News

ILO and Jordan Cooperative Corporation partner to strengthen cooperatives and promote decent work in Jordan

New agreement focuses on training, governance, and digital tools to empower Jordan's cooperative sector.

13 December 2024

a person speaking at the meeting — Jordan’s Minister of Agriculture Khaled Al-Hunaifat believes that the new agreement with the ILO will help strengthen cooperatives.

Amman, JORDAN (ILO News) - Under the patronage of Jordan’s Minister of Agriculture Khaled Al-Hunaifat and in the presence of ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake, Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat, and Ambassador of the Netherlands to Jordan Harry Verweij, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Jordanian Cooperative Corporation (JCC) signed a three-year agreement to strengthen cooperative societies in Jordan through ILO tools, training, and the introduction of a database and e-services.

“Last week, the government presented the proposed cooperative law with an integrated approach, including training and the empowerment of cooperatives, also supported by a Cooperative Development Fund to strengthen the entire sector," said Minister Al-Hunaifat. “Today, alongside our partners, we are celebrating a new agreement that through their efforts will support the training of cooperatives, enhance their infrastructure, create more job opportunities, and combat poverty across Jordan's governorates."

As part of the second phase of the PROSPECTS Partnership supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Jordan Cooperative Corporation will adopt the Think.Coop, Start.Coop, and My.Coop ILO tools and training materials. The materials have been adapted to the Jordanian context, and will be used to train emerging cooperatives as well as established cooperatives and incorporate them into its annual training programme.

ILO officials at a meeting — ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake (L) attended the event to underline ILO's support in empowering cooperatives in the region.

“Through the agreement signed today, we hope to expand the scope of the ILO’s tools for cooperatives by institutionalizing them in the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, to empower new cooperatives with the skills and knowledge needed to operate effectively,” said ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake. “The ILO’s work with the cooperative sector today is based on ILO Recommendation No. 193, which recognizes that strengthening cooperatives is an effective means of promoting decent work and sustainable development for all members of society.”

Under the three-year agreement (2025-2027), the training materials aim to trigger cooperative development, guide the establishment process, enhance the management and governance of agricultural cooperatives, promote decent work, highlight the role of cooperatives in combating child labour, and ensure occupational safety and health for workers in Jordan's agricultural sector.

“This agreement is the fruit of a joint cooperation that has extended over several years,” said ILO Regional Director Ruba Jaradat. “By working together, we can create a cooperative movement in Jordan that contributes to building the foundation for a brighter and more just future, as demonstrated in the first phase of the PROSPECTS programme, where cooperatives registered 3,600 agricultural workers, facilitated 3,400 job opportunities, and enabled the issuance of 2,500 work permits for Syrian refugees.”

official signing documents — JCC and the ILO signed a 3-year agreement to strengthen cooperatives.

Within the agreement, the ILO will also provide the JCC with free training materials and methodologies for implementation, while also ensuring regular updates to the materials, methodologies, and software system for the database and electronic services. Additionally, the ILO will train several of the institution’s employees on using the system.

“Today we are celebrating one of the successes achieved through the PROSPECTS partnership which is the centerpiece of our support in Jordan,” said the ambassador of the Netherlands Harry Verweij. “Through this partnership we aim to enhance the economic and social prospects for refugees and host communities in Jordan. By advancing the work of the cooperatives in Jordan, we are taking firm steps towards achieving what the PROSPECTS partnership aims to do.”

This is the second agreement signed by the partners, following the first in 2020 to develop the National Strategy for the Jordanian Cooperative Movement, with the ILO providing technical support. A key outcome of the strategy has been the recommendation to revive the Cooperative Development Institute to train cooperatives and conduct studies, surveys, and research.

meeting participants sitting on chairs — Cooperative sector stakeholders will benefit from the ILO and JCC's agreement with improved infrastructure, training and job opportunities.

“This agreement supports the Jordanian cooperative sector by empowering members to establish cooperatives, strengthening agricultural governance, and promoting decent work in cooperative-driven sectors," said JCC Director General Abdel Fattah Al Shalabi.

"Through our longstanding partnership with the ILO, we aim to build cooperatives' capacities in line with international standards.”

Al Shalabi also highlighted key achievements, including a national strategy for 2021–2025, updated cooperative legislation, and the establishment of the Cooperative Development Fund and Institute.

PROSPECTS is a global partnership that aims to improve the access of host communities and forcibly displaced people to education, social protection and decent work. Spearheaded by the Government of the Netherlands, it brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank.