Renewable Energy & Efficiency in Jordan

Read about our work in three areas of Jordan to increase the uptake of renewable energy and energy saving products and practices.

The Challenge

Despite recent progress in developing renewable energy infrastructure in the country, the vast majority of Jordan's energy supplies continue to be imported. Much of this energy is then used inefficiently. Working with our Jordanian partner - the King Hussein Foundation - this EU-funded project aims to create effective community advocates in three separate areas of the country to raise awareness of renewable energy and efficiency (REEE) and induce measureable behaviour change through the adoption of REEE products and best practices. 

What We Did

Research

We carried out both secondary and primary research to understand more about how we could encourage behaviour change in the area of REEE. The secondary research identified any lessons that could be learnt from previous initiatives in this area in Jordan, while the primary research tested the behaviour change and advocacy skills of the organisations participating in the project. In total, around 100 people participated in six focus groups held with local municipalities, utilities, entrepreneurs and community organisations in the communities of Tafileh, Bani Kananah and Sahab. 

Training

The NSMC produced bespoke training courses in the areas of behaviour change and advocacy which were then delivered to members of the KHF team. Once trained, the KHF team then delivered adapted behaviour change and advocacy training to participating organisations in the three areas, followed by regular mentoring sessions. Part of this training focused on helping organisations develop practical behaviour change and advocacy projects in their areas which the NSMC also provided advice and suggestions on. In total, training has been provided to more than one hundred individuals across the country. 

Interventions

The three communities are now actively developing and implementing a range of behaviour change and advocacy interventions around REEE. In some areas, local entrepreneurs are using their training to encourage the use of energy saving lightbulbs and appliances while one municapility is working to secure funds to convert its old street lighting to the more efficient LED technology. Another municipality is working to build better relations with a local windfarm operator to ensure that their community benefits from this investment through, for example, local supply contracts and employment opportunities. 

What We Achieved

This is a live project and most of the interventions are still underway or about to start. To date, the major achievement of the project has been the behaviour change and advocacy skills that have been embedded in each of the three communities. The future challenge is to ensure that these new skills are effectively utilised to achieve sustainable changes in behaviour in the area of REEE.