15 female graduates from seven universities in Jordan will take part in a unique training programme to boost modern agricultural practices in the Kingdom.
The training will mainly take place on Al Hussein Technical University (HTU) in Amman and on the ground at the Sahara Forest Project facility in Aqaba. The 12-weeks intensive training will be led by Jordanian and international experts. On Thursday, the new training programme was launched at an event under the patronage of H.E Norwegian Ambassador Ms. Tone Allers.
15 female graduates from different universities will be trained on water management, basics of hydroponics, renewable energy, organic farming as well as agricultural economics. The content in the programme is designed with input from industrial partners such as MIRRA- Methods for Irrigation and Agriculture, Eco Consult, and Mujeb Organic Farm.
As an important part of the training programme, trainees will meet with mentors Ms. Ruba Al Zu’bi, (Sustainability Expert and Communicator) and Zeina Ms. Fakhriddin (Head of Operations of Mujeb Organic Farm) and enjoy their mentorship in group discussions, lectures and one-to-one coaching.
The new training programme follows as a result of meetings on the side-lines of the State Visit by Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway to Jordan in March, and an agreement signed in June by Al Hussein Technical University President Prof. Labib Khadra and Sahara Forest Project Managing Director Mr. Kjetil Stake.
Professor Hinti the Vice President of Al Hussein Technical University appreciated the embassy’s role in sponsoring this program, which aims to improve the skills of young Jordanian women and provide them with the latest available technology skills in the field of agriculture and sustainability.
He added that the university always seeks to develop distinguished partnerships that benefit Jordanian students looking for job opportunities and is constantly working to develop their skills to match the requirements of the labour market and qualify them to compete at the regional and global levels.
Kjetil Stake said he was pleased to start this strategically important training programme.
Three years after the inauguration of the Sahara Forest Project in Aqaba, we look forward to welcoming 15 Jordanian female talents to our facility in Aqaba, and we are enthusiastic to work closely with HTU to inspire the trainees to seek careers in climate-smart agriculture. The best way to motivate is “learning by doing”, and we are determined to make this training programme a success, Mr. Kjetil Stake, Managing Director of the Sahara Forest Project said.
The programme is realized with financial support from the Norwegian government and the Italian-based Costa Crociere Foundation.
Her Excellency Ambassador of Norway to Jordan, Ms. Tone Allers:
I am delighted that the cooperation between the HTU and the Sahara Forest Project will now move into action. The first training comes timely, as the pandemic has made clear to us how important it is to use the crisis to implement the shift to a greener economy. Norway is happy to work with Jordan towards this goal, not the least through our support for the SFP. With the mentorship by competent organisations from both sides, I am convinced that these 15 women will be important resources in the future.
Mr. Davide Triacca, Secretary General of the Costa Crociere Foundation said:
Not only the collaboration with Sahara Forest Project made us proud; more importantly it has been a source of inspiration for us, our colleagues in Costa and the many thousands of guests and stakeholders that we made aware of it. Now such an innovative and ambitious project will have the chance to benefit from the talent of 15 young students in this collaboration with HTU . Based on our experience, we know how vital their ideas and capacity can be in contributing to the project success. We will keep a close eye on them.
The training programme will start immediately, and will end with a graduation ceremony in December.
