ILO promotes jobs for refugee-hosting communities in Jordan
ILO works with refugee-hosting communities in Mafraq and Irbid to create jobs in agro-business.
MAFRAQ (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization, in collaboration with the governorates of Mafraq and Irbid, launched a series of assessments and training activities to support livelihoods and job creation in the agricultural sector on Wednesday (November 13).
Research into bottlenecks and how to increase earnings and job creation potential in agricultural production in Irbid and Mafraq will inform employment creation initiatives for local communities impacted by the influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria – particularly disadvantaged groups affected by increased competition for jobs.
‘’We have agreed with the ILO to focus on the production of tomato in Mafraq and we will analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the sector as well as look at options of interventions and training,” said Mahmoud al-Saad, Deputy Governor of Mafraq.
The ILO’s value chain development approach examines the different stages of a value chain, including inputs, supply, design, production, distribution, retailing and support services. It addresses key weaknesses that undermine the development of these value chains so that more benefits can be channelled to the poor, including more and better jobs.
‘Enhancing access to employment opportunities and livelihoods in host communities’, is an ILO initiative, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which also promotes public-private sector dialogue to improve the business environment and address labour market challenges; organizational capacity building for employment services; and local capacity building to support business start-up and expansion.
“We are pleased with the strong engagement of local stakeholders who have received training on value-chain analysis and are ready to conduct the assessment,” said Mimi Groenbech, ILO’s Technical Specialist on Livelihoods and Local Economic Development.
After a broad consultation process with national stakeholders and the completion of training for local value chain facilitators, the field research will be conducted throughout November. It aims to identify practical interventions to address challenges and stimulate job creation opportunities while building capacity to apply value chain development in the future to other sectors.
‘’We are still in the training process, meeting with farmers and other stakeholders to understand the issues from those people on the ground,” said Amal Al-Romi, a representative from the Agriculture Directorate of Mafraq. “Ultimately, we want to see entire families benefit from the process. One focus should be female-headed households so that the entire family gets involved and becomes productive.”
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Research into bottlenecks and how to increase earnings and job creation potential in agricultural production in Irbid and Mafraq will inform employment creation initiatives for local communities impacted by the influx of refugees from neighbouring Syria – particularly disadvantaged groups affected by increased competition for jobs.
‘’We have agreed with the ILO to focus on the production of tomato in Mafraq and we will analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the sector as well as look at options of interventions and training,” said Mahmoud al-Saad, Deputy Governor of Mafraq.
The ILO’s value chain development approach examines the different stages of a value chain, including inputs, supply, design, production, distribution, retailing and support services. It addresses key weaknesses that undermine the development of these value chains so that more benefits can be channelled to the poor, including more and better jobs.
‘Enhancing access to employment opportunities and livelihoods in host communities’, is an ILO initiative, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which also promotes public-private sector dialogue to improve the business environment and address labour market challenges; organizational capacity building for employment services; and local capacity building to support business start-up and expansion.
“We are pleased with the strong engagement of local stakeholders who have received training on value-chain analysis and are ready to conduct the assessment,” said Mimi Groenbech, ILO’s Technical Specialist on Livelihoods and Local Economic Development.
After a broad consultation process with national stakeholders and the completion of training for local value chain facilitators, the field research will be conducted throughout November. It aims to identify practical interventions to address challenges and stimulate job creation opportunities while building capacity to apply value chain development in the future to other sectors.
‘’We are still in the training process, meeting with farmers and other stakeholders to understand the issues from those people on the ground,” said Amal Al-Romi, a representative from the Agriculture Directorate of Mafraq. “Ultimately, we want to see entire families benefit from the process. One focus should be female-headed households so that the entire family gets involved and becomes productive.”
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For more information, please contact: Nisreen Bathish Abou Ragheb, Jordan Communications Officer, International Labour Organization, Email: g8beyexcoll@ilo.org