German Development Bank and ILO spotlight inclusive green jobs and sustainable development in Jordan

AMMAN (ILO News) - In a joint mission to Jordan, representatives from the German Development Bank (KfW) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) visited key project sites under the Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) – Phase VI, highlighting transformative progress in green jobs, municipal infrastructure and micro-entrepreneurship. The programme, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through KfW, is implemented in close partnership with national and local institutions across Jordan.

The visit highlighted the impact of EIIP as a flagship initiative supporting Jordan’s economic resilience, climate adaptation and social inclusion. Delegates from KfW, including Portfolio Manager Caroline Peters-Sanchez and Jordan Portfolio Coordinator Assia AlDhabbi, joined ILO’s Chief Technical Advisor Shailendra Jha and senior project staff in reviewing project sites and engaging with local communities, municipal leaders and entrepreneurs in the governorates of Mafraq and Irbid.

Supporting livelihoods through infrastructure and green works

The mission visited multiple municipalities—including Al Bassilyah, Bergish, and Bani Obaid—where EIIP-supported infrastructure projects have created decent short-term employment and enhanced public spaces through the construction of community parks, playgrounds, greenhouses, stairways and water channel rehabilitations. These efforts are designed not only to address local development priorities, but also to promote environmental sustainability and boost social cohesion in host communities.

So far, the community infrastructure component has exceeded its employment target, generating over 1,380 decent jobs, including 34 per cent for women and 5.5 per cent for persons with disabilities. Workers benefit from safe and inclusive work conditions, fair wages, and access to social protection.

Local mayors praised the initiative’s inclusive design and the strong ownership fostered through participatory planning processes. Women involved in traditionally male-dominated roles, such as construction and landscaping, shared how the opportunity challenged stereotypes and enabled economic independence.

Advancing Jordan’s afforestation agenda

The visit also included a field visit of EIIP’s afforestation initiative in Al Koura, Irbid, a core pillar of Jordan’s National Afforestation Plan to plant 10 million trees by 2030. With technical support from the International Labour Organization to the Ministry of Agriculture, EIIP is rehabilitating degraded land through water-saving Cocoon technology, native tree planting and nursery development.

To date, the programme has cultivated over 750,000 saplings and planted 140,000 trees across 450 hectares, contributing to Jordan’s climate resilience goals while generating green employment. Workers, including women and Syrian refugees, have been trained in sustainable land management and are helping restore biodiversity in their communities.

Empowering entrepreneurs and strengthening local economies

A central pillar of the visit was engaging with beneficiaries of EIIP’s entrepreneurship support programme, which equips vulnerable individuals with market-relevant skills and start-up capital. The delegation met with several women and youth micro-entrepreneurs who established businesses in areas such as retail, agriculture and services.

These small businesses, supported through the ILO’s "Start and Improve Your Business" (SIYB) training and seed funding, are creating sustainable income streams and contributing to local economic development. Over 400 individuals have completed the training, with 175 receiving start-up grants.

Partnership for a just transition

With a total grant of €18 million, EIIP Phase VI exemplifies how labour-based infrastructure, green recovery, and entrepreneurship can work in tandem to promote inclusive growth and stability. The programme has reached more than 15 municipalities, integrating gender equity, disability inclusion, and climate action into every phase of implementation.

Caroline Peters-Sanchez of KfW noted: “This partnership demonstrates how donor funding, when paired with strong technical leadership and local engagement, can deliver tangible, lasting impact for communities most in need.”

Shailendra Jha of the ILO said: “The strength of this programme lies in its human-centred approach—creating opportunities, building capacities, and transforming lives across Jordan.”

As Jordan continues to navigate economic, demographic, and environmental challenges, the ILO-KfW partnership stands as a model of innovative, inclusive, and sustainable development.