syrians tobecome refugees in 2014 and 2.25 million more to be displaced within the country. UN agencies are preparing to launch a new appeal for aid to help victims of the conflict,whichbeganinMarch2011andshowsnosignofending.Officials fromtenUNagencies, the InternationalOrganizationforMigrationand18otheraidorganizationsmet in Amman on September 26 2013 to plan theirstrategy for 2014.

“The most likely scenario was perceived to becontinuationandescalationoftheconflictwithincreasedfragmentation, disruption of essential services and further erosionofcopingmechanisms,”officials fromOCHAtoldthe participants.

TheConflictisLikelytoContinue

Studies indicate that civil wars do not end quickly. Theaverage length of civil wars since 1945 has been about 10 years.ThissuggeststhatthecivilwarinSyriaisintheearlystages,whichmeanscombatantsarelesslikelytonegotiatea settlement. A Washington Post article published onOctober23,2013,statedthat“politicalsciencesaysSyria’scivilwarwillprobablylastatleastanotherdecade”.**

Thegreaterthenumberoffactions,thelongeracivilwartendstolast.Syria’scivilwarisbeingfoughtbetweentheAssad government and at least 13 major rebel groupswhose alliances are relatively fluid. This suggests thatSyria’scivilwarislikelytolastlongerthantheaveragecivilwar.

AccordingtotheMinistryofInterior,thenumberofSyrianrefugees now accounts for almost one fourth to one third of the local population in many areas; in Ramtha theyaccount for up to 40 percent of the population, while in certain areas inMafraqSyrians account forup to100percent of the population.

HIStoRICal and polItICal Context

*TitleofArticle,’JordanTimes,March212013,OR,www.jordantimesarticlelink.jo.

**http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/10/23/political-science-says-syrias-civil-war-will-probably-last-at-least-another-decade/


GOVERNORATE MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION SYRIANS % of POP

MAFRAQ Governorate 18 Municipalities

GreaterMafraq 90,000 90,000 100

AlManshiah 12,000 2,500 21

Rehab 22,000 5,000 23

Bal’ama 40,000 7,500 19

Zaatari&ManshiatSolta 15,000 3,500 23

AlHusseinBinAbdallah 16,000 800 5

Hosha 10,000 3,500 35

Baseliah 7,500 1000 14

Sirhan 22,000 9,000 41

Khaldiah 30,000 3,500 12

Salhiah&Nayfeh* 16,000 1,000 6

UmmAlJimmal* 25,000 1,000 4

Sabha&Defyaneh* 20,000 3,000 15

UmmAlQuttain&Mkaifteh* 15,000 850 6

DeirElKahef* 12,000 500 4

BaniHashem 6,000 1,000 17

AlSafawi 4,000 500 13

Ruwaished* 7,000 750 11

Source:LocalDevelopmentUnit–Mol.,Oct5,2013

*Povertypockets


Table1-PresenceofSyrianPopulationinMunicipalitiesofMafraqGovernorate.


GOVERNORATE MUNICIPALITIES POPULATION SYRIANS % of POP

IRBID Governorate 18 Municipalities

GreaterIrbid 520,000 120,000 23

WestIrbid 60,000 10,000 17

NewRamtha* 100,000 40,000 40

SahelHouran 45,000 15,000 33

NewMazar 55,000 6,000 11

NewYarmouk 16,000 4,000 25

AlSholeh 18,000 4,000 22

AlKfarat 35,000 8,000 23

AlSarou 15,000 4,000 27

KhaledIbnAlWalid 30,000 1,500 5

Bargash 45,000 2,500 6

RabyatAlKourah 18,000 2,000 11

NewDeirAbiSaid 65,000 6,000 9

SharhabeelBinHassana 40,000 5,000 13

M’athBinJabal 45,000 1,500 4

TabgetFahel 42,000 1,250 3

NewTaybeh 7,000 4,000 57

AlWastiyeh 29,450 5,000 16

Source:LocalDevelopmentUnit–Mol.,Oct5,2013

*Povertypockets


Table2-PresenceofSyrianPopulationinMunicipalitiesofIrbidGovernorate.


6. the northern governorateS

GOVERNORATE ADMIN DIVISION MUNICIPALITY

MAFRAQ Governorate 18 Municipalities

Al Qasaba

GreaterMafraq

AlManshiah

Rehab

Bal’ama

North Western Badia

Zaatari&ManshiatSolta

AlHusseinBinAbdallah

Hosha

Baseliah

Sirhan

Khaldiah

North Badia

Salhiah&Nayfeh

UmmAlJimmal

Sabha&Defyaneh

UmmAlQuttain&Mkaifteh

DeirElKahef

BaniHashem

AlSafawi

Ruwaished Ruwaished

Source:MoI.,Nov6,2013

MafraqGovernorateAdministrativeDivisions

• 8 out of the 18 municipalities lie adjacent to the Syrian border,with Hosha, Sirhan and Sabha& Defyaneh hosting the largestnumbersofSyrianrefugees.

• Several of those localities sharea tribal extension (intermarriageand familial relations) with communities in Southern Syria:Theseare

• Zaatari&ManshiatAlsolta• Sirhan• Hosha• UmmAlJimal• SabhaandDefyaneh• PrinceHusseinbinAbdullah• DeirAlKahef• UmmAlQuttain&Mkaifteh


GOVERNORATE ADMIN DIVISION MUNICIPALITY

IRBID Governorate 18 Municipalities

Al Qasaba & Bani ‘Ubaid GreaterIrbid

Al Qasaba WestIrbid

Al RamthaNewRamtha

SahelHouran

Al Mazar Al Shamali NewMazar

Bani Kenana

NewYarmouk

AlShole

AlKfarat

AlSarou

KhaledIbnAlWalid

Al Kourah

Bargash

RabyatAlKourah

NewDeirAbiSaid

Ghor Al Shamali

SharhabeelBinHassana

M’athBinJabal

TabgetFahel

Al Taybeh NewTaybehAl Wastiyeh AlWastiyeh

tHe noRtHeRn goVeRnoRateS

Source:MoI.,Nov6,2013

IrbidGovernorateAdministrativeDivisions

• 6 out of the 18 municipalities lie adjacent to the Syrian border,with Ramtha, Sahel Houran andNewYarmoukhostingthelargestnumbersofSyrianrefugees.

• Several of those localities sharea tribal extension (intermarriageand familial relations) with communities in Southern Syria:Theseare:

•Ramtha•SahelHouran•NewYarmouk•Saru•Kfarat•AlSholeh


Municipal elections, on aug 27, 2013 © abdullah ayoub


“our most challenging problem is what we were left with by the former municipal councils and committees over the last 10-20 years.”

“We took over bankrupt and devastated municipalities. We don’t know where to start!”


A New Experience, a Unique Opportunity

The latest municipal elections, which took place onAugust272013wereheldunderdifficultconditions:thehugerefugeeinfluxfromneighboringSyriarenderedtheeconomy weak, fueling voter resentment and apathy.TherewasalsoaboycottbytheIslamistopposition,andlow participation among leftist and nationalist parties, who lost in the elections.

Theelectorallawreserves297or25%ofmunicipalcouncilseats forwomenunder theprovisionsofMunicipal LawNo13/2011.Thisisanincreasefromthe2007quota,whichwas20%.

The elections were managed for the first time by theMinistry of Municipal Affairs and supervised by the‘Independent Elections Commission’, and executedaccording to procedural provisions designed by the Ministry of Interior to guaranteeminimum standards offairness and transparency.

Compared to the 2007 elections, the latest elections were oneofthebetterexperiencesinrecentyears;accordingtotheMinisterofMunicipalAffairs,Mr.AlMasri,inaninterviewwithAlGhadDaily,November2,2013,theywerecarriedout to a high standard of integrity.Mr. AlMasri furtherargued it was necessary to bring forward elected mayors especially after the experiment of appointed municipalcommittees which contributed to the deterioration of the municipal governance, service delivery, and administration and that widespread incompetence, inefficiency, andfinancialmismanagementhadbeenreported.

During field research, local citizens expressed a positiveoutlook regarding their new municipal leaders, andoptimismregardingtheeffectsthenewelectoralsystemwould have on accountability in local government.

Inspiteofthesereportedimprovements,themunicipalitiesstill require legislative reform, to strengthen theirindependence.Thiswouldinturnguaranteetheirroleascivilinstitutionsthatmanagelocalaffairsaccordingtothewilloftheirconstituents.Suchamendmentscouldalsobeexpectedtocontributetotheeconomicdevelopmentofthesejurisdictions.

Another reform relates to the restructuring of municipal systemsandtrainingstaffingovernanceandmanagementordertoimprovetheirabilitytotacklemunicipalproblems.

7. the lateSt municiPal electionS

“Thereisagreatsenseofoptimismthatthenewlyelectedmayors are convinced that they represent the will of the local communityandtheyarereadytowork.Wehavenochoicebut tobeoptimisticbecause if theelectedmunicipalities’experiencefailsthenwewouldhavearrivedatapointofnoreturn,evenwheretheconceptofdemocracyisconcerned”,he added. The reformed local electoral process is newexperiencethatneedstobenurtured,andthenewcouncilsneed to be supported and empowered. This experiencepresents an opportunity for local good governance, ushers in an era of decentralization, fosters the concept of accountability, and above all strengthens the democratic participatory process. “This experience has the potentialto usher in an era of decentralization...if electoral reform is accompaniedbyotherdevelopments,suchas:promotinggreater freedom of the press, encouraging political activism amongst the civilian population, improving channels of communication between citizens and local government officialsheelaborated”.

The New Municipal Councils Inherited a Difficult Legacy and Face Unprecedented Challenges

The newly elected municipal councils have inheritedbankrupt, heavily indebted, bloated, and dysfunctionalmunicipalities.

According to Government sources, municipalindebtedness reached around 100 million JordanianDinars(ofwhichIrbidaloneaccountsforaround20millionandMafraqfor6million).However,themainproblemliesin themunicipal salaries, anexpense thateatsup50-65percent of municipal budgets.

Average salaries for Mafraq Governorate municipalitiesstand at 60 percent and for Irbid Governorate at 65percent.Itisworthnotingthataccordingtointernationalstandards salaries should account for amaximumof 25percentofthebudget.Thisleavesaround20percentforcurrentexpensesandonly20percentforcapitalexpenses.This is reflected in deterioratingmunicipal services andretreatingdevelopmentprojects.

The Syrian refugee influx compounded pre-existingproblems and exposed the weaknesses of municipalinstitutions and local governance.


Graph1-MunicipalitiesinMafraqGovernorate–%ofIndebtednesstoBudget

Graph2-MunicipalitiesinMafraqGovernorate–Salariesasa%oflocalbudget

tHe lateSt MUnICIpal eleCtIonS

Source:MinistryofInterior,Nov6,2013



Graph3-MunicipalitiesinMafraqGovernorate–IndebtednessinJODmillions

Graph4-MunicipalitiesinIrbidGovernorate–%ofIndebtednesstoBudget

Source:MinistryofInterior,Nov6,2013Itisworthnotingthataccordingtointernationalstandardssalariesshouldnotaccountforover25percent.




Graph5-MunicipalitiesinIrbidGovernorate–Salariesasa%oflocalbudget

Graph6-MunicipalitiesinIrbidGovernorate–IndebtednessinJODmillions





Moreover,public indebtedness,budgetdeficitandotherfiscal and budgetary considerations in Jordan made itevenmoredifficultforthestatetocontinuetointervenegenerously. However, the Government announced anassistance package of US$ 70million of donors’ moneybefore year end.

Both municipal structures and service infrastructureshave depreciated over the years due to a combination of factors,mainly:

• Agingandlifespanofvehiclesand/orequipment• Shortageofvehiclesandlabor• Lackofmaintenanceduetomismanagement,lackof

financialresources,orwastefulallocationofresources;• Lack of financial resources due tomismanagement,

bloated staffing, or inappropriate allocation ofresources;

• Inability or failure to collect revenue and enforce the law;

• Incompetence and inefficiency • Lack of good governance due to appointed (and

therefore unaccountable) councils and mayors.

Thereare two important factorswhich it isbelievedwillcontribute to improving current problems.

Firstly, themunicipalitiesmustfind theways to increasetheir revenues by collecting past due revenues (amounting to 140 million Jordanian Dinars) andimprovingtheeffectivenessofcurrentrevenuecollection,toachievegreaterfinancial self-sufficiencyanddecreasedependenceonsupportfromthecentralGovernment.

Second, inviewoftheadministrative incompetenceandinefficiency, stricteradherence to job titlesand termsofreference are called for.

According to the Minister of Municipal Affairs (in aninterviewwithAlbaladRadioonOct22,2013),96percentof municipal staff do not hold a university degree, andthe majority did not complete their secondary schooleducationwithhighmarks.Only4percentofmunicipalofficialsinJordanareuniversitygraduates.

Ithasbeensaidofirregularitiesandnepotisminmunicipalappointments. However, according to new provisions,municipal appointments must be sanctioned and managedthroughtheCivilServiceBureau.Mayorsdidnotallocate any personnel budgets for 2014, as they no longer

manage such appointments. The Ministry of MunicipalAffairs is currentlyworkingon thedevelopment of newlegislation and amendments to the current municipal law, including re-instating parts of the 1955 MunicipalLaw provisions, which foresee that basic education andhealthcarearemunicipalaffairs.

Whilethelocalknowledgeandprofessionalexperienceofthe elected council members is certainly valuable, UNDP believes there is a strong argument in favor of municipal assistance plans involving capacity building, technical assistance, and training.


nobody stops here!

“We are the less fortunate…”--local from Irbid

“We are poverty pockets…”--local from Mafraq

“and now we are merely road signs…”

--local councillor from Mafraq


Thefollowingpointssummarizeimpressions,observations,andremarksmadeduringthediscussionsthatwereheldunder the project between researchers and locals overSeptemberandearlyOctober2013:

• Municipalities in the northern peripheries feel leftout of public decision-making, marginalized by thecentralGovernment,andneglected.Asaresult,theirrelationshipwithcentralGovernmentistense.

• ThereisalackofconfidenceincentralGovernmentasmunicipalitiesperceivethatpromisesarenotfulfilled.

• Governmentassistanceisscarceornotpresent.• One councilor complained that,“Years ofmunicipal

committee rule, and no municipal elections, undermined the institutional framework of localgovernmentandleftmunicipalitiesstagnant”.

• OthersoftenhighlightedthatGovernmentministersscarcely ever visit the northern governorates.

• A large number of respondents felt that donors’assistanceis“bypassing”themandischanneledeitherto the governorate centers (cities larger than 100,000 inhabitants) or constituencies with parliamentary representatives who enjoy influence with CentralGovernment.

• UNDP is the only international organization that has visited most of these municipalities in recent years.

• International humanitarian organizations assistingrefugeesrecruitstafffromAmmanwithconnectionsandoffernojobopportunitiestolocalyouth.

• Some/many cited mistrust of international aidorganizations.

The Government, represented by the Ministry ofMunicipal Affairs meanwhile announced that Jordanianmunicipalitieswouldbereceivingassistancepackages,thenorth inparticular.Therewasalsoan intensiveoutreachefforttowardsthosemunicipalities.

8. the relationShiP Between central government, local and international ngoS and un agencieS

Za’atarivillage,2014©UNDP/AlessandraBlasi


Focus Groups/Q&A Debriefing Sessions

In the following section, the results of both thequantitativeandqualitativemunicipalneedsassessmentaresummarized.Thesearelistedaccordingtotheprioritiesestablished by the newly elected municipal councils through theQ&Adebriefing sessions,which focusedonsingling out urgent requirements and demonstratingthe severity of the impact of the Syrian crisis on hostcommunities.

1) Municipal Services and Delivery • SolidWasteManagement• Water• Infrastructure-RoadBuildingandMaintenance-StreetLighting• Sanitation

2) Government Services• Education• Healthcare

3) Other Issues• Housing• Employment,BusinessandTrade• Agriculture

9. FindingS - municiPal needS aSSeSSment ReSUltS: pRoBleMS and pRIoRItIeS

SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Thenumberonepriorityin33outof36municipalities

Qualitative Findings:

A pre-existing problem

• Increased tonnage (due to increase in localpopulation, upgraded lifestyles over the years, andSyrianarrivals);

• Agingandinsufficientvehicles-outofserviceorlifespan;

• Insufficientorbroken-downcontainers;• Inefficient labor (bloating, performance and

commitmentissues);• Costlypetrolandmaintenance;• Pollution, insects, rodents and stray dogs (general

healthhazards);

Priority Interventions (See Annex):

• Garbagetrucksandcompressors;• Lightpickuptrucks,dumptrucks,loaders;• Fogging trucks and equipment and pesticide

supplies;• Containers;• Garbagewheelbarrows;• Laborassignment;

Priority Government Interventions

1. Provide immediate limited financial support andequipment to municipalities, so that they can actimmediately on reducing the amount of uncollected solid waste.

2. Develop improved solidwastemanagement (SWM):by designing a SWM cycle (collection, transfer,landfills,recycle,andre-use),revisingdeliverypoints,collection routes, transfer and recycling opportunities, andpollution-controlmeasures, inorder to increaseeffectiveness and reliability of services and cost-recovery.

3. Implement improved SWM plans includingequipment support and funding of labor-intensiverecycling activities; additional equipment and


training will be needed to introduce the upgraded SWMplans inpilotmunicipalities.Atthesametime,inordertoaddressurgentlivelihoodsissues,cash-for-work modality can be used for sorting, picking-up,handling,transportation,andreusing/recycling;

4. Broaden the range of innovative solutions andpartnerships for SWM: SWM Plans will includefinancial mechanisms, technology, and increasingthe involvement of various stakeholders in SWMcycle.Therewillbeaneedforincreasedcoordinationof different stakeholders including municipalities,communities, NGOs and private sector actors.Private sector involvement, through public-private partnerships (PPPs), can be an option for improving cost-effectiveness and quality of service.Infrastructure, such as landfills, can be awarded toprivatecompaniesonabuild-operate-transferbasis.

Quantitative Findings:

Due to the influx of Syrian refugees, SWM has beenidentifiedasthemajorchallengeformunicipalitiesintheMafraq and Irbid governorates. It is estimated that theincrease in population represents an additional volume of almost 60 tons per day, bringing the total volume to be collected to 150 tons, which exceeds current collectioncapacity. Asa result, inMafraq, themunicipalityhad torequesthelpfromthearmy.InQasabat,IrbidMunicipality,dailywastecollectionwas300tonsbeforetheSyriancrisis;aftertheSyrianInfluxitincreasedto500tons.Meanwhile,inMafraqGreaterMunicipalitythedailyamountofsolidwasteproducednowrangesfrom80-90tonsupto200-250tons.Nevertheless,theover-useofsolidwasteassetsandequipmentrequiresmoreregularmaintenancetoaddresstherepeatedbreakdownanddepreciationofequipment.Inadequate service provision for garbage collection hasresultedfrommunicipalities’shortagesinbothlaborandmaterial assets such as compressors, garbage tractors, waste containers, and so forth.

In the Governorate of Mafraq, prior to the influx ofrefugees, garbage was collected on a daily basis (twice dailyinsidethecityofMafraq),accordingtofixedroutesand a schedule. Now, the municipality’s resources areunder such strain that garbage is only collected a few timesperweek.

The municipality of Mafraq has seven compressors,two rollers and 115 staff with wheelbarrows for SWM.Outside Mafraq city, the other municipalities have lessequipment and staff, and between two to a maximumof five compressors which can hold three tons ofgarbage. Currently,themainlandfillsiteforMafraqisAlHusseini.Mostof thecontainers for rubbishareoldandhavenotbeenmaintained. Theyhavebeenmovedbyresidents from outside their houses and thus need to be resituated properly in consultation with the community. With addition of the Syrian refugees, the city ofMafraqnow spends approximately 18% of its budget onwastemanagementexcluding salary costs.However, resourcesarenotsufficient tocover thecostsnecessary toextendservices to all its residents and at the same time provide regular service towards locals. In Sabh, the amount ofgarbagehasincreasedfrom15tonsto25tonsdaily.Withthe municipalities unable to cope with the increased waste, there has been an increase in illegal dumping, and the inappropriate disposal and burning of waste, all of which contributes to water, soil, and air pollution.

IntheGovernorateofIrbid,priortotheinfluxofrefugees,garbage was collected twice daily in the city by laborers using compressors or vanswhich had a capacity of 1-3tons.Thiswasthentransferredtocompressorswitha9-12toncapacityandtransportedtooneofthreelandfills(AlSari,ToqboiandAlakeeder).Duetotheinfluxofrefugees,the municipality has had to increase the frequency ofcollection with the same resources.

The municipality’s needs assessment shows that themunicipalities identify the increase of solid waste as a pressingproblem.Thequestionwas,“Whatisthenatureof problem?” 13% in Irbid and 5% in Mafraq explicitlystated the influx of refugees as the cause. A combined35% in Irbidand22% inMafraqplace theblameon themunicipalities’ inability tocollectwasteandona lackofcapacity rather than on refugees or an increase of solid waste.

MUnICIpal needS aSSeSSMent ReSUltS: pRoBleMS and pRIoRItIeS


IRBID

52%

18%

17%

13%

Whatisthenatureoftheproblem(solidwastemanagement)?-23responses

Howwasthequalityofsolidwastemanagementbeforethecrisis?-13responsesHowissolidwastemanagementtoday?-14responses

MAFRAQ

74%

10%

11%5%

Whatisthenatureoftheproblem(solidwastemanagement)?-19responses

Howwasthequalityofsolidwastemanagementbeforethecrisis?-17responsesHowissolidwastemanagementtoday?-17responses


InbothIrbidandMafraq,thequalityofSWMhasshiftedmarkedlyfromtheGood-VeryGoodrangetotheVeryPoor-Acceptablerange.

ChangeinSWM

Nature of Problem

SolidWasteManagement

IncreaseinQuantityofSolidWaste InabilityofMunicipality

toCollectWaste InfluxofRefugees InsufficientSWM

Capacity/Labor/Equipment

Before Today

#ofMunicipalitiesperResponse #ofMunicipalitiesperResponse


IRBID

Whataretheconsequencesofsuchachange?-28responses

58%38%

4%

Whatarethepriorityinterventions?-24responses

MAFRAQ


61%11%

28%


PriorityInterventions

Consequences

ProcureSWMEquipment/Vehicles IncreaseShifts

Worked IncreaseLabor




WATER

The second most urgent problem in 23 out of 36municipalities


• Increased demand (due to increase in localpopulationandespeciallySyrianarrivals)

• Waterdistributionnetworkisoldanddilapidatedwith high loss rates

• In someareas theover-groundnetworkposesathreat of contamination

• Needs fornewexpansion to covernewhousingareas

• Inadequate frequency of water supply (oncea week for a few hours), by rotation and byneighborhood

• Frequentwatershortages• Weak water pressure, so pumps need to be

purchasedand installed,withextracost topoorcommunitiesandextracostsinelectricitybills

• Supplydoesnot reachhigh/mountainous areas,againduetoweakpressure

• Waterpurityisdeteriorating;ithasbeenfoundtobe salty or muddy in multiple instances

• Waterpurchasedviawatertanktrucksisbecomingprohibitivelyexpensive

• Syrianswhoareusedtowaterabundanceareanadditional cause of supply shortage

• Newschools,mosques,andpublicplacesaddtoincreased demand

• In certain areas army and security camps orinstallations also add to local water shortages

Priority Interventions

• Alternative water sources (drilling new wells or rehabilitating old ones)

• Reviewundergroundwaterpolicyandregulations(theft and monopoly)

• Provide homes with fresh water cisterns and roof tanks

• Provide homes and schools with rain water collection infrastructure

• Buildwatertowersforbetterpumpingpressure• Providemunicipalitieswithown tanker trucks for

cheaper water service


Thenatureoftheprobleminthewatersectorwasstatedto be “increased demand” and “lack of water” by themunicipalitiesinIrbidandMafraq.Whiletheseresponsesappeartobethesameissue,“lackofsupply” impliestheneed to provide more water, with the obligation resting ontheGovernment,while“increaseddemand”impliestheinfluxofrefugeesasthesourceoftheproblem.

Theconsequencesoftheinfluxofrefugeesonwaterwerestated to be water shortages, increased price of water, and deterioration of the water network. Therefore, thepriority intervention recommended by the municipalities inIrbidandMafraqareto“findalternativesources”,whichincludes digging new wells or providing water tanks,followed by“water networkmaintenance” and“increasewaterpumping”.

INFRASTRUCTURE


Road Building & Maintenance –The thirdmost urgentproblem in 18 out 36 municipalities

A preexisting problem

• Roadnetworkto,aroundorwithinmunicipalitiesin the Northern/North-Western Badia is inneed for maintenance especially those that are immediatelyaffectedbytheZaataricampaswellas the international road leading to the camp

• New roads need to be built due to geographic expansion

• Basicrefurbishmentofroadstoagriculturalareascould revive the agricultural sector and aid the rural economy.

Street Lighting –No3Problemin18out36municipalities


• Streetlightingneedsmaintenance• Newexpansionsduetogeographicgrowth• Manymunicipalities are indebted to the electricity



IRBID

46%

45%

9%

Whatisthenatureoftheproblem?-11responses



MAFRAQ

75%

25%




Water

ConsequencesofSuchChange

Nature of Problem


IncreasedDemand LackofWater Poor Condition of

WaterNetwork

#ofMunicipalitiesperResponse






company. Hence, rationing is becoming animperative.Somemunicipalitiesturnoffstreetlightsatmidnight or use the eban number sequence forstreet lighting

• These issues present growing security risks, withcrime (especially cattle thefts) on the increase

Priority Intervention

• Maintenanceoflightunitsandinstallationofhighqualityenergysavingbulbs

• Develop alternative sources of energy such as solar powered street lighting

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY


Whileelectricityservicedeliveryhasnotbeenperceivedtohavedecreasedgreatly,increasedfinancialburdenandpoweroutagesare reportedasproblems. The responsethat refugees should pay higher prices than Jordaniansas a priority intervention may show that the problem is perceivedasbeingassociatedwiththeinfluxofrefugees.

SANITATION

Thefourthmosturgentproblemin18out36municipalities


Preexisting problem

• Increased load on sanitation networks, whereavailable

• Networkneedsmaintenanceorexpansion• WiththeexceptionsofIrbid,Mafraq,andRamtha,

almost all other smaller municipalities have no sewagesystems.Poorqualitytopographyoftheseareas means that addressing this problem would requireconsiderableplanning


• Home sewage cisterns are overflowing anddisposal cost is becoming prohibitive due to distance to treatment plant

• Riskofcontaminationofundergroundwaterandaquiferswithsewageinsomeareas

• ThewholeZa’atariareaisbuiltoveramajoraquifer


• Municipality-ownedsewagetankertrucks• Mapping of locations with potential pollution

threats


IRBID

Howwaselectricityavailabilitybeforethecrisis?-8responsesHowiselectricityavailabilitytoday?-8responses

50%50%


20%

80%


MAFRAQ

Howwaselectricityavailabilitybeforethecrisis?-9responsesHowiselectricityavailabilitytoday?-9responses

20%

80%


90%

10%


ElectricitySupply ElectricityAvailability

Nature of Problem


HigherFinancialBurden PoorServiceDelivery

PowerOutages

IncreaseCapacity IncreasePricesfor

Refugees


Before Today



IRBID

25% 59%

8%8%



16%

67%

17%


MAFRAQ

69%

19%

6%6%



40%

40%

10%

10%


Sanitation Nature of Problem

Consequences


NoSanitationSystem IncreasedLoadon

SanitationNetwork Deterioration of

SanitationNetwork IncreasedUsage

Construct/ExtendSanitationNetwork ProvideSanitation

Equipment IncreaseMaintenance

Schedule Construct Aborbption

Holes




GOVERNMENT SERVICES

• Education • Healthcare

Provisionsofthe1955MunicipalLawcouldbereinstatedin a forthcoming law amendment that gives back theresponsibilities of basic education and healthcare to municipalities.Thiswouldempowerconstituentstodecideonmunicipalpriorities likebuildingaschoolorahealthcenter without any central government intervention.

EDUCATION

Themosturgentpriorityin26out36municipalities


According to UNHCR, some 83,232 Syrian children wereregisteredinJordanianpublicschoolsasofOct172013.Moreimportantly,despiteeffortstoencourageSyrianchildrentoenrolinJordan’spublicschools,over60percentofroughly250,000 school-aged Syrians remained unregistered as the 2013-14schoolyearbegan,accordingtoUNICEF.

A pre-existing problem

• Several schools arebecoming tooold andneedmaintenance or expansion due to populationincrease

• WithSyrianarrivals,manyschoolclassroomsareovercrowded, something which was already a problem before

• Manyschoolshaveconvertedtotwo-shifttimings.This entailed a shortening of classes to 35 minfrom45inadditiontoteachersworkingovertimethat they are not compensated for.

• School principals and teachers complain thatSyrianpupils’ levelofeducation isbehind thatoftheir Jordanianpeers, oftenbecause thewarhasmeantinterruptingtheirschoolingforthemajority.

• School principals and teachers also complainaboutthedifficultiestheyfaceintryingtoteachSyrianpupilswithadifferent conservativevaluesystem than the host communities.

• Theseissuesarealreadycausingdifficultiesatschools.• Syrian students, with the exception of first-

graders,donothaveahealthcertificate

Jordan’s schoolsstruggling to accommodateSyrian refugeechildren

Za’atariVillage,2014©UNDP/SalahMalkawi

Jordan,2013©UNICEF/Noorani



• Cases of jaundice and other rare diseases areobserved.

• IncreaseinclassroomsisneededtoabsorbSyrianstudents in certain areas with high concentrations of refugees.

• Overcrowding of schools is also affecting theadmission of Jordanian students as schools areclearlyinstructedtoacceptSyrianstudents

• Transportation of Syrian children is becominga problem since many of these live in scattered locations.Thismeans an elevated risk of schooldropouts.

• Parents and school administrations are already asking for segregating Syrian students.However,there are also many voices that reject such anotion altogether and call for their integration.

• All of the above issues are already sources of tension between host communities and refugees, and could worsen.


• Recruitingyounggraduatestoteachinafternoonshifts and relieve current teachers. This has thedoublebenefitofalsoaddressingunemploymentof young graduates.

• Rentorconstructnewschools/classrooms.• Insomeareas,prefaborcaravansareacceptable

forkindergartensorbasiceducation(firsttothirdgrades).


Overcrowded classrooms are identified as the seriousprobleminEducation,inparticularinMafraq.Asaresult,quality of education, which was reported as mostly“very good” before the Syrian crisis, is now perceivedas “poor” to “very good”. Therefore, most stated thePriorityInterventionasthe“constructionofnewschools/increase in capacity of current schools” including somemunicipalities calling for the construction of schools for refugees only.

Jordan-2013©UNICEF/Lyon

Za’atariVillage,2014©UNDP/AlessandraBlasi

Jordan’s hospitals manage care for wounded Syrians



IRBID


Howwaseducationqualitybeforethecrisis/today?-18responses


MAFRAQ


Howwaseducationqualitybeforethecrisis/today?-38responses


Education Consequences

EducationQuality

EducationPriorityInterventions






Before Today



HEALTHCARE

Secondpriorityin19out36municipalities


–No2Priorityin19out36municipalities

According to a July 2013 article published in medicaljournal The Lancet and co-authored by the JordanianMinisterofHealthandEnvironment,theGovernmentspentanestimated$53monmedicalcareforrefugeesbetweenJanuaryandApril2013,withonly$5mprovidedindirectsupport by UN agencies during this period. The articlestatedthattheGovernmentwouldhavetoboostitstotalannualhealthexpenditureby$135min2013toprovidethe same levelof care to thenew refugeesprojected toarrivebytheendoftheyear.Itestimatesthatanadditional$180mwillbeneededtoexpandandupgradetenexistingfacilities in the northern governorates to cope with the massivedemandsonthehealthcaresystemthere.(OxfordBusinessGroupSep18,2013)


• Health centers already faced shortage of staff,equipment, and facilities in many of the areas,especially the rural or remote areas

• Certain facilities stand empty during afternoons because there are not enough doctors, who move between several centers daily in order to serve differentcommunities.Service isgiven fora fewhoursonly.ThishasbeencompoundedwithSyrianarrivals that are overcrowding health centers and competing for treatment and medicines, all of whichaffectsqualityofservice

• Workloadforalreadylimitedstaffhasincreased• ShortagesofmedicationasconsequenceofSyrian

arrivals, in particular, monthly medication for the elderly and chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

• There are longwaits and some Jordanians reportleavingclinicswithoutbeingtreated.Inmanycases,these patients come from remote areas and are too poortoaffordrepeatedtransportationcosts.

• As with schools, health centers cannot refuse treatment of any Syrians who are developingtraumatic or otherwise serious illnesses.

• In a conservative society, many are calling for thepresenceofafemalenurseand/orpermanentmidwife.

Jordan’s hospitals provide care for wounded Syrians

2013©BrendaStoter



IRBID


Howwashealthservicedeliverybeforethecrisis?–5responsesHowishealthservicedeliverytoday?-5responses

Whatarethepriorityinterventions?–18responses

MAFRAQ

Whataretheconsequencesofsuchachange?–20responses

Howwashealthservicedeliverybeforethecrisis?–17responsesHowishealthservicedeliverytoday?-17responses


Healthcare Nature of Problem

ChangeinHousingAvailability

ChangeinHousingQuality






Before Today



• Ambulancesareinacuteshortage.TheCivilDefenseDepartmenthascontributedoneambulance;however,due to the dispersed layout of neighborhoods and communities, a second is needed.

• A hearse is also needed in many localities. • Healthcare shortages could be an additional

reason for tensions between host and refugee communities.


Inhealth,themostpressingneedismedication,inparticularfor chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Themunicipalities reportedadecrease inqualityofhealthservicedelivery from“good”-“verygood” tomostly“poor”-“acceptable.” Therefore,“hirenewstaff”,“increasecapacity”,and “provide medication” to respond to the increaseddemandhavebeenidentifiedaspriorityinterventions.

OTHER ISSUES HOUSING


• SyriansarecompetingwithJordaniansforhousingas they are assisted through a lease contract in cashbyUNHCR.Someirregularitiesinthisspecificregard are observed

• Syrians end up withmore than one family in arentedplace.Thisisafurtherburdenongarbagecollection, water and electricity consumption, and sanitation

• RentshaveincreasedduetoSyrianarrivalswhichmeans that many lower-income Jordanians,especiallyyoungnewlyweds,cannolongeraffordmarketrentalprices

• This could be another major cause for social tension

Za’atari Village, 2014 © Undp/Salah Malkawi



Map 2 - Mafraq governorate: % increase in rent rates before and after the crisis

Map 3 - Irbid governorate: % increase in rent rates before and after the crisis

Source:HCSPJordan,2013

Source:HCSPJordan,2013



IRBID

53%47%


Howwashousingavailabilitybeforethecrisis?-14totalresponsesHowishousingavailabilitytoday?-17totalresponses

Howwashousingqualitybeforethecrisis?–12responsesHowishousingqualitytoday?-9responses

MAFRAQ

33%60%

7%


Howwashousingavailabilitybeforethecrisis?-18totalresponsesHowishousingavailabilitytoday?-18totalresponses

Howwashousingqualitybeforethecrisis?–16responsesHowishousingqualitytoday?-15responses

Housing Nature of Problem

ChangeinHousingAvailability

ChangeinHousingQuality

IncreaseinDemand/ Population LackofSupply SyrianscanAffordHigh

Rents




Before Today

Before Today



IRBID


20%

67%

6%7%


MAFRAQ


55%

5%7%

30%


Consequences


RentCeiling SyrianOnlyAreas/

TransfertoCamps ConstructHousing HousingLoans





The municipalities self-reported that rental prices haveincreasedbetween150-400%inthetwogovernorates.

The municipalities identified the nature of problemfrom the perspectives of both demand and supply. Those stating“increase in demand/population” arguablyimplicitlyperceivetheproblemtostemfromtheinfluxofrefugees.Thecharttitled“changeinhousingavailability”shows that the change in the availability of housing has shifted from “available”/ “good” to “unavailable”/ “poor”bothinIrbidandMafraq.

EMPLOYMENT, BUSINESS AND TRADE


It is well documented that that trade between Syriaand Jordan before the Syrian conflict was concentrated(on the Jordanian side)within the cities of Ramtha andMafraq. It is therefore not surprising that these citiessuffered the greatest economic losses as a result of theSyrian crisis. Estimates indicate that 80 percent of theconstituents of these two cities were engaged in bilateral tradewhichcametoahaltduetothecrisis.Withalreadyhigh unemployment rates in the rural areas surrounding

these cities, especially among women (23.3 percent), these were economic losses the area could ill afford.Further exacerbating the economic difficulties faced bylocals, officials and community representatives estimatethatatleast30,000refugeesofworkingagehavegainedemployment,ofwhichhalformoreareinIrbidandMafraq.

• Syriansarealsocompetingherewith Jordanians forwork opportunities, especially the lower paid jobsand the vocational occupations where they possess bettertrainingandexperience.

• Fieldwork indicated that Syrians generally work forlowerwages. In somecasesUNHCRhandoutsmakeitpossibleforSyrianstosettleforlowersalariesthanlocals,whodonotreceivethesameassistance.InothercasesSyriansacceptlowerwagessimplybecausetheyaremoredesperatethanlocals.Localbusinessesandemployerswillalmostoftenhire lower-paidworkersattheexpenseoflocalemployment.

• SomeSyriansareopeningbusinessesandcontributinginimportantwaystothelocaleconomy,accordingtofigures.

• 70%ofJordan’slandtransportusedtocomethroughSyria. Hence, business and trade has been hit hardby theclosureofbordersand trade routes.Thishasaffectedvarioussectorsoftheeconomyinthenorth,especially the informal sector and transport.

• These issues could be yet another source of social tension.

BakdashisalandmarkintheSyriancapital,

servingtheArabworld’smostfamousicecream

since 1895 set up shop in Amman.



RatesofUnemployment

In the wake of the Government’s decision in July 2013 toremovefuelsubsidiesanddoublemobiletelephonetaxrates,tensionsbetweenSyriansandtheirJordanianhostsmounted.Thiswasevident in theway locals responded to anumberof polls. According to a poll conducted by the University of Jordan’sCentreforStrategicStudiesinJune2013,73percentofthenationalsamplesurveyeddidnotbelievethatJordanshouldallowanymoreSyrianrefugeestoenter.Inthesamesurvey, 87 percent of respondents said it was preferable for Syrian refugees to remain in camps rather than enteringcitiesandtowns;and92percentsaidtheSyrianinfluxhasanegativeimpactonjobopportunitiesforJordanians.

In a poll conducted in October 2013, 72 percent ofJordanians noticed that Syrians are working in acommercial outlet in their neighborhood, an increase of 11 percent from April 2013.

In the samepoll, asmanyas 76percentof respondentsbelieved that the presence of Syrian refugees in theirareashadhadanegativeeffect,mainlyoncompetitionforjobs(41percent)aswellasthecostofliving(30percent).Respondentsalsomentionedpressuresonbasicservicessuch as water, transportation, education, and healthcare.Despite the increasingly widespread perception amongJordanians thatSyriansare taking their jobs, theunemploymentfiguresgivenoexhaustiveevidencethat

this is the case. Syrian laborers are either taking jobsnobody is keen to take or they compete with Egyptianexpatriateworkers.Nevertheless,even ifunfounded, theperception among Jordanians is important as it iswhatinfluences relations between locals and the refugeepopulation.

Nevertheless, the impact of the Syrian crisis on Jordan’seconomyhasnotbeenentirelynegative.In2012Syriansinjected more than $1bn of capital into the Jordanianeconomy, a sum that was expected to grow by 3% in2013,accordingtothemostoptimisticforecasts.(OxfordBusinessGroupSep18,2013).

According to data released by Jordan’s Ministry ofIndustryandTrade,Syriancapital invested fromJanuary2012 to September 2013 amounted to 34 percent oftotalregisteredArabcapitalinJordan.Thebreakdownbysector was 40 percent in industry, 38 percent in services, 33 percent in trade, 20 percent in agriculture, and only 2.5 percentinrealestate,whichdemonstratesthatJordanianperceptionsofSyriansdrivingupthepriceof realestatemay be unfounded. Syrian capital accounted for 9.5percent of total corporate capital registered during the sameperiod.TheSyrianindustrialinvestmentsaccountedfor 42 percent of industries established in Jordan’sIndustrialEstatesforthefirst6monthsof2013.Moreover,

Source: doS (2013)



IRBID

55%

18%18%

9%



Whatwerethemainsectorsofemployment?–31responsesWhatarethesectorsaffected?–13responses

MAFRAQ

50%

22%28%



Whatwerethemainsectorsofemployment?–31responsesWhatarethesectorsaffected?–26responses

Nature of Problem

Consequences

EmploymentSectors

Employment,

BusinessandTrade

RefugeesAcceptLowerWages Employmentof

RefugeesWorkers IncreasedCompetition NewSyrianOwned

ShopsOpeningwithout Permit





SectorAffected Main

Sectiors



500Syriancompanieswereregisteredfromthebeginningof 2012 up to end of 2013 at a total capital of 42 million dinars out of which 158 in industry employing 2,157 workers.ThepercentageofJordaniansexpectedtoworkinSyrianstartupsstandsat59%comparedtojust24%inJordanianindustriesin2013.


OneofthemainproblemswiththeJordanianeconomyisthe persistently high unemployment levels (currently at 12.2%),andthespecificpatternsofthelabormarket,whichsustainsthemismatchbetweendemandandsupply.TheJordanianworkingagepopulationisyoungandincreasinglyskilled. However, with only 38% of the populationeconomically active, Jordan has one of the lowest labormarket participation rates in the world. Unemploymentratesforwomenareparticularlyhigh,reflectingtheirlowparticipationinthelabormarketcomparedtomen:85.9%of women are economically inactive, despite the fact that theymakeup60%ofuniversitygraduates.

Inruralareas, femaleunemploymenthasreached25.6%comparedto18.7%inurbanareas.Theheavyrelianceofrural areas on public sector employment, combined with a shrinking public sector helps to explain the source ofrecentprotests in ruralareas.Whilewomen form45%oftheciviliancivilservice,theyonlyaccountfor13%oftheprivatesectorworkforce.

Income-generating opportunities have becomeincreasingly competitive inMafraq and Irbid due to theinflux of Syrian refugees. While unskilled and skilledJordanians are usually paid between JD 8 to 10 andbetweenJD15to20perhourrespectively,unskilledandskilledSyrianworkersarereadytoacceptwagesrangingbetween JD 5 to 6 and between JD 8 to 10 per hourrespectively, i.e. far below the minimum wage and without anytypeofsocialsecurityormedicalinsurance.Outoftheestimated44,000SyrianrefugeesofworkingagecurrentlyinJordan,itisestimatedthatnolessthan30,000refugeeshavefoundajob,halfoftheminthegovernoratesofIrbidand Mafraq, suggesting that locals living in these areasmightbefacingparticularlystiffcompetitionforjobs.

Theassessmentalsoidentifies“increasedunemployment”and“nojobopportunities”asthemajorimpactoftheinfluxofSyrianrefugees.Notably,someobservedsocialtensions

asaconsequence.Themunicipalitiesidentifiedthecausesof such changes as causedby refugeeworkers,with themainresponsebeingthe“employmentofrefugeeworkers”,whichisalsorelatedto“refugeesacceptlowerwages”.

In terms of employment in Irbid, the perception ofrespondents was that small and medium enterprises (SMEs)arethemainemploymentsectorandalsothemostaffected, followed by services. In Mafraq, respondentsanswered that agriculture and trade are the main sectors and also the most affected. construction, handicrafts,andindustryareperceivedasbeingaffectedaswell.Thepriorityinterventionsidentifiedareeitherthosedesignedto increase the capacity of Jordanians (ie, SME support,trainingprojects,agriculturalskillstrainings)ortoprohibitrefugeeworkers frombeingemployed. Other responsesincluded the transfer of refugees to camps, and inspections tofindillegalworkers.

AGRICULTURE


AccordingtotheOxfordbusinessGroupreport,2013,theagriculturalsector-whichaccountsforabout4percentofJordan’sGDP-hasbeenamongthemostaffectedsectorsbytheSyrianpresence.Some60percentofSyrianrefugeesare located in small towns or villages in the governorates ofIrbid,Mafraq,Balqa,andAjloun,wherefarmingisoneofthemainlivelihoods,accordingtotheFoodandAgricultureOrganization (FAO). Border communities in Jordan thathad previously benefitted from government-subsidizedseeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal feed from Syria,or had earned income by trading or smuggling Syrianagricultural products through informal trade networks,haveseenthecostsofproductionrisesignificantly.

Shortages in inexpensive poultry products importedfrom Syria, the increased price of animal feed on thelocalmarketandaspikeinanimal-bornediseasesduetostrained border controls have caused the price of eggs to increasefour-fold,accordingtotheFAO.Animal feed prices roseby22-38percentbetween2009and2012,mostlydueto increased transportation costs as a result of the change inthetradingroutefromTartousinSyriatothenewportsof Aqaba and Haifa. Meanwhile, the rise of illegal cross-border trade in Syrian livestock has pushed the price ofsheep and goats down by half in some areas of the country.



Agriculture IRBID

57%

14%

29%


Whataretheconsequencesofsuchachange-10responses

25%

75%

Whatarethepriorityinterventions-4responses

MAFRAQ

14% 22%

7%

57%


Whataretheconsequencesofsuchachange-13responses

25%

17%

25%

8%

8% 9%8%

Whatarethepriorityinterventions-12responses

Nature of Problem

Consequences


IncreaseinPopulationofRefugees FarmersUnableto

Plant Employmentof

Refugees None

SupportFarmers/AgriSector ProhibitRefugeesfrom

WorkinginAgri WaterAccumulation

Projects PrivateSector

Investment AnimalHusbandry

Projects RecruitJordanian

Workers ProhibitExportationof

LocalGoods




Competition between Syrian refugees and Jordanians inrural areas has depressed seasonal farm wages to as low as JD150($210)for30daysofwork.Employmentofrefugeesin the agricultural sector is on the increase.

Agricultural commodities that once travelled overland through Syria to markets in the Arabian Peninsula andIraq, or were trans-shipped through the port of Latakiato Eastern European countries, are now transported bysea fromports in Israel,Turkey, or Egypt, or by air fromLebanon, at a much higher cost to producers. Somefarmers in the Jordan Valley have resorted to throwingaway large amounts of vegetable produce due to be exportedbecause transport costs have skyrocketed, theJordanExportersandProducersAssociationforFruitandVegetableshasreported.*

Concernsof an impending crisis in Jordan’s food supplyarealsomountingastheGovernmentcopeswitharisingimport bill due to increased demand from refugees and a decline in Syrian food imports of at least 50 percent.In the spring of 2013*, the FAO estimated that thegovernment’ssix-monthsupplyofstrategicfoodreserveswould be depleted within four months if the number of refugees continued to grow at the existing rate, andalsoquestioned theGovernment’sability tomaintain itsfoodsubsidyprogram,whichcoststheequivalentof1%of GDP annually. Between 2011 and 2012, overall foodpricesincreasedby5percentinJordan.TheJordanFoodandDrugAdministrationreportedthattheKingdomhadimported87percentofitsfoodrequirementsin2012,atatotalannualcostofJD2.2bn($3.1bn),whichrepresents14percent of its total import bill.

• Syrian refugees are competing with Jordanians forworkonfarmsatlowerwagesinthenorthernfarmingcommunities.

• Sometimes whole families set up camps next toJordanianfarmsforwork.

• Some farmers have no access to their farms duringwinter due to unpaved roads. Roads to certainfarming areas could be improved with base coarse material—a low cost intervention that could help revive the agricultural sector.



The “increase in population of refugees” is perceivedas the major problem in agriculture, with a sizeablegroup mentioning the “employment of refugees in the agriculturalsector”inIrbid,while“employmentofrefugees”generally is identified as the major problem in Mafraq.Theprioritized interventionsare tobuild thecapacityoffarmers/agricultural laborers, improving access to waterand private sector investment, and also to prohibit or controlSyrianrefugeeparticipationinthesector.

*http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/economic_updates/impact-syrian-refugees-jordan%E2%80%99s-economy


10. concluSion

The northern host communities are in urgent need of assistance.

• Assistanceinformofvehicles,equipment,andsupplieswill strengthen the credibility of the new municipal and localgovernanceprocesses,byincreasingtheefficiencyofpublicservicedelivery.Increasedconfidenceinlocalgovernment should have positive implications for the democratic participatory process as a whole.

• In light of new amendments to the MunicipalLaw and proposed legislations which will affectthe whole country, targeted assistance to northern communities and municipal institutions should establish a role model and a test for the decentralization experiment in the Kingdom.

• Compared to 2007, the latest elections were one ofthebetterexperiencesinrecentyears,andwerewidely perceived as having been carried out with a great degree of integrity.

• Discussionswith localsduringfieldwork showedthat public perception of the latest elections is positive, with many believing that the new mayors are responsible and accountable and truly represent the local community.

• The2013electionsandtheproposedamendmentsto theMunicipalLaw,whichwould reinstate the1955 provisions and return control over basic education and healthcare to municipalities and local communities, should, taken together,empower constituents to decide on municipal prioritieswithminimalGovernmentintervention.

• Assistance will therefore support the newly electedcouncilsandestablish thisexperienceasan opportunity for local good governance.

• Thecurrentstateofmunicipalaffairsalsorequiresserious interventions, such as restructuring, trainingandmanagement,andfinancialplanningcapacity building.

• TheimpactoftheSyriancrisisonhostcommunitiesshould, through such interventions, be mitigated in anticipation of an increase in influx or thecontinuation of the war.

But more importantly,

• Potential social and political tensions in the country that are building due to economic strain and competition for jobs will be mitigated byinterventions that address these problems.

• SuchinterventionswillalsobolsterthesecurityofJordan’s northern borders, whichwill contributeto national and regional stability.


11. recommendationS

Provide urgent assistance in the areas of:

• Solidwastemanagement–Priority1• Water–Priority2• Infrastructure–RoadBuilding/Maintenance

andStreetLighting–Priority3• Sanitation–Potentialpollutionhazards–

Sewageandfreshwateraquifers–Priority4• GovernmentServices–Capacitybuilding

forlocalgovernmentofficials–Priority5• SchoolsandHealthcare–Buildingor

expandingschools–Priority6

It is equally important to

• Improve,throughtechnicalassistance,the efficiency of the municipal management process, restructuring of planning.

• Aid municipalities, with the help of law enforcementandjudicialauthorities,in collecting past due revenues and receivables.

• Assist municipalities in identifying reasonable and economically feasible revenue generating projects.


The Syrian refugee influx not only compoundedpreexisting problems and challenges but exposed thetragic state of affairs, as well as the vulnerability of themunicipal institutions and local governance. Obvioussignsofadministrativeincompetenceandinefficiencyareapparent.

Withthe latestmunicipalelections,anewexperienceaswell as an opportunity for improved local governance and strengthenedparticipatoryprocesshasbeenidentified.

In addition, there is a growing feeling of resentment,unfairness and exclusion emerging in aggrieved areasthat could, in the medium and longer term, threaten social peace and the stability of the North, and trigger wider adverseeffectsonJordanasawhole.

Inviewofthesedevelopmentsandstateofaffairs,thereistheurgencyofextendingdirectsupporttovulnerablehostcommunities,aswellashelpingtheGovernmentofJordanmitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis on theirlives.

This becomes further necessary in anticipation of anincreaseininfluxoralongerwar.

Therefore, assistance in any kind or form will not onlymitigate the impact of the Syrian crisis, but wouldempower the newly elected councils and establish this experienceasanopportunityfor localgoodgovernanceand participatory process.

The current state of municipal affairs requires seriousinterventions, such as restructuring, training and/ormanagement and financial planning capacity buildingas a requirement to raise the standards of municipalcompetenceandefficiency.

At the same time, technical interventions could help municipalities improve collection of past due revenues and receivables, improve outreach and greater responsiveness as well as foster the concept of accountability.

Municipalities could be granted technical assistance toidentify reasonable and economically feasible money and revenuegeneratingprojects.


12. annex i: MUnICIpalItIeS QUantIFIed needS lIStIngS

GREATER IRBID 23 4000 NA - 1 - - 1 - 1 1 1 -

WESTIRBID 4 500 2 - 1 - 1 1 - 2 2 1 1

NEWRAMTHA 5 300 3 - 1 - 1 - - - - 3 -

SAHELHORAN 2 200 - - - - 1 - - 3 2 1

ALSHOLEH 2 100 1 - 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1

YARMOUK 2 150 2 - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 1 1

ALSAROU 2 150 - - - - - - 1 1 -

KFARAT 8 800 - 1 1 - 1 - - 1 1 -

KHALIDBALWALID 2 600 4 - 1 1 1 - 1 1 1 1

MA’AZBINJABAL 2 100 - - - 1 1 - - 1 1 1

TABGATFAHEL 2 200 1 - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 -

SHARHABEELBHASANA 2 100 - - 1 - 1 1 - 1 2 -

TAYBEH 5 500 3 - 2 1 4 1 - 3 3 1 3

ALWASTIYEH 3 1000 3 - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 1

RABIATALKOURA 3 200 - - 1 - 1 - 1 1 2 1 -

DEIRABISAID 4 200 3 1 1 - 1 - 1 1 4 -

BERGESH 3 200 1 3 1 1 1 - - 1 1 1 -

NEWMAZAR 4 600 - 3 1 - 1 - - 1 1 1 1

GREATER MAFRAQ 5 NA - - 1 - 1 - - - 1 -

NEWBAL’AMA 6 400 2 - 2 - 4 - - - 2 1 -

ZA’ATARI&MANSHIYEHSOLTA 2 100 2 - 1 - 1 - - - 2 1

SIRHAN 4 NA 2 - 1 - 1 1 1 2 1 1 1

MANSHIYEH 3 NA - - 1 - 1 1 2 1 -

REHAB 2 NA - - - 1 - - - - 2 1 -

HUSSEINBINABDULLAH 3 NA 1 - 1 - 1 - 1 1 2 1 -

HOSHA 2 NA 1 - 1 - 1 - - 1 2 1 -

BASSILIYEH 2 NA 1 1 1 - 1 - - 1 1 1 -

KHALDIYEH 2 100 2 - 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 1 1

SALHIYEH&NAYFE 2 150 - 1 - - 1 - - 1 1 2 -

UMALJIMAL 1 150 - - - - 1 - - 2 1 1 -

SABHA&DIFYANEH 1 300 - - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 1 1

UMMALQUTTAIN&MKAIFTEH 1 200 - - 1 - 1 - - 1 1 -

DEIRELKAHEF 2 500 1 - 1 - 1 1 - 1 1 2 -

BANIHASHEM 1 100 1 - 1 - - 1 - 1 1 1 -

SAFAWI 1 NA - - 1 - - 1 - 1 1 -

RUWAISHED 1 100 2 - - - 1 1 - 2 1 2 1

NA=NoNumberSpecified

Com

pres

sors

Cont

aine

rs

Dum

pTruc

k

Pick

upTr

uck

Load

er

Fogg

ing

Mac

hine

Fogg

ing

Truc

k

Elec

tricity

Cr

ane

Road

Roller

Water

Truc

k

Sewag

eTruc

k

Am

bula

nce

Hea

rse

Municipality


13. annex ii: MUnICIpal pRIoRItIeS and WISH lIStS

GreaterMafraqMunicipality

WishListforVehicles&Equipment

Compressors 5

Containers NA

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck -

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities

Priority DegreeofImportance

1 Sanitation 5

2 SolidWasteManagement 5

3 Water 5

4 Education 4

5 EmploymentandBusiness 3

6 Healthcare 5

7 Housing 3

8 Electricity 3

SpecialNeeds:

• InternationalAgenciestoassignaquotaforemployment of local community youth

AlManshiah


Compressors 1

Containers 3

DumpTruck NA

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine 1

FoggingTruck -

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck -

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 2

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities


1 Sanitation 5


3 Water 5

4 Education 4


6 Healthcare 5

7 Housing 3

8 Electricity 3

SpecialNeeds:

• Waternetworkmaintenance• Waterwelldrilling• Someschoolexpansion• Revenueandemploymentopportunitygenerating

projectlikeroofsolarpanelpoweredtanks• Householdrefusewatertreatmentequipmentto

allowhouseholdsmallfarmingprojects


Za’atari&ManshiyehAsSolta


Compressors 2

Containers 100

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck -

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance -

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Sanitation 4

4 Water 5

5 Electricity 5

6 Healthcare 5

7 Education 5


SpecialNeeds:

• Waternetworkmaintenance

Sirhan


Compressors 4

Containers NA

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller 1

WaterTruck 2

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Electricity 4

3 Water 5

4 Sanitation 5

5 Education 4

6 Healthcare 5


8 Housing 4

9 Agriculture 4

SpecialNeeds:



Bal’ama


Compressors 6

Containers 400

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader 2

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 4

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck -

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities


1 Sanitation 5


3 Healthcare 4

4 Education 3


6 Housing 3

7 Electricity 3

Rehab


Compressors 2

Containers NA

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine 1

FoggingTruck -

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck -

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Water 4

3 Sanitation 5


5 Education 4

6 Healthcare 4

7 Housing 3

SpecialNeeds:



HusseinbinAbdullah


Compressors 3

Containers NA

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller 1

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Water 4

3 Sanitation 5


5 Education 4

6 Healthcare 4

7 Housing 3

SpecialNeeds:

• CementwatertowerinBa’ejandUmmMasrabareas

• Waterpumpsforsomewells• Repairsomeundergroundwells

Hosha


Compressors 2

Containers NA

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Sanitation 4

4 Water 5

5 Electricity 5

6 Healthcare 5

7 Education 5


SpecialNeeds:

• Certain underground water wells need rehabilitation(Swailmeh,1,3&4)

• Waternetworkmaintenance• DrillingofwellinHamra


Al-Bassiliyeh


Compressors 2

Containers NA

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck 1

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 5

4 Healthcare 5

5 Agriculture 5

6 Education 5

7 Electricity 5

8 Housing 5


SpecialNeeds:

• Waternetworkmaintenance• Drill underground water well• Agriculturalprojects

Al-Khaldiyeh


Compressors 2

Containers 100

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Healthcare 5

3 Education 5

4 Sanitation 5

5 Water 5

6 Electricity 5

7 Housing 5


9 Infrastructure 4

SpecialNeeds:



Salhiyeh&Nayfe


Compressors 2

Containers 150

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck 1

Loader -

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 2

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 4

3 Water 5

4 Healthcare 3

5 EducationWater 5

UmAlJimal


Compressors 1

Containers 150

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 2

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 5

4 Sanitation 5

5 EducationWater 5

6 Healthcare 5


Sabha&Difyaneh


Compressors 1

Containers 300

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Water 5

3 Healthcare 5

4 Education 3

5 Housing 2


SpecialNeeds:

• Waternetworkmaintenance• Drill underground water well• Investmentprojectssuchassolarenergy,

distilling station or gas storage.

UmmAlQuttain&Mkaifteh


Compressors 1

Containers 200

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Education 5

3 Healthcare 3

4 Infrastructure 5

5 Electricity 5

6 Water 5


DeirElKahef


Compressors 2

Containers 500

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 2

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 5

4 Sanitation 5

5 Education 5

6 Healthcare 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Drill two underwater wells for agricultural purposes,oneintheWesternandanotherintheEasternareasofthemunicipality

• Maintenanceofschools

BaniHashem


Compressors 1

Containers 100

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck -

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Sanitation 5

4 Education 5

5 Healthcare 5

SpecialNeeds:

• RepairBishriyehtreatmenttank• Enable/allowtheexploitationofvolcanictuff/

ZeoliticTuffMountainsinthemunicipalareatogenerate revenue and employment for the whole region.


Ruwaished


Compressors 1

Containers 100

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 2

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 2

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 5

4 Sanitation 5

5 Education 5

6 Healthcare 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Employmentprojectforgirls• Buildingofaschool.Landisdonated.• Homesfor60familiesthatstillliveintents,20of

whichinjutetents.

Al-Safawi


Compressors 1

Containers NA

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck -

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Healthcare 5

4 Education 5

5 Water 5

SpecialNeeds:

• PedestrianbridgesovertheinternationalBaghdadhighway to avoid repeated run over incidents

• Repairtreatmentplant• Employmentprojects


GreaterIrbidMunicipality


Compressors 23

Containers 4000

DumpTruck NA

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck -

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 3

4 Sanitation 3

5 Education 5

WestIrbid


Compressors 4

Containers 500

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 2

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Healthcare 5

3 Water 5

4 Education 5

5 Infrastructure 5


NewRamtha


Compressors 5

Containers 300

DumpTruck 3

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck -

SewageTruck -

Ambulance 3

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 4

4 Sanitation 4

5 Education 3

6 Healthcare 3

SahelHoran


Compressors 2

Containers 200

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 3

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance -

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 5

4 Education 5

5 Healthcare 3


AlSholeh


Compressors 2

Containers 100

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Water 3.5

3 Infrastructure 5


5 Education 5

6 Healthcare 4

7 Housing 2

SpecialNeeds:

• Supportsomeyouthcenters• Children’splayground–revenuegenerating• Touristicsiteupgrade–revenuegeneratingproject• SamarCharitySocietyForthepersonswith

Disabilities needs support as they are trying to integratePwD’sinschools.

AlYarmouk


Compressors 2

Containers 150

DumpTruck 2

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Healthcare 5

3 Water 5

4 Education 4

5 Infrastructure 5

6 Sanitation 5


AlKfarat


Compressors 8

Containers 800

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck 1

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Water 5

4 Healthcare 4

5 Education 4

6 Sanitation 4

SpecialNeeds:

• NGO’sforPersonswithDisabilitiesneedrealsupport in terms of transportation and other services.

AlSarou


Compressors 2

Containers 150

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck -

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Sanitation 3

3 Water 2

4 Education 4

5 Infrastructure 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Anagriculturalmoneygeneratingprojectforthemunicipalitylikeanolivepress


KhalidbinAlwalid


Compressors 2

Containers 600

DumpTruck 4

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine 1

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Education 4

4 Healthcare 5

5 Water 5

6 Housing 5

Ma’azBinJabal


Compressors 2

Containers 100

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader -

FoggingMachine 1

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Education 5

4 Healthcare 5

5 Water 5

6 Sanitation 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Schoolcanopies


TabgatFahel


Compressors 2

Containers 200

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 4

3 Lighting 3

4 Sanitation 4

SpecialNeeds:

• Treatmentstation• Children’splaygroundinSheikhHusseinarea

SharhabeelBinHasana


Compressors 2

Containers 100

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Education 4

SpecialNeeds:

• Revenuegeneratingprojectsformunicipality• Children’splayground• Specialproblemwithsewagecisterns


AlTaybeh


Compressors 5

Containers 500

DumpTruck 3

PickupTruck -

Loader 2

FoggingMachine 1

FoggingTruck 4

ElectricityCrane 1

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 3

SewageTruck 3

Ambulance 1

Hearse 3


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Education 5

4 Healthcare 5

5 Water 5

6 Sanitation 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Multi-purposehall• Municipalandpublicdepartmentcenter

AlWastiyeh


Compressors 3

Containers 1000

DumpTruck 3

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance -

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Education 5

4 Healthcare 5

5 Water 5

6 Sanitation 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Watertower• Youthcentersandpublicparks


RabiatAlKoura


Compressors 3

Containers 200

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck -

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller 1

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 2

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Healthcare 4

4 Sanitation 4

5 Water 5

6 Education 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Schoolcanopies

DeirAbiSaid


Compressors 4

Containers 200

DumpTruck 3

PickupTruck 1

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller 1

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 4

Ambulance -

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Healthcare 4

4 Sanitation 5

5 Water 3

6 Education 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Supportyouthcenters• Vocationaloccupationscomplex• Children’splayground


Bergesh


Compressors 3

Containers 200

DumpTruck 1

PickupTruck 3

Loader 1

FoggingMachine 1

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse -


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Healthcare 5

4 Sanitation 4

5 Water 4

6 Education 4

SpecialNeeds:

• Rainwatercollectionsystems• Vocationaloccupationscomplex• Agriculturalprojects

NewMazar


Compressors 4

Containers 600

DumpTruck -

PickupTruck 3

Loader 1

FoggingMachine -

FoggingTruck 1

ElectricityCrane -

RoadRoller -

WaterTruck 1

SewageTruck 1

Ambulance 1

Hearse 1


Priorities

TopPriorities



2 Infrastructure 5

3 Healthcare 5

4 Sanitation 4

5 Water 4

6 Education 5

SpecialNeeds:

• Watertower• Rainwatercollectionsystems• Windpoweredelectricitygenerationdueto

height of area

UNDPistheUN’sglobaldevelopmentnetwork,advocatingfor change and connecting countries to knowledge,experience and resources to help people build a betterlife. We are on the ground in 166 countries, workingwith them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.

Formoreinformation

United Nations Development ProgrammeIshaqAlEdwanstreetBuildingNo.16JordanEmail:[email protected]:www.jo.undp.org

HOSTCOMMUNITIESWebsite:www.hostcommunities-jo.org

municipal needs assessment report - undp · municipal needs assessment report mitigating the impact...

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