Amman, Jordan (ILO News) – A high-level delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Development Bank (KfW) met with ILO officials in Jordan to review progress made in the “Employment Intensive Investment Infrastructure Programme – Phase VI in Jordan.”

 

Amman, Jordan – A delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Development Bank (KfW) met with ILO and Ministry of Agriculture officials in Amman, to discuss progress made in the “Employment Intensive Investment Infrastructure Programme (EIIP) – Phase VI.”

BMZ funded the 18 million-euro, 2-year EIIP project which aims to increase short-term income and improve the living environment of workers through decent paid employment, in addition to providing young Jordanians and Syrians with market-relevant skills that will help them secure longer-term employment.

The project is implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Local Administration, the Ministry of Labour, and several local municipalities.

During the meeting, delegation members reviewed progress made under the agro-forestry component of the EIIP project and highlighted the importance of the benefits of the component for some of the most vulnerable people in Jordan. The component is being implemented in two afforestation sites in the Jarash and Irbid districts in northern Jordan, and provides jobs for 102 Jordanians and Syrians, including women and persons with disabilities.

They also exchanged information about the new “cocoon” technology the Ministry of Agriculture is using to aid reforestation under this project. The technology uses biodegradable tree incubators to help saplings grow in harsh climates.

 

Dr. Mahmoud Al Rabea, Secretary General Assistant for International Projects, extended his thanks to BMZ for the generous funding they contributed to the Government of Jordan and the project. On behalf of the Minister of Agriculture H.E Khaled Hunaifat, Al Rabea thanked delegation members for their efforts in Jordan and referred to the strong partnership between the Ministry and the ILO.

Ms. Kordula Mehlhart, Head of Development Cooperation at the German Embassy in Amman emphasized the importance of providing short term employment opportunities to the most vulnerable in Jordan – both Jordanians and Syrians – and of building on the criteria of the National Aid Fund in the selection of the workers. She also thanked the Ministry of agriculture for their efforts and underlined the role sustainable afforestation for retaining scarce water resources and to combat climate change.

The EIIP project was launched in Jordan in 2016 in response to the Syrian crisis and to provide support to the Jordanian Government in facing the challenges related to the influx of refugees. It focuses on increasing short term employment through improving infrastructure and the environment, and to providing youth with skills that will assist them in securing longer-term job opportunities.