Executive Development Program 2011 - 2013.

This Executive Development Program for the years 2011-2013 has been launched to complement the previous development programs and to serve as an action plan for the government for the next stage. The Program seeks to realize a set of objectives as follows (i) strengthen the independence and integrity of judicial authorities and develop the legislative framework; (ii) maintain financial and monetary stability and increasing self-reliance, (iii) reform the public sector as well as human resources and increase their productivity; (iv) enhance the knowledge-based economy and harmonize education outputs with labor market requirements; (v) create an appropriate environment for business and investment and promote the national economy’s competitiveness; (vi) increase local exports and open up new markets to support Jordanian producers; (vii) promote tourism products and preserve Jordanian cultural heritage; (viii) enhance the agricultural sector's competitiveness and raise its quantitative and qualitative productivity; (ix) promote local development balanced between Governorates, protect the middle class, reduce poverty and reduce unemployment; (x) expand the base of social services, provide infrastructure including appropriate housing and focus on poverty pockets; (xi) develop water resources and upgrade their management efficiency; (xii) secure energy supplies and diversify energy sources; (xiii) raise the competitiveness of information technology and knowledge transfer; and (xiv) encourage the private sector to enter into partnerships to undertake development projects in economic sectors, particularly energy, water, transportation and industrial zones. The Program is made of seven pillars covering all economic and social spheres. These pillars are (i) legislation and justice, (ii) improvement and development of business environment; (iii) administrative, financial and monetary reforms; (iv) support of occupational and technical training and employment; (v) social welfare; (vi) general education, higher education, scientific research and innovation; and (vii) modernization of infrastructure.In order to make agriculture and forestry more productive and sustainable the document proposes a series of actions, among which the main ones are (i) create the right climate for investment in the agriculture sector; (ii) preserve and develop agricultural resources to achieve a sustainable agricultural development; (iii) increase the efficiency of agricultural production and improving the quality; (iv) protect plant resources/wealth, providing productive and improved seedlings and developing plant agricultural products; (v) develop and promote specialized and applied agricultural research and transfer results to the agricultural sector employees; (vi) expand the utilization and reclamation of sloping and rocky lands; (vii) improve the efficiency of water supply, at reasonable tariffs, and distribution for domestic, industrial, commercial and agricultural purposes; (viii) reduce over pumping of groundwater and use treated water in activities with high yield, environmental and economic returns; (ix) improve the quality of potable and irrigation water; (x) preserve forest wealth areas and plant cover; and (xi) provide health protection for animal wealth and developing agricultural animal products.To enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, main interventions are directed to (i) enhancing economic opportunities for agricultural producers and pursuing local and international business opportunities; (ii) strengthening the participation of local communities in developing tourism; (iii) transferring and disseminating appropriate agricultural technology to the farmers; (iv) enhancing partnerships with the private sector and civil society organizations; (v) empowering economically poor segments of society and create sustainable local economies; (vi) raising women's economic involvement and encouraging women's entry into the labor market with particular attention to rural women, and (vii) increasing job opportunities for persons with special needs.As for the Governance, the Plan seeks for the improvement of the quality of government services and simplifying their procedures and their automation, which includes primarily (i) development of an organizational structure for the public sector characterized by transparency, flexibility, efficiency, effectiveness and harmony; (ii) improvement of the performance and capacity building of government institutions and their human resources; and (iii) institutionalization of monitoring, evaluation and decision-making mechanisms at all public sector institutions and the Council of Ministers.