AMMAN - The Property Tax Project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has been tapped by the Government of Jordan to assist in its COVID-19 response. Its vocational licensing database provides critical information regarding small businesses, allowing the government to quickly identify companies that can best deliver essential goods and services to the public during the national lockdown.

The Vocational Database System is built by the Property Tax Project, with support from UNDP. It operates in close partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE), the Ministry of Finance, and other ministerial and governmental partners including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labour. The database includes contact, licensing and key information for multiple industries including pharmacies, petrol services and natural resource suppliers. It provides details critical to the Government’s mission of ensuring needed supplies and services reach its citizens.

The Property Tax Project evolved in three phases during the COVID-19 response. Phase I, initiated on March 24, focused on basic requests from the Ministry of Local Administration (MOLA). Phase II, initiated March 25, fielded requests from MoDEE and MOLA for small businesses. Phase III, rolling out on April 2, included requests from the Ministry of Tourism on restaurants. This phase processed work permits to allow delivery services from restaurants. Restaurant owners immediately started using the system to apply through the web site: http://Delivery.mota.jo

UNDP Jordan is leveraging the use of digital technologies to contribute to improving partner experience and solving development challenges. Property Tax Project aimed for innovation in delivery, joint collaboration, greater efficiency and improved data usage.

Since its inception, the system has processed over 40,000 requests and offers continuous support to the Government via data and additional online platforms.

UNDP Resident Representative Sara Ferrer Olivella said, our support comes today to offer the Government a new approach to unlock key information to automate services during the pandemic. 

“Digital technology has proved vital in helping the Government understand the businesses footprint across Jordan, and build value chains resilience. This data has been key for the gradual reopening of companies and stores in different economic sectors,” she added.

MOLA Chief of Information Technology Khaled Al-Quraan commented:

“The database available to the Ministry through the Property Tax Project implemented in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program is very crucial in assisting political and economic decision-makers during this critical period that the Kingdom is going through”

“The computerized vocational licenses system covered all municipalities of the Kingdom with accurate, timely and comprehensive information,” he concluded.