A WEFE Nexus Agricultural Transformation Strategy for Jordan and Palestine

What the EcoFuture Strategic Plan Offers

The EcoFuture Strategic Plan provides a joint, foresight-informed strategy for the Jordanian and Palestinian parts of the Jordan Valley, translating the WEFE nexus into concrete policy directions and investment priorities. Developed through scientific analysis and participatory stakeholder engagement, the Plan moves beyond incremental optimisation and defines a coherent transformation pathway toward climate-resilient, resource-efficient and regenerative development.

Click here to read the full EcoFuture Strategic Plan.

Why this matters

• The Jordan Valley (JV) is highly vulnerable to climate change, desertification and water scarcity, threatening food security and livelihoods.
• Salinization, degraded soils, and small farm sizes undermine productivity and profitability.
• The poorest and most vulnerable communities — including displaced people and those in informal settlements — suffer most from limited water and agricultural resources.
• Without urgent action, socio-economic instability will deepen.

The New Agricultural Transformation Strategy (ATS)

At the core of the Strategic Plan is the Agricultural Transformation Strategy, which recognises agriculture as a key pressure point and the highest-leverage entry point for improving WEFE outcomes. The ATS represents a shift toward an integrated, regenerative and resource-efficient agricultural paradigm, addressing water, energy, food and ecosystem challenges simultaneously.

Key measures and impacts

• Smart irrigation and soil-moisture monitoring, reducing water use by up to 41%
• Soil organic matter restoration, increasing yields by up to 35% and enhancing water retention
• Rainwater harvesting from greenhouses, with a potential supply of 6–10 million m³/yr (Jordan)
• Decentralised wastewater treatment and reuse in Palestine, supplying ~2 million m³/year of irrigation water
• Circular organic resource management, capable of covering fertiliser needs fully in Jordan and partially in Palestine, substantially reducing dependency on imports
• Small-scale, renewable energy integration, improving on-farm resilience and economic viability

The Opportunity

By implementing these measures, the JV can:

• Secure food and water for its population
• Restore soils and ecosystems while improving productivity
• Strengthen farmer livelihoods and rural economies
• Reduce dependence on costly imports
• Foster cross-border WEFE cooperation, supporting shared resilience and long-term stability
• Position itself as a model for climate-adaptive development in the Mediterranean region

Priority Actions

• Endorse the ATS as a guiding framework for WEFE implementation and policy alignment
• Prioritise demand-side water security measures
• Align incentives and financing with regenerative and circular practices
• Strengthen coordination, extension services and training infrastructure.

To access the full Strategic Plan click here.