Nizar Al Adarbeh joined ACOR in September of 2015 to be Chief of Party for USAID SCHEP. He brings 10 years of experience in the tourism sector and cultural resources management to his new responsibilities with SCHEP. Nizar has contributed to national policy making; he worked with an appointed committee of public and private sector authorities to form the National Tourism & Antiquities Strategy for Jordan 2011—2015 with the Ministry of Tourism and to form the Strategy for Management of Archaeological Heritage in Jordan 2014—2018 with the Department of Antiquities.
Nizar managed projects funded by the Euro-Mediterranean Program for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan before joining ACOR and USAID SCHEP. He served on an international committee to develop tourism priorities for the EU-funded European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument Program 2014—2020. He worked with the European Union and with counterparts in other Mediterranean nations to preserve and protect cultural heritage sites and to promote tourism for economic development and cultural sustainability.
In the beginning of his career, he worked with the Jordan Inbound Tour Operators Association (JITOA), first as a volunteer, then as an officer, and eventually as the Executive Director. JITOA takes part in national strategic planning for tourism and encourages its members to commit to an industry code of ethics. It also facilitates Jordanian tourism companies’ participation in international exhibitions and trade fairs.
In addition, Nizar served as a consultant for international organizations such as the UNDP and the World Bank as well as Jordanian institutions such as the Royal Botanic Garden and the University of Jordan.
Nizar Adarbeh has an M.A. in Conservation and Cultural Resources Management from Yarmouk University and a B.A. in Sustainable Tourism Development from Hashemite University. Nizar is also an ACOR former fellow. In 2007 he was awarded the Frederick-Wenger Jordanian Fellowship to support his graduate studies.
