National Food Security Strategy 2021 - 2030.

This National Food Security Strategy is a 10-year nationwide sectoral document aiming at (i) supporting the realization of the role of Jordan as a strategic regional hub for food security that will serve as a center for storage and logistics, agricultural production, food processing, irrigation systems, greenhouses, modern technology, and knowledge transfer and as a hub to provide contingency assistance to the countries of the region; (ii) coordinating efforts and interventions among institutions working in the field of food security; (iii) monitoring and fostering progress towards achieving relevant SDG targets; (iv) building resilience to climate change and its impacts; (v) mitigating the impact of COVD-19 on food security; (vi) addressing the consequences of the Syrian refugee protracted crisis on food security. By 2030, this Strategy aims to achieve the following vision: “Safeguard Jordan’s population against food insecurity while ensuring access to safe, stable, affordable, and nutritious supply of food at all times.” The government established the National Committee for Food Security in partnership with all ministries, government institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations. Even though food security in Jordan depends, to a great extent, on agricultural production, the concept of food security is much broader than food production or even food availability. Food security involves a broad spectrum of sectors and is considered a multi-dimensional and multi-institutional issue that requires cooperation and coordination among different institutions and stakeholders, including government institutions, private sector entities, civil society, and international organizations.
The document sets out the following strategic objectives (i) ensure availability of food at national, household, and individual levels; (ii) enhance access to food; (iii) optimize the utilization and stability of food; (iv) strengthen Governance of food security. To achieve these objectives, the following should be done in the years covered by the Strategy (i) increasing productivity and efficiently utilizing the existing resources to maximize their returns, particularly ground, surface, and treated water; optimizing the production potential of strategic crops through vertical or horizontal expansion; and adopting modern technologies; in addition to shifting towards more sustainable and resilient agricultural and food systems and food industries, especially in the rural areas; (ii) diversifying the global import sources of strategic food items; (iii) promoting regional cooperation in the fields of agriculture and food security and investing in agricultural and food systems research and technology transfer; (iv) optimally using the food loss and waste and enhancing food safety; (v) reducing the food insecure households by supporting the social protection networks; (vi) creating sustainable economic opportunities especially for women and youth, also through new investments; (vii) providing decent living for refugees; (viii) adopting effective measures to reducing malnutrition; (ix) improving school feeding and family care programs.
To strengthen the Governance of food security, it is required (i) an enhanced institutional framework, the establishment of a Database and Monitoring System, and interventions on the legal and regulatory framework; (ii) strengthening food systems research, innovation, and technology, together with the dissemination and digitization of processes, procedures, and services.