A national workshop on Database management was concocted in Aqaba, Jordan between 21-25 November 2021 under the MED4EBM project framework. The workshop was organized by the Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS) with the patronage of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority. 124 Participants representing several stakeholders in Aqaba attended the workshop. The project Lead Beneficiary, UNDP Jordan Country Office was represented by the project coordinator, Dr. Mohammad Badran and the project communication officer, Ms. Tala Shakhanbeh, and Italian partner, Amici della Terra (ADT) represented by the MED4EBM project international technical expert, Dr. Edoardo Scepi and ADT national technical team expert, Dr. Mattero Onori.

The workshop was facilitated by Mr Bashar al Bataineh and Eng. Ahmad Ashur. The main focus of the workshop was actual data entry in the ISP60 software introduced by the MED4EBM project. Several types of ecological and socioeconomic data have been collected over the past year of the project by the JREDS through active consultation with the relevant stakeholders.   

The step-by-step procedure for structuring and setting the indicators was carried out and explained in detail, this procedure includes the identification of the spatial and time scale for the required indicators necessary to generate geo-referenced charts and view the data on the map. With the rich interaction of the stakeholders, the workshop provided an effective platform for the exchange of views and expertise on the subject, shed the light on the challenges faced by the key actors involved, stressing the importance of the real participation of beneficial authorities and the community in monitoring programs through citizen science, and data gathering and data management through an ecosystem-based management approach. 

The workshop also highlighted the importance of providing information on environmental resources to relevant stakeholders easily and understandably for non-specialists. Accordingly, the participants recommended establishing a national group representing the stakeholders from various backgrounds to help review and validate collected data, and further improve the data management process.