Challenge
Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. In 2008, water was in such short supply that the typical household had a reliable water supply only one day a week.
Solution and Impact
Financing totaling $250 million together with $150 million in political risk insurance supported construction of a 202-mile pipeline running from an aquifer in southern Jordan to Amman. The pipeline has the capacity to transport 100 million cubic meters of potable water a year.
Building the infrastructure to carry such large volumes of water required drilling 55 wells and five turnouts along the route to serve smaller towns. U.S. development finance support helped mobilize additional public and private investment to meet the almost $1 billion cost of the project.