Challenge

Since Jordan is a country with limited natural resources, accelerating population growth poses a real challenge to its development plans concerning health, education and social services. Unless there is a joint effort from public and private national institutions and local communities, standards of living will deteriorate and poverty and socio-economic inequities will grow dramatically. Today, Jordan’s population stands at 5.29 million people, and Jordan has a growth population rate of 2.59%.

Initiative

	Princess Basma bint Talal inaugurated the awards ceremony that took place in the final day.

USAID responded to the challenge above by funding Government of Jordan’s first Population Awareness Week, which consisted of a press conference, seminars, a photo gallery, and an intensive multi-channel campaign to involve the public in population issues and raise awareness about the gravity of the problem.

All campaign activities were linked with one unified call for action: “Be responsible- plan your family.” This message, in addition to other key messages, demonstrated the negative impact of rapid population growth on the country’s development and invited people to plan their families by using modern contraceptives to help carry out the national population strategy and the national reproductive health action plan.

Audiences included hundreds of university students, civil defense, police and military men and women, and workers in industrial zones throughout Jordan.

Results

USAID funded and organized two hundred seminars with the Ministry oh Health that were conducted in the highest-populated geographic areas in Jordan, reaching over 4,000 women of reproductive age. Hundreds of leaflets were distributed during various events and activities. The private sector was involved, funding JD 100,000 ($140,000) of the total cost. Moreover, Princess Basma bint Talal inaugurated the awards ceremony that took place the final day. Awards were given to sponsors from the private and public sectors, women facilitators, and partners in this endeavor.