Economic
Development and Energy
Sustainable Cultural Heritage Through
Engagement of Local Communities Project (SCHEP)
Background
Tourism continues to be a critical sector for Jordan’s
economy, with great potential to boost overall economic growth as well as to
drive employment and income generation for the population. With a wealth of
historical, archaeological and natural attractions and a functioning tourism
infrastructure, Jordan already has the assets to develop a robust and booming
tourism sector. Jordan is home to over 20,000 documented archaeological sites,
scatterred across the Kingdom. These
sites suffer from poor maintenance and visibility on the tourism map of the
country. In add ition, many of these sites are located
within communities that suffer from high poverty and unemployment rates. The restoration and preservation of these
sites present a golden opportunity for local economic development and poverty
alleviation.
Project overview
USAID’s
Sustainable Cultural Heritage Through Engagement of Local Communities Project
(SCHEP), implemented by the American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR), aims to
achieve effective and sustainable preservation, management and development of
Cultural Heritage Resources in Jordan. This is achieved in part through
building and strengthening an enabling environment that fosters community
engagement, strengthens CHR institutions, and sustains and grows a community of
practice. To that end, SCHEP has conducted many site development projects and
capacity building programs throughout Jordan, and developed policies,
strategies, and procedures to create venues and opportunities for learning,
networking, and knowledge-sharing. Jordanian CHR professionals, recent
graduates, and members of local communities are offered opportunities to
enhance their skills and employability in CHR and tourism fields through Open
Learning Environments that build upon the experience of SCHEP’s previous
trainings and workshops on best practices in CHR management and promotion. These
learning opportunities empower local communities and increase skills for
employment in related fields. Finally, the economic stability of local
communities is also improved through the development of sustainable tourism
enterprises and products that will create long-term employment and in turn
help enhance experiences, interpretation, branding, and visibility of Jordan’s
CHRs.
SCHEP believes that self-reliance
is achievable when CHR mandated entities and community members have the
capacity and commitment to act as agents of their own development. With the
proper enabling environment and knowledge of best practices, facilitated by
SCHEP, CHR mandated entities can play a significant role in the transition of
communities and all relevant stakeholders towards self-reliance. Through working
closely with partnering CHR entities to provide relevant trainings and
resources, SCHEP will help them achieve this potential and realize
self-reliance and long-term sustainability.
Activities
- Developing Open Learning Environments that provide courses and hands-on
training in CHR skills and knowledge to increase the employability of local CHR
practitioners, recent graduates, and community members and enhance the ability
of local institutions and organizations to manage heritage resources in a
sustainable way.
- Building a strong Jordanian Heritage
Community of Practice by formalizing connections and synergies between CHR
institutions, professionals, universities, and local community members; building local and global capacity
for CHR organizations; facilitating strategic planning and implementation; expanding
shared online resources; and sharing of skills and knowledge through
conferences, workshops, and programs
- Providing start up grants, capacity building,
vocational training, product development, and marketing for sustainable tourism
of Jordan’s CHRs, bolstering the economic benefits of tourism for local
communities.
IMPACT
- Supporting nine CHR sites including Ghawr as-Safi (Karak), Busayra
(Tafila), Umm al-Jimal (Mafraq), Bir Madhkur (Wadi Araba), the Temple of the
Winged Lions (Petra), Bayt Ra’s (Irbid), Rock Art sites (Wadi Rum), Ayla
(Aqaba), and Archaeological Park Museum (Madaba).
- Increased visits
by 57% and decreased threats by 70% through target interventions to improve
education, community involvement, and site facilities.
- Engaging host community members in CHR promotion and management. Nearly
136 individuals, including local youth, have received hands-on training in CHR
best practices across the nine SCHEP sites.
- Creating jobs
and improving the type and quality of employment for CHR host communities. Thus
far, SCHEP sites have generated 300 employment opportunities in rural areas,
including 134 opportunities for those living in poverty pockets or with high
refugee populations, with a focus on youth (75%) and female (20%) employment.
- Completing the Training Diploma in Archaeological Surveying and Cultural
Heritage Documentation in cooperation with the Hashemite University, an intensive
vocational training program to bolster capacity for 11 staff members of the
Department of Antiquities (DoA) and Petra Archaeological Park (PAP).
- Supported the establishment of 4 CHR-related small enterprises, including
the South Valley Company for Sustainable Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development
in Ghawr as-Safi, Hand by Hand in Mafraq, Busayra Cultural Heritage Foundation
in Tafileh, and Aqabawi in Aqaba.
- Raising awareness for over 6,000 Jordanian youth through a cultural
heritage education and engagement program in cooperation with a number of
Jordanian governmental and non-governmental organizations.
- Developing professional skills and opportunities for 78 students and young professionals through
the SCHEP Internship and Fellowship Program.
- Developing five separate training courses and materials in CHR related
fields that trained 300 individuals in relevant skills, including GIS, site
management, MEGA Jordan, Wall Painting Conservation, Cultural Heritage
Documentation, and others.