In addition to providing assistance to the water, health, economic growth, education, and democracy & governance sectors in Jordan, USAID/Jordan implements a multi-year, policy-based balance of payment program. This assistance is provided in the form of a cash transfer, which has constituted a major portion of the U.S. assistance program since 1997.

The Cash Transfer program provides the Government of Jordan with the required foreign currency to pay down its external non-military debt to help reduce the Government’s international debt burden and strengthen its foreign exchange position. Each year, a series of policy reform objectives in the water, health, economic and social development sectors are linked to the disbursement of the Cash Transfer program funds.

In return, the Government of Jordan provides an equal amount of money in Jordanian dinars to support development programs in Jordan. The local currency program associated with the cash transfer is programmed jointly by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and USAID. This program has made possible several development initiatives through the freeing-up of money that would have otherwise been used to pay off Jordan’s debt.

During 1997 - 2004, USAID has provided over $800 million for the cash transfer program.

Fiscal Year 1997: $50 million
Fiscal Year 1998: $50 million
Fiscal Year 1999: $100 million
Fiscal Year 2000: $50 million
Fiscal Year 2001: $50 million
Fiscal Year 2002: $125 million
Fiscal Year 2003: $144.5 million
Fiscal Year 2004: $238.5 million

In addition, $700 million was provided in FY2003 to offset the economic effects of the war in Iraq.