Ammon News - The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the National Aid Fund (NAF) held the first workshop under an EU-funded programme that lays the grounds for cooperation to facilitate the execution of a nationwide programme that supports the graduation of NAF beneficiaries from aid dependence into decent and sustainable employment opportunities.

This cooperation is a crucial part of the graduation programme under the project "Towards an inclusive national social protection system and accelerating decent job opportunities for Syrians and vulnerable Jordanians", that is funded by the EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian crisis (the EU Madad Fund) and is being implemented by the ILO and UNICEF.

The objective behind these workshops is to strengthen the cooperation and coordination between ILO and NAF employees, who will be working in the field, by increasing their knowledge of the graduation programme and its intricate details. The overarching strategic objective of the EU MADAD Graduation Programme is to empower unemployed and economically inactive Jordanians and Syrian refugees who rely on cash assistance so they can transition into decent employment and livelihoods via a meticulous national project that requires close cooperation between all stakeholders.

This effort will help equip target beneficiaries with skills and competencies that are relevant to the labour market to enhance their employment prospects and contribute to reducing the unemployment and poverty rates among Jordanians and Syrians in the Kingdom by matching them with sustainable employment and economic opportunities.

Overall, this project will contribute to alleviating the burden on cash assistance services in Jordan, amid deteriorating economic conditions and increased levels of vulnerability, to facilitate coverage of new entrants into the NAF assistance programmes.

With social protection being a key priority for both the EU and the UN, this programme aims to build on the strategic partnership with the Ministry of Social Development. This partnership embeds joint commitments to enhance coordination, integrated planning and monitoring of the Government’s efforts in the social protection and employment sectors within the scope of the National Social Protection Strategy.

(Petra)