​A Jordanian delegation participated in a study visit to Germany from 6–12 September 2026, organized by the Water Diplomacy Center (WDC) at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) under the “Permanent National Transboundary Water Negotiation Committee" initiative. 

The study visit was joined by H.E. Dr. Jihad Al Mahamid, Secretary General of the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, and H.E. Eng. Hisham Al-Hisa, Secretary General of the Jordan Valley Authority, reflecting the importance of institutional engagement in strengthening Jordan's capacities in transboundary water management and negotiation.

The delegation brought together representatives from key Jordanian institutions involved in water resources management, environmental protection, agriculture, water services, security, and transboundary water cooperation

Titled “Water Diplomacy – Lessons from the Rhine," the visit enabled the Jordanian delegation to engage directly with German and international institutions and explore experiences and practices related to transboundary water governance, institutional cooperation, climate and hydrometeorological services, data exchange, disaster risk reduction, and water diplomacy. The visit aimed to connect international experiences with the Jordanian context and help participants identify relevant approaches to strengthen national coordination, evidence-based decision-making, and negotiation capacities related to transboundary water resources.

During the visit to Koblenz, the delegation visited the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) and met with Mr. Marc Daniel Heintz, the ICPR's Executive Secretary. The exchange provided insights into the Rhine Basin's experience building and sustaining cooperation among riparian countries, including the institutional mechanisms that facilitate cross-border coordination, information and data exchange, environmental protection, and the sustainable management of transboundary water resources. The discussions also offered an opportunity to examine how sustained dialogue, scientific knowledge, and established institutional frameworks have contributed to long-term cooperation within the Rhine Basin.

At the United Nations Campus in Bonn, the delegation met with Ms. Åsa Jonsson, Head of the Secretariat of the Global Water Operators' Partnerships Alliance (GWOPA) / UN-Habitat, and engaged with representatives of GWOPA/UN-Habitat, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and the United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS). Discussions addressed water security, climate adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and capacity development. Jordanian experiences in rainwater harvesting, nature-based flood mitigation, and climate-resilient urban planning were highlighted, while GWOPA presented the potential of Water Operator Partnerships (WOPs) and peer-to-peer capacity building to strengthen resilient water utilities.

The Bonn program also included discussions with Mr. Animesh Kumar, Head of the UNDRR Office in Bonn, on risk-informed planning, preparedness, early warning, and the importance of institutional cooperation in addressing increasing climate- and water-related risks.

The delegation also conducted a technical visit to the Deutscher Wetterdienst (DWD), Germany's National Meteorological Service, in Offenbach. The visit introduced participants to Germany's experience in meteorological and climate observation, data provision, forecasting, climate services, and early-warning systems. Discussions emphasized the importance of reliable scientific information and accessible climate data for water-resource planning, preparedness, climate-risk management, and informed decision-making. In the context of transboundary water management, such information can provide a shared technical basis for dialogue and cooperation, particularly as climate variability and extreme events place increasing pressure on water resources.

At GIZ headquarters in Eschborn, the delegation was welcomed by Ms. Ilona Porsché, Head of the Competence Centre Environment, Water, Circular Economy at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The delegation also met with Dr. Hans-Werner Theisen, and Dr. Brigitta Meier and participated in exchanges focusing on transboundary water cooperation, water-sector governance, and institutional capacity development. The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and perspectives on approaches to cooperation over transboundary water resources and to reflect on how relevant international practices could strengthen Jordan's institutional capacity for transboundary water negotiations. The exchange also highlighted the importance of bringing together different national sectors and institutions to address the interconnected technical, environmental, agricultural, institutional, and security dimensions of transboundary water management.

During the study visit, the Jordanian delegation exchanged knowledge and experience with German and international experts and institutions on how institutional cooperation, scientific data, technical expertise, disaster risk reduction, information exchange, and sustained dialogue can contribute to effective, cooperative management of transboundary water resources. Bringing together representatives from multiple Jordanian institutions also created an important opportunity to strengthen national inter-institutional dialogue and coordination and support a more integrated approach to transboundary water negotiations and water diplomacy.

The study visit was part of the activities of the “Permanent National Transboundary Water Negotiation Committee" initiative, implemented by WDC, supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

The initiative seeks to strengthen Jordan's institutional and technical capacities related to transboundary water negotiations and support coordinated, evidence-based approaches to transboundary water resources. Through international knowledge exchange and direct engagement with institutions experienced in transboundary water cooperation, the visit helped participants expand their technical and institutional knowledge and identify lessons and practices relevant to Jordan's water and regional context.