ILO, UNICEF, and the European Union (EU) mark close of landmark project, leaving legacy of inclusive growth in Jordan

AMMAN (ILO News) — In a closing ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Amman, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Delegation of the European Union, together with UNICEF, 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, the European Union, and civil society to mark the culmination of a project that laid the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive social protection landscape. Implemented between 2020 and 2025 and 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.

Minister of Social Development highlights project’s role in national reform

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

“This project has been pivotal in building a sustainable social protection system,” stated HE Bani Moustapha. “By linking policy development to decent job creation, it directly supports our strategy’s core objectives: transitioning beneficiaries from aid dependency to empowerment through fair, socially insured employment—while strengthening resilience against future shocks.”

Anchoring social protection in national systems

Through collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development, Social Security Corporation, Department of Statistics, and Ministry of Labour, the project supported Jordan in updating its National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS) for 2025–2033. Key milestones included:

• Institutionalizing the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) at the Ministry of Social Development.
• Launching Jordan’s first Statistical Bulletin on Social Protection.
• Conducting a landmark Social Protection Public Expenditure Review—providing lasting tools for evidence-based policymaking.

Pathways to decent work and livelihoods

The 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.

At the project’s final Steering Committee, government representatives reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining its achievements.

Removing barriers, promoting inclusion

The 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.

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

“Over the past five years, this project has laid critical foundations,” said Ms. Amal Mowafy, ILO Jordan Country Coordinator. “But sustainability requires more than tools. It demands ownership, adaptation, and relentless collaboration.”

EU Ambassador highlights project’s dual impact

H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, EU Ambassador to Jordan, underscored the project’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.”

Sustaining momentum

As the programme concludes, partners emphasized the need for continued investment and coordination. Plans are underway to:

• Integrate the NSPS into the national budget.
• Institutionalize the ISU through ministerial decrees.

Transition employment support into permanent government-led mechanisms.

“This project has planted seeds of change,” said Ms. Mowafy in her closing remarks. “With continued commitment, we will nurture them into forests of opportunity.”

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