The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Jordan Aviation (JAV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in early August, forming a partnership that will be key towards advancing Jordan's progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UNDP and JAV will collaborate on shared priority areas such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality and Decent Work and Economic Growth. JAV will also invest more in adapting the Sustainable Development Goals as a business framework.

The new agreement seeks to establish joint campaigns for raising awareness on SDGs, and to align the Sustainable Development Goals with the airline’s Corporate Social Responsibility Agenda.

The agreement, which was signed at Queen Alia International Airport by UNDP Resident Representative, Sara Ferrer Olivella, and Jordan Aviation Chief Executive Officer, Captain Zuhair Al-Khashman, underscores the airline’s commitment to support the 2030 Agenda; which was adopted by the UN’s 193 Member States in 2015 to end poverty, fight inequality and tackle climate change. The agreement includes promotion of the SDGs through branding the exterior of aircrafts, boarding passes and inflight magazines and also highlights alignment of business operations towards the SDGs.  

“This is a fantastic and very exciting way of promoting the Sustainable Development Goals, and the first effort of its kind in Jordan,” said UNDP Resident Representative, Sara Ferrer Olivella. “With the SDGs information on airplanes, boarding passes, inflight magazine and airport screens, we hope millions of passengers will now gain a better insight into the SDGs and how UNDP, in partnership with the private sector, is working towards a sustainable future for all” 

“UNDP’s partnership with the private sector in Jordan primarily focuses on jointly finding solutions to address sustainable development and influence core businesses so value chains are more sustainable and more inclusive”, says Ferrer Olivella, as she tours around the hanger at Queen Alia International Airport.

“Jordan Aviation’s mission is to improve customer satisfaction, enhance employee value and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Mr. Al- Khashman during the signing ceremony at Queen Alia International Airport. “As much as we strive for growth of the airline, we also make conscious efforts to be responsible corporate citizens through great contributions to saving energy, environmental protection as well as through supporting charities concerned with poverty and education.”

About Jordan Aviation

Jordan Aviation was founded in 1998 as a privately-owned Jordanian Airline headquartered in Amman, by the ambitious determined entrepreneur Captain Mohammed Al-Khashman. Jordan Aviation started with one aircraft and 28 employees, the airline is currently operating 17 Boeing and Airbus aircrafts with over one thousand staff members.

About UNDP

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of inequalities and exclusion. We help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience in order to sustain development results.

About the Sustainable Development Goals

In September 2015, UN Member States unanimously adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, focused on the three interconnected elements of: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. With 17 SDGs at its core, the Agenda is universal, integrated and transformative and aims to spur actions that will end poverty, reduce inequality and tackle climate change between now and 2030.

For more information on the Sustainable Development Goals, see: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html