JRF, Fajr for Natural Gas cooperate to support community empowerment in Aqaba

AMMAN — The Jordan River Foundation (JRF) and Fajr for Natural Gas have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at supporting the Queen Rania Al Abdullah Community Empowerment Centre in Aqaba.

The partnership seeks to align the capacities of youth, women and local associations with the region’s development needs and economic and environmental opportunities, advancing programmes in family protection, economic empowerment and sustainable development, according to a JRF statement.

JRF Director-General Enaam Barrishi and Fajr for Natural Gas CEO Yasser Salah El-Din signed the agreement.

Under the deal, Fajr for Natural Gas will contribute to upholding the centre’s operations, extending its reach to 2,800 beneficiaries through specialised activities that integrate family protection with economic empowerment.

The initiative ensures a “comprehensive and lasting” impact by transforming social challenges and unemployment into entrepreneurial opportunities that foster sustainable community development.

Barrishi praised the partnership with Fajr for Natural Gas, emphasising the importance of sustainable cross-sector cooperation in boosting development institutions’ capacity to create innovative solutions and implement programmes addressing pressing socioeconomic challenges, particularly child safety and women's economic empowerment.

Salah El-Din said that the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to its development role and corporate social responsibility, as well as its belief in the importance of investing in people and empowering local communities.

He added, “We are proud to collaborate with Jordan River Foundation in supporting initiatives that champion youth, women and children and contribute to creating sustainable development opportunities in Aqaba and the southern governorates.”

“We believe that effective partnerships between the private sector and civil society organisations represent a key pillar in achieving real and enduring development impact that positively reflects on society and the national economy,” he said.

The partnership advances JRF’s efforts to expand its programmes and enhance their development impact in Aqaba and the southern governorates, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, deepening private sector cooperation and extending the reach of its community-based programmes.