Food security in Jordan is challenged by a multitude of structural and political factors, with marked disparities between regions and population groups. The COVID-19 pandemic came at a time when food systems were under strain from prolonged periods of drought due to climate change, and other global shocks. Not to mention the impact of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war and its effect on grain prices and availability. In light of these challenges, the question remains, does Jordan have the opportunity to become a food-secure oasis in the region?

To explore this question, HELP Logistics invited His Excellency Dr. Walid Abed Rabboh, to draw on his past experience as the former Secretary General of the Higher Agricultural Council, former Director of Policies and Planning in the Ministry of Agriculture in Jordan and former Minister of Agriculture in Palestine, and discuss the state of food security in Jordan and the region.

During the session, Dr. Abed Rabboh highlighted the complexities associated with achieving food security as it requires cross-sectoral planning and collaboration across countries, emphasizing the role of logistics as the backbone for food security. He also stressed the importance of value chain mapping of different food commodities in order to identify the required areas for improvement and prioritize them based on capabilities, return on investment and the local context.

Dr. Abed Rabboh gave an overview of Jordan’s National Food Security Strategy (2022-2030), and the aspects of availability, access, utilisation, stability and governance that underpin it. He also covered region-specific challenges that hinder the improvement of the agricultural sector, such as fragmented land ownership and absent farmers.

This session was organised as part of the Humanitarian Logistics Diploma Programme, a collaboration between the HELP Logistics Middle East office and the German Jordanian University.