PROJECT
INFORMATION
Geography
Focus Areas
Contact
Jacopo Monzini
Florent Tomatis
Keywords
project summary
This project supports the update of Amman’s Green City Action Plan (GCAP) by pursuing two objectives: (i) integrating sustainable urban food logistics into city planning, and (ii) expanding urban green cover to reduce urban heat island effects and strengthen climate resilience.
To achieve these objectives, the project will identify priority policy and investment actions, with a particular focus on Amman’s central market as a strategic food hub. It will assess opportunities to improve food system efficiency and resilience, reduce and valorize food waste through circular approaches, strengthen regional supply linkages, and identify green infrastructure investments to address heat stress and water scarcity. The project will also review relevant policy and regulatory frameworks, foster public-private dialogue, and provide evidence-based recommendations and monitoring indicators to support long-term implementation of the GCAP and future climate action.
context
Urban food systems are increasingly exposed to disruptions caused by global crises, changing consumer behaviour and growing pressures on city logistics networks. Ensuring reliable, efficient and sustainable food distribution requires coordinated investments in infrastructure, stronger linkages between urban and rural areas, improved regulatory frameworks and innovative approaches. International experience highlights the importance of modernizing urban food logistics through sustainable practices, digitalization and collaboration between public and private stakeholders.
In Amman, which accounts for around half of Jordan’s food consumption, the central market is a critical hub for national and regional food distribution. Handling approximately 4 500 tonnes of produce daily and supporting thousands of jobs, the market plays a vital economic role while also generating significant amounts of organic waste. As the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) plans to expand the market and its logistics functions, there is an opportunity to strengthen the efficiency, resilience and sustainability of the city’s food system, including through improved waste management and circular economy solutions.
Amman also faces growing challenges from the urban heat island (UHI) effect, driven by extensive built surfaces, limited vegetation and the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, more frequent heatwaves and severe water scarcity are increasing heat stress, energy demand and climate vulnerability across the city. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of urban greening, climate adaptation and water-smart planning approaches that can improve environmental conditions while making efficient use of scarce resources.
This project explores opportunities to expand Amman’s green cover and enhance climate resilience through investments such as rooftop greening, native urban forests, blue-green corridors, and improved parks and public spaces. It also promotes the integration of nature-based solutions, permeable surfaces, rainwater harvesting, treated wastewater reuse and other sustainable water management measures into municipal planning.
Activities
Integrating sustainable food logistics into city planning
- Conduct an in-depth assessment of Amman’s urban food supply and distribution systems, including stakeholder mapping, review of city-region linkages, retail trends, the role of the Central Market and its capacity to face future challenges, as well as environmental and social impacts and resilience to external shocks.
- Evaluate urban food waste collection and valorization systems at the Central Market.
- Benchmark local urban food strategies and food waste valorization against international best practices.
- Collaborate with the GAM and food industry players to develop a tailored green urban food logistics strategy and explore innovative solutions with a circular economy approach, benefitting both rural and urban areas.
- Assess the feasibility of a pilot project strengthening urban-rural linkages through short value chains.
- Prepare a presentation outlining potential avenues for private and public investment.
- Provide recommendations and develop an urban food logistics roadmap for integration into the GCAP.
Expanding urban green cover
- Conduct a detailed mapping of green areas, water availability and water collection potential, UHI and other environmental risks in Amman.
- Adapt existing tools to support the continuous monitoring of GAM critical areas for UHI and greening needs/potential.
- Conduct a detailed mapping of GAM rules and regulations to identify gaps and actions needed to ensure continuous adoption of GCAP principles and monitoring of KPIs.
- Engage stakeholders and enhance their capacity, enabling structured dialogue between public and private actors.
- Translate obtained data and information into actionable and bankable investment proposals, this includes a detailed mapping of possible financing mechanisms and sources.
