Water, sanitation and hygiene
Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services for vulnerable children in Jordan.
- English
- العربية
Situation
Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world.
According to the National Water Strategy (2023–2040), each person in Jordan has access to only about 61 cubic metres of renewable water per year, much less than the minimum 500 cubic metres a person needs as per global standards. Climate change and population growth are placing even greater pressure on water resources and infrastructure, making it harder to ensure reliable water, sanitation and hygiene services for everyone.
Challenges
Close to half of Jordan’s drinking water is lost before it reaches people’s homes, due to leaks, illegal connections and damage to infrastructure. At the same time, groundwater levels are falling at an alarming rate, with some underground water sources dropping by more than 10 metres each year. Today, 10 of Jordan’s 12 main underground water sources (aquifers) are being used faster than they can naturally recharge.
Jordan’s water system is fragile and increasingly under pressure from climate change. Rainfall is becoming less reliable, extreme weather events are more frequent, and demand for water continues to grow as the population increases. Together, these pressures threaten not only water supplies, but also people’s health, children’s development, social stability and future economic growth.
While access to piped water networks is high in Jordan, with 96.2% of the population connected to piped water supply in urban areas and 88.1% in rural areas, supply is often intermittent. Around half of the population receives water only once a week, with service in some rural communities becoming even less frequent during the summer months.
What does UNICEF do?
UNICEF works with the Government of Jordan to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services, ensuring they are more sustainable, inclusive and better able to withstand the impacts of climate change, especially for the most vulnerable children and families.
While in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, around 83,000 rely entirely on water and sanitation services provided by UNICEF.
Our key areas of focus include:
- Supporting the Government in generating evidence and planning to improve water, sanitation and hygiene services where they are needed most, and to better prepare for the impacts of climate change.
- Delivering reliable water and managing wastewater and hygiene services in Syrian refugee camps, reaching more than 85,000 people every day.
- Supporting the Government of Jordan in improving water, sanitation and hygiene in institutions, particularly in schools and health centres, to create safer and healthier environments for children.
- Supporting the Government of Jordan in expanding access to safe, climate-resilient water and sanitation services for vulnerable families and communities, including in remote areas.
- Working with communities to promote healthy practices, inclusion and social cohesion, and to raise awareness among children and young people about climate and environmental issues.
With our partners, the results UNICEF achieved in Jordan in 2025 include:
- Providing safe, reliable WASH services combined with strong community engagement to support refugees in Za’atari, Azraq, and Garden refugee camps, reaching 125,500 residents, including over 62,900 children.
- Improving safe water and/or sanitation access for over 74,000 Palestinian refugees through household facility rehabilitation and upgraded water and sanitation networks, enhancing public health and resilience in densely populated camps.
- Upgrading WASH infrastructure in the south of Jordan, reaching around 1,400 people as part of a three-year effort benefiting 30,000 residents in vulnerable communities, while strengthening local Community Water Committees to enhance engagement, accountability, and sustainable, equitable WASH services.
- Improving national coordination on menstrual health through a new Menstrual Health and Hygiene Roadmap, while working closely with the education and health sectors. Research and capacity assessments are helping shape future WASH programmes that better respond to behaviours and needs.
- Improving WASH access for 1,560 people in remote areas through cash support for water tanks, communal latrines, hygiene items, and a 970-member community network promoting hygiene, safe water management, and water conservation among vulnerable households.
- Providing 35 schools in Irbid and Mafraq with greywater treatment and reuse systems in partnership with UN-Habitat, benefiting close to 40,000 students with sustainable water use, lower consumption, and increased awareness of climate-resilient WASH practices.
- Improving WASH and Infection Prevention and Control standards in two health care centres, making them the first in Jordan eligible for WASH-in-healthcare recognition.
- Engaging 2,300 children in Climate Action Clubs in schools and Makani centres to promote climate action and sustainable WASH behaviors.