With the aim to be closer to the city members and on the framework of the LaserMed project final event that took place in As-Salt, MedCities traveled to Jordan to do an institutional visit to the 5 Jordanian cities that are members of the association: Jerash, Zarqa, Madaba, Irbid and As-Salt, responding to the invitation that those cities sent to the Secretary-General, Mr. Canals.

The objective was to visit the Jordanian cities participating in the project’s mentoring processes for the Med4Waste project, such as Madaba and Byrain, and also, to celebrate the closure of the Lasermed project and its pilot in the city of As-Salt.

The Secretary-General and Director and other members of MedCities team met Dr.Eng Al Kofahi, Mayor of Irbid, and part of the International Projects Department. The city was involved in the Urban Transports Community project and now is part of the Sustainable MED Cities an ENI CBC MED project that aims to improve the sustainability of cities of the South Basin through energy efficiency projects.

The Mayor of Zarqa, Mr. Eng. Momani, received also MedCities SG with whom he talked about some project results, concretely a technical and economic feasibility study for the installation of a waste transfer station.

In Jerash MedCities discussed the NaturMed and Nawamed projects with the Mayor, Mr.Al-Atoom and also, some other initiatives and future actions focused on greening and naturalizing the city, grey water uses and public parks design were at the core of the conversation.

As-Salt was of special interest as the LaserMed project closed there after the implementation of successful activities for the social econòmic recovery in the pilot cities involved. The event started with the welcome by the Mayor As-Salt Municipality – Engineer Mohammad Al- Hiyari and then, during the day, the participatory cities representatives explained the results of the project and a discussion addressed the role of city councils in the promotion of local socioeconomic recovery strategies in the Mediterranean.

The last stop took the team to Madaba where MedCities met also the Mayor, Mr. Aref Mahmoud Al-Rawajin, and saw their progress in waste management and the efforts in improving the sorting of cardboard and plastic. Through Madaba’s participation in Med4Waste project,the city will update its current waste management plan.

MedCities Secretary-General could present the Activity Report 2022 to all Mayors and exchange with all of them the main activities carried out last year and also, know firsthand what are their concerns and needs to be addressed in future common projects.