On Wednesday,
May 21, 2025, EDAMA Association for Energy, Water, and Environment held the
second meeting of the Water and Energy Sector Council to follow up on the
progress of the Capacity Building Project for WE Skill initiative. The project
is implemented with the support of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale
Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) under the supervision of the Technical and Vocational
Skills Development Commission (TVSDC). Its goal is to strengthen the
institutional framework of the Sector Skills Council through the development of
a sustainable operational model that serves both sectors.
The meeting included
a detailed review of the project’s progress report and the outcomes of the
first meeting. It also sheds light on
the project’s objectives, benefits, operational framework, and upcoming phases.
Mr. Ahmad
Al-Salaymeh, Sectoral Strategy Advisor for WE Skill project, delivered a
comprehensive presentation on the sector’s strategic plan, highlighting key
priority work packages. The session enabled Council members and sector experts
to provide constructive feedback to support the project’s development and
enhance the Council’s overall impact and efficiency.
Mr. Sari
AL-Shakhshir Communication & Marketing Advisor for the WE Skill Project,
presented communication strategies to ensure the project’s success. These
included activating the Council’s role, engaging youth, and raising awareness through
diverse channels. He also highlighted the civil society organizations in
ensuring equitable access to training opportunities.
Participants
emphasized the importance of the private sector engagement in vocational
training programs. Engineer Firas Jarrar from Philadelphia Solar confirmed the
company’s readiness to participate in accredited training initiatives in
collaboration with the TVSDC, reinforcing the value of public-private
partnerships in promoting social responsibility.
Ms. Iman Al-Ateeq,
GIZ representative, highlighted the importance of EDAMA’s role in hosting a
dedicated webpage for the council on its official on website as this page will
serve as a hub for updates on training opportunities and sector developments.
She also underscored the importance of building strategic partnerships with
relevant government entities for effective coordination and oversight.
The meeting also
introduced a proposed organizational structure for the Council, designed to
ensure sustainability and empower both the private and the public institutions.
The structure includes forming both permanent and temporary working groups to guide
decision making based on research and sector needs.
At the close of
the meeting, elections were held to appoint the new Council leadership. Engineer
Abdelmahdi Al-Batayneh, Head of Administrative Affairs at Irbid District
Electricity Company (IDECO), was elected as council President, and Engineer
Khaldoun Khoshman, Secretary General of the Arab Countries Water Utilities
Association (ACWUA), was elected Vice President.
Former
Council President Engineer Fadi Marji concluded by expressing his appreciation
for the active involvement of women in the Council
and emphasized on their essential contributions to its ongoing
success.
