Group photo of the participants in the National Workshop on Public Works, including ILO, government partners, UN agencies, workers’ organizations, employers’ organizations, and donors. Jordan, 09/2025.

ILO and the Government of Jordan, Convene High-Level Workshop on National Programme of Public Works

At a workshop in Amman, Government, ILO representatives, and development partners from Germany, the Netherlands and Italy, mapped out steps for a programme that will generate decent jobs for youth, women and refugees while strengthening social protection.

29 September 2025

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Amman (ILO News) - The International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with the Government of Jordan and development partners Germany’s KfW Development Bank, the Embassy of the Netherlands, and Italian Agency for Development Cooperation AICS, convened The National Workshop on Public Works Programmes.

The workshop aimed to share international experiences, explore the role of a national public works programme in addressing unemployment and supporting vulnerable groups, promote dialogue among key partners, and outline a roadmap for establishing a national framework in Jordan.
The event gathered senior representatives from key government ministries including Planning, Labour, Public Works and Housing, Agriculture, Social Development, and Local Administration - alongside the Greater Amman Municipality, General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions and Jordan Chamber of Industry. In addition to the valuable participation from international development partners and UN Organizations including UNHABITAT, FAO, UNESCO & UNOPS and technical experts.

Since 2014, with ILO technical support, Jordan has implemented the Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP) across multiple sectors — including road maintenance, agriculture, municipal works and cultural heritage — generating over 2 million working days for vulnerable Jordanians and Syrian refugees, while ensuring compliance with national labour laws and international labour standards. Building on this track record, the country is now considering the establishment of a national Public Works Programme (PWP) as an institutionalised policy instrument to expand the employment impacts of EIIP and contribute to long-term strategies for employment and social protection.

Amal Mowafy, ILO Jordan Country Coordinator and Senior Regional Employment Policy Specialist for the Arab States, discussing the National Workshop on Public Works. Jordan, 09/2025.

Ms. Amal Mowafy, ILO Jordan Country Coordinator and Senior Regional Employment Policy Specialist for Arab States emphasized: “Building on more than a decade of experience and lessons learnt, the ILO is proud to support Jordan in advancing a National Programme on Public Works that creates decent jobs, strengthens social protection, and delivers sustainable infrastructure and services. With our global and regional expertise, we are committed to ensuring this programme supports inclusive growth in line with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision and with the Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no one behind. We are grateful for the strong partnership with KfW, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation among others throughout this journey.”

Dr. Ahmad Abu Haidar , Assistant Secretary General, Ministry of Social development, highlighted “Public works programmes play a fundamental role in strengthening social protection by empowering poor and vulnerable individuals and families. In this context, it is important to highlight the National Social Protection Strategy (2025–2033), launched by the Government of Jordan under Royal directives, which directly links its four pillars with public works programmes that can complement social assistance interventions by targeting beneficiaries who are capable of work.”

Maha Kattaa, Regional Chief Technical Adviser for the PROSPECTS Programme, presenting during the National Workshop on Public Works, Jordan, 09/2025. © Nadia Bseiso/ILO”. — Maha Kattaa, Regional Chief Technical Adviser for the PROSPECTS Programme, presenting during the National Workshop on Public Works, Jordan, 09/2025.

Dr. Maha Kattaa, Regional Chief Technical Adviser for PROSPECTS Programme emphasized: “Through the PROSPECTS partnership we have witnessed the value of linking employment creation with resilience and long-term development outcomes. We hope to continue this with our upcoming EIIP activities in Jordan. In addition, moving towards a nationally owned Public Works Programme will offer Jordan the opportunity to institutionalise achievements and integrate employment and social protection into sustainable development strategies.”

Group discussion during the National Workshop on Public Works with ILO, Ministry of Social Development, KfW, Ministry of Agriculture, General Federation of Trade Unions, and Jordan Chamber of Industry. Jordan, 09/2025.

Dr. Matthias Schmidt-Rosen, Director of KFW Amman stated: “KfW is proud of its long-standing partnership with the ILO and the Government of Jordan in advancing labour-intensive public works that create jobs and deliver tangible benefits to communities. Financed by the German government since 2016, our collaboration with the ILO has shown how such projects can support livelihoods for Jordanians ad Syrians, strengthen infrastructure, and promote social cohesion. We look forward to scaling up these achievements through a nationally owned Public Works Programme that drives inclusive growth across the Kingdom.”

Mr. Martino Costa- Head of Programs, AICS Amman added: “Beyond the immediate provision of income support, the EIIP project funded by AICS has invested in skills development, enterprise creation, and institutional capacity building, ensuring that these short-term opportunities could translate into longer term pathways toward sustainable employment. In this sense, it has demonstrated how public works can serve as a bridge linking humanitarian response with development priorities and linking vulnerable households with dignified employment and prospects for sustainable development “.

Dr. Khaled Fanatsa President, General Federation of Jordanian Trade Unions added “Workers see public works not just as jobs, but as a pathway to social protection, rights at work, and a more resilient labour market.”

Mr. Mohammed Al Khalayla - Director of Studies and Policies, Jordan Chamber of Industry stated “Skills development is at the heart of linking public employment programmes with sustainable job creation. When workers gain practical skills through these programmes, they are better prepared to transition into long-term employment in Jordan’s industrial sector. This connection between skills and decent work is vital for building a stronger workforce and advancing our country’s economic resilience.”

The workshop concluded with a shared commitment among the Government of Jordan, social partners, development partners, and the ILO to advance the development of a national Public Works Programme. Participants agreed on the importance of aligning the programme with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision and National Social Protection Strategy, while ensuring inclusive participation of youth, women, and refugees.

As a next step, stakeholders will work together to develop a roadmap outlining the institutional arrangements, financing mechanisms, and coordination frameworks required to operationalise the programme. This process will build on Jordan’s proven experience with the EIIP and draw on international good practices.