ENGAGING THE JORDANIAN DIASPORA

UNCLAS AMMAN 002151

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ELA AND EEB
STATE FOR S/GPI - M. KAREN WALKER
STATE PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP BTIOEAID OEXC OIIP PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL SMIG
TSPL, EINV, JO
SUBJECT: ENGAGING THE JORDANIAN DIASPORA

REF: A) Amman 1942
B) STATE 86401
C) Amman 472
D) 07 Amman 4207


1. (U) Post offers the following in response to reftel B, paragraph
15 questions:

A) The Jordanian Diaspora working in the Gulf providing remittances
are Substantial and are closely tracked by Jordan's Department of
Statistics and the Central Bank of Jordan. Outside the Gulf region
though, Diaspora are very fragmented and unorganized. It should be
noted that in addition to indigenous Jordanians, Jordan is currently
considered home to a large number of Palestinians and Iraqis.

B) Although remittances from Jordanians working abroad fell 4.4%
during the first half of 2009, they still make up roughly 20% of
Jordan's GDP, $1.74 billion this year, and represent the country's
largest foreign currency income (ref A). The estimate of Jordanians
working abroad is 260,000, mainly in information technology (IT)
around the Gulf (ref D).

C-H) Diaspora participation in humanitarian aid, long-term
investment and economic growth, conflict resolution, health,
education, and civil society, is low. USAID Jordan is in the
procurement stage for a new $28 million public-private sector
activity which will have as one of its major components to conduct a
Diaspora assessment.

I) The Diaspora Networks Alliance (DNA) framework in the USAID
Global Development Alliance (GDA) Washington office is currently
working with multiple Missions to create pilot projects focused on
engaging the Diaspora community. A DNA representative visited
Jordan in April 2009 and determined that considerable opportunities
to develop Jordanian Diaspora alliances could exist and that there
is considerable political will to mobilize Diaspora financial and
intellectual resources.

J) Recognizing the potential to leverage donor resources, Post has
taken preliminary steps that will assess the potential Diaspora
contribution to reform and development in Jordan. The launch of
this effort was a result of successful, publicized efforts elsewhere
in the world.

K) Post is not aware of any unsolicited proposals that have been
submitted from Diaspora.

L) Post has not designed or participated in any public diplomacy
programs customized for the Diaspora community needs. Post would
welcome future participation in such programs.

M) With the new USAID public-private partnership activity, the
Diaspora component will aggressively explore opportunities to
leverage the Jordanian Diaspora to engage in Jordan's development.
According to the World Bank, Jordan has one of the world's highest
levels of unilateral transfers, in the form of workers' remittances
and public grants.


2. (U) A Diaspora reach back program to academics would be very
welcomed in Jordan.


3. (U) POC is Steve Gonyea, USAID, email: SGONYEA@usaid.gov


BEECROFT