Siyaha Newsletter -March 2008

Wadi Rum locals gain IT skills and access to finance as part of tourism development initiative
As part of the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project efforts, in coordination with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the Wadi Rum Protected Area management to develop tourism in Wadi Rum, a ceremony was held to mark two occasions. The first is the graduation of Wadi Rum locals who took part in the Wadi Rum Information Technology (IT) Network Project, and the second is the establishment of a revolving credit center by the Development Employment Fund (DEF). The ceremony was held at the Wadi Rum Visitor Center in the presence of H.E. Dr. Bilal Al Bashir, ASEZA Deputy Chief Commissioner, USAID Jordan Mission Director, Mr. Jay Knott, Director General of DEF, H.E. Mr. Ali Ghezawi, and other officials along with members of the Wadi Rum community.

The Wadi Rum Information Technology (IT) Network Project aimed to develop the local community's capacity to participate in the tourism economy. The IT project was implemented by NetCorps Jordan in 2007 with USAID funding. Its purpose was to equip locals with business and information technology tools and skills. Over the course of a year 20 young men and women in Wadi Rum were trained, and they in turn trained more than 200 people from the local community in basic IT and business skills, over 40 percent of whom were women. The interns also supported their community based organizations in day to day operations and the training lead to a number of interns seeking higher education and receiving scholarships.

The project established IT centers in three locations in Wadi Rum – at the Visitor Center, Disseh and Wadi Rum Villages. The Arab Bank and Microsoft contributed to the initiative through sponsorship of computers and software respectively.

Dr. Rami Karmi, CEO of Netcorps Jordan, said,“The Wadi Rum Information Technology Network represents a successful implementation of the Shabakat Al Ordon (NetCorps Jordan) model. Aiming to improve the economic and social well-being of local communities in Wadi Rum, Wadi Rum’s youth were enabled with technical, professional and facilitation skills in order to empower community members to act as change ambassadors. They implemented projects that responded to their community needs through the integration of information and communication technologies in their day-to-day lives.”

Mr. Jay Knott congratulated the IT interns, saying, “These 20 are the future leaders and teachers in your community and we are pleased to play a part in equipping them with basic and essential skills that allow them to better communicate and conduct business activities.”

The second part of the ceremony entailed the signing of an agreement between Productive Village, a community-based organization in Wadi Rum, and the Development Employment Fund for the establishment of a JD50,000 revolving fund credit center. Productive Village is a small community bordering the protected area that has launched in the last year a series of handicraft, agriculture and Bedouin experience activities in the area.

The center will offer loans to locals operating or setting up tourism businesses. DEF’s mission is to combat unemployment and poverty and the fund provides credit scheme financing to establish revolving credit funds for rural voluntary societies at a maximum ceiling of JD100,000. These funds can be accessed by individuals in the rural areas they operate in through loans ranging between JD200 to JD1000 in order to establish micro projects or home based projects. The center in Wadi Rum is being set up with a revolving fund of JD50,000. The USAID Tourism Project is funding the project manager position for the credit facility.

H.E. Mr. Ghezawi said, “We are happy to be providing the local community of this magnificent desert area with access to finance to help address poverty and unemployment while at the same time supporting the development of tourism in the area.”

Camp owners in Wadi Rum were also recognized at the ceremony for completing a series of training courses on food safety and hygiene, campsite minimum standards and customer service. Also, local guides who underwent training in hospitality skills received certificates.
These training sessions were supported by the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project.