About the Jordan Badia Research and Development Centre (BRDC)

The BRDC is a unique centre of research, integrated management, community development and environmental conservation of the Jordanian semi-arid area of Badia.

The BRDC is a product of a partnership between the Higher Council of Science and Technology in Jordan, and the Royal Geographical Society in the UK and Durham University.

The seeds of the BRDC were sown in May 1992 when His Royal Highness Prince El-Hassan bin Talal and His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent patronized the Jordan Badia Research and Development Centre (BRDC), under the umbrella of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST) with the co-operation of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in the UK and the Centre for Overseas Research and Development (CORD), Durham University.

The University Durham has managed the UK side of the Centre on behalf of the RGS. The BRDC has an office in Amman and a Field Centre in Safawi, a remote Bedouin village approximately 150 km. northeast of Amman.

BRDC Development Stages:

•            Phase-I (1993-1996): This period was mainly the founding phase of the Centre. In addition to establishing the field centre, a number of studies and pieces of research were conducted including a base line socio-economic survey, associated with research on livestock, water, soil, flora, and other resources.

•            Phase-II (1996-2000: During this period and according to the needs of the target area, a scientific research action plan was formulated to accommodate seven themes: human resources, water resources, environment, energy and geology, livestock, land resources, and information technology and management (GIS). In this phase, the aim is to give less emphasis to basic research and more to applied research.

•             Phase-III (2000-Current): In this period BRDC started to build pilot development projects based on the scientific finding of its research.

Seeking to ensure that development is appropriate, beneficial, and sustainable. Development is envisaged under three broad headings:

1-socio-economic changes and development;

2-the conservation of the environment; and

3-the improved delivery of essential services.