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EU, ILO, and UNICEF Complete Five-years of a Joint Programme to Accelerate Social Protection and Job Opportunities in Jordan

04.06.2025
Amman
Press and information team of the Delegation to JORDAN

The International Labour Organization (ILO), UNICEF and the Delegation of the European Union, celebrated the achievements of their five-year joint programme: “Towards an inclusive national social protection system and accelerating decent job opportunities for Syrians and vulnerable Jordanians.”

The event brought together key partners from the Government of Jordan, and civil society to mark the culmination of the joint programme that laid the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive social protection landscape. The implementation took place between 2020 and 2025 and was funded by the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund). The initiative strengthened the links between social protection, decent work, and long-term resilience.

H.E. Wafa Bani Moustafa, Minister of Social Development, delivered a keynote address at the closing ceremony, emphasizing the joint programme’s alignment with Jordan’s National Social Protection Strategy (2025–2033) and its transformative impact on vulnerable communities.

Through collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development, Social Security Corporation, Department of Statistics, and Ministry of Labour, the joint programme           played a key role in supporting the implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) and its update for 2025-2033. Key milestones included:

  • The establishment and the institutionalization of the NSPS Implementation Support Unit (ISU) at the Ministry of Social Development and the creation and operationalization of the national task forces for each of the pillars of the NSPS.

  • The support to key priorities of the NSPS 2019-2025, including the issuing of the new Social Development Law #4/2024, which paves the way for the professionalization of the social workforce.

  • Launching Jordan’s first Statistical Bulletin on Social Protection and the development of the first Social Protection Public Expenditure Review for Jordan.

  • Ensuring a robust process for the update of the NPS and its alignment with the Economic Modernization Vision, through evidence generation, policy development and a wide and comprehensive consultation process, which involved the 12 governorates of Jordan and different sectors of the Jordanian society and economy.

H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, European Union Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, underscored the joint programme’s broader significance: “It is fitting that we are closing this project on the same day that the EU is lifting economic sanctions on Syria. We want to see trade, investment, and remittances reaching Syria, enabling reconstruction and solidifying peace and unity. This project was successful in training and employing over 3,000 Jordanians and Syrians in Jordan, while supporting important Jordanian legislation and policies, which culminated with the adoption of a new National Social Protection Strategy. The EU will continue to support the Government of Jordan’s social policies, because social inclusion is key to economic resilience, growth, and to the country’s Economic Modernization Vision at large.”

The joint programme placed over 1,600 individuals in decent jobs and equipped thousands more through market-aligned skills training, career counselling, and employment services. Special emphasis was placed on inclusion in high-growth sectors like digital services, healthcare, and renewable energy.

The joint programme streamlined work permit procedures, enhanced gender-responsive services, and expanded sectors open to refugee employment. Interventions included support for home-based work, childcare services, and institutional reforms like the 2024 Social Development Law—modernizing social service delivery for the first time in 70 years.

Ms. Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for Arab States noted “this is about transforming systems—not just delivering services. Together, we’ve helped turn policy into progress.”

Ms. Amal Mowafy, ILO Jordan Country Coordinator said “over the past five years, this project has laid critical foundations. But sustainability requires more than tools. It demands ownership, adaptation, and relentless collaboration.” She added “This project has planted seeds of change. With continued commitment, we will nurture them into forests of opportunity.”

Dr. Leonardo Menchini, Chief of Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF Jordan declared, “the EU MADAD joint programme stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved through strong partnerships—between the Government of Jordan, the European Union, and the United Nations. One of the most significant outcomes of this programme has been the support to the update of the National Social Protection Strategy 2025–2033. This marks a critical step forward in strengthening inclusive and resilient systems that better protect vulnerable children and families across Jordan.” 

The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring beneficiaries—a powerful reminder that behind every reform are lives changed, and futures forged.