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Home Projects Long Term Technical Assistance Projects (1-3 Years) Aqaba Community and Economic Development (ACED) Program
Aqaba Community and Economic Development (ACED) Program

The Aqaba Community and Economic Development (ACED) Program is a five-year program funded by the United States Agency for International Development, benefiting the people and businesses of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ).

Program Goals and Priorities

  • Improve ASEZA and ADC capacity to deliver services
  • Enhance the skills of MSMEs and Aqaba citizens to maximize benefits from investments in Aqaba
  • Increase citizen participation in decision making and improve access to social infrastructure

The ACED Program is based in Aqaba City in Jordan and is composed of activities:

Component 1: Strengthening Government Institutions

Strengthens government institutions such as the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) to:

  • Build capacity at ASEZA and ADC
  • Enhance ASEZA planning and regulatory control functions
  • Improve public service provision in the ASEZ
  • Improve outreach and public participation
  • Enhance communication in ASEZ
  • Improve ADC’s HR and institutional development
  • Enhance infrastructure planning supporting the ASEZ.

Component 2: Strengthening the Private Sector

Strengthens the private sector by enabling the business environment to more effectively attract, support and enhance the numbers, competitiveness, and capabilities of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs):          

  • Enhance the capabilities of the public sector organizations to understand and respond to the business and MSMEs needs.
  • Improve the capabilities of business associations to serve their members from SMEs.
  • Develop capacity of Aqabites to participate in economic opportunities
  • Expand the base of MSMEs in Aqaba
  • Establish linkages between MSMEs and larger economic entities
  • Improve business awareness in Aqaba

Component 3: Enhanced Community Development

Works closely with the local community to develop its capacities and empower Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to:

  • Establish Mechanisms for the Local Community to Participate in Development Decision-Making for the ASEZ
  • Enhance the capacity of local Aqaba Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to provide relevant services
  • Encourage Local Citizens to Participate in the Modern Economy by Creating Opportunities for Interaction between Citizens and Private Sector
  • Coordinate and Improve Efforts Addressing Poverty in Aqaba Governorate

Component 4: Supporting Technical Component Initiatives

The component is devoted to supporting the activities of the other components by managing the available resources to achieve the Program’s goals by:

  • Administration and Financial project support
  • Monitoring and Evlauation
  • Communication and Outreach
  • Grants and Commodities
  • Gender equity
  • Training support

The USAID/ACED program provides a wealth of information on its website: www.aced-jordan.com

 


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