Amman (December 18) – The United States transferred $470 million today to the Government of Jordan to directly support the Jordanian priorities of economic growth, education, health, water, and democracy and governance.

“The historic levels of U.S. assistance to Jordan this year reflect the United States’ deep and longstanding commitment to Jordan,” said U.S. Ambassador Alice G. Wells. “For more than 60 years, the United States and Jordan have partnered to address Jordan’s most serious challenges.  We have worked together for the development of Jordan’s most promising resource: its human capital – talented, hard-working Jordanians who embody the promise of this country’s future.”

The Cash Transfer Assistance Agreement was among four grants totaling $786.8 million signed by U.S. and Jordanian officials at a ceremony in Amman on October 23, 2016, in the presence of Ambassador Wells and Prime Minister Hani Mulki.  Earlier this year, the U.S. granted $25 million to a World Bank program designed to offer concessionary finance to Jordan, bringing total U.S. economic assistance to Jordan in Fiscal Year 2016 to $812 million.

The cash transfer will advance Jordanian political and economic policy reforms, and provide the Government of Jordan direct budget support in sectors such as water and irrigation, education, health, energy, and justice.

Combined with the other grants, which were signed in October by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission Director Jim Barnhart and Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Imad Fakhoury, the U.S. assistance will support broad-based and inclusive economic development, enhance the Government of Jordan’s ability to provide essential services, and strengthen democratic institutions and accountability.

In December 2014, President Obama and His Majesty King Abdullah II agreed upon $1 billion in yearly assistance to Jordan for three years.  The cash transfer and grant agreements fall under the scope of that agreement.  The U.S. assistance program to Jordan is among the largest in the world, totaling approximately $5.4 billion from 2005-2015.  The United States government, through USAID, has provided foreign assistance from the American people to Jordan for more than 60 years.