Overview
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a United States federal agency, has entered into a $275 USD million Compact Agreement on October 25, 2010 with the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for the purpose of facilitating poverty reduction through economic growth. Works resulting from this agreement will include the rehabilitation and expansion of approximately 1000 km of water and wastewater networks in addition to expansion of the As-Samra wastewater treatment plant in Zarqa Governorate. In total, these investments will benefit over 3 million individuals in Zarqa Governorate and in the capital Amman. The Millennium Challenge Account-Jordan, a company owned by the government of Jordan, is the entity responsible to manage and implement the Compact.
WAJ Zarqa Administration Building
As part of MCC’s assistance to Jordan, the foreign aid agency will fund the construction of a well-equipped and advanced administration building for the Water Authority of Jordan (WAJ) in Zarqa. The new building will enhance the operations and maintenance (O&M) activities by placing them in the same location and creating more space for customer service. This upgrade of the current WAJ-Zarqa rented offices comes in time to support Jordan Water Company’s (Miyahuna) contract management activities for Zarqa Governorate.
The building will be constructed on a land owned by WAJ, with a total built area of 1,627 m2 divided on three main floors and a basement. The basement, ground, and first floors will provide space for administration and provide a storage space for repair parts and equipment for use to maintain the system. The second floor will be a multipurpose hall and lounge that will allow for conducting training to the staff and receiving visitors. The building will be capable of holding two more floors in case of future expansion.
The building is a manifestation of the U.S. financial assistance to the Government of Jordan through the MCC, which is not only aimed at improving water and wastewater infrastructure in Zarqa, but also at creating an institutional entity capable of maintaining and managing water and wastewater services during and beyond the lifetime of the Compact.