Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - CARE International in Jordan and Silatech have released an assessment outlining opportunities for youth in Azraq Refugee Camp to improve their livelihoods and skills they possess to help them do so.

Conducted during May-June, the ‘Baseline Assessment of Skills and Market Opportunities for Youth in Azraq Refugee Camp’ is based on over 200 individual and household interviews and focus group discussions with more than 100 participants in the camp.

It found that demand for work among camp residents is high and recommended steps to address it.

The camp has over 19,000 Syrian refugees, half of whom children under 18 and around 45 percent of working age (18-59 years). The assessment found that many are skilled, or could develop skills, and are keen to build a better life for themselves.

Camp residents also need money to cover their most urgent requirements, as they rely on a monthly allowance of 20 Jordanian dollars per person, provided for purchasing food through World Food Programme (WFP) point at Sameh Mall, the only place in the camp that sells any kind of goods.

The assessment also found that camp residents possess skills, including trading, farming, carpentry, food production, teaching and hairdressing, and recommended finding opportunities for them to use these skills.

One recommendation is to open a marketplace in the camp to provide camp population with opportunities for income and to improve their quality of life by making more products and services.

Fairuz Taqi-Eddin, Director, Country Operations, Silatech, said: “Markets bring life and livelihood opportunities to any setting. A market in the camp will support the creation of enterprises. Silatech’s work in the enterprise space has proven to us the positive change that enterprises can bring to the economic status of individuals and families, while creating job opportunities for others.”

Silatech is a regional social initiative to improve employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for young people in the Arab world.

The study also includes a review of the camp’s livelihood programme, known as Incentive-based Volunteering (IBV) scheme. It is the only mechanism in the camp to register jobseekers, facilitate recruitment and track the status of their placement in IBV opportunities.

“The programme is a major step in creating opportunities where refugees can offer skills or develop new ones.

“NGOs benefit from the experience of Syrian refugees. IBV has injected more than $1m into the camp economy,” says Salam Kanaan, Director, CARE Jordan Country. The success of the livelihood effort has relied upon coordination between Jordan’s Syria Refugees Affairs Directorate, UNHCR, CARE and other NGOs, organising placement, rotation, and reporting.

“The impact has been significant for those who participate, but volunteer opportunities fall short of absorbing the supply of Syrians willing and able to contribute,” Kanaan said.

The report also found that women face obstacles to participating in the local economy, including household duties, child care and proximity to work places.

“Opportunities to work in the home, or closer to home would make it easier for a woman to contribute financially, build her skills and ensure a better future for her family,” Kanaan added.

* Peninsula