The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, officially inaugurated Phase 2 of the ‘Prospects Partnership’ initiative at a ceremony in Amman Tuesday.
Harry Verweij, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Zeina Toukan, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, presided over the event, which saw the attendance of dignitaries from various donor nations, UN agencies, and local NGOs.
Prospects, a collaborative endeavor aimed at enhancing access to quality education, social protection, and sustainable employment for refugees and host communities, is funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and implemented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank across eight nations, including Jordan.
Having completed its initial four-year phase from 2019 to 2023, Prospects now enters its second phase, with t
he Netherlands committing an additional $98 million investment to sustain and expand initiatives in education, employment, protection, and introducing water management as a new focus area in Jordan.
Verweij underscored the significance of the Prospects partnership in Jordan’s developmental landscape, stating, “The Prospects partnership has significantly contributed to improving education, employment, and protection for refugees and Jordanians alike. As we embark on the second phase, we remain committed to collaborating closely with the Jordanian government, reinforcing our support in alignment with national priorities, and introducing water management as a new dimension.”
Aligned with Jordan’s endeavors to foster resilience and productivity, the Prospects partnership prioritizes self-reliance, social, and economic empowerment, particularly targeting refugees, Jordanian host communities, women, and youth.
Toukan emphasized the government’s appreciation for the achievements of the first phase and expressed e
agerness to advance shared priorities under Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision and Response Plan in collaboration with the Dutch Embassy and implementing partners.
The partnership’s focal points encompass education, employment, protection, and water management. In education, Prospects concentrates on enhancing the teaching workforce and facilitating access to basic education and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs, aligning skill development with labor market demands. For employment, it supports private sector growth and entrepreneurship, aiming to create dignified work opportunities for both refugees and Jordanians.
In the realm of social protection, Prospects collaborates with the Jordanian government to bolster social assistance programs and child protection systems, ensuring refugees’ access to legal documentation. Additionally, it seeks to improve water resource management and enhance sustainable water and sanitation services to bolster climate resilience and meet the needs
of vulnerable populations, including those in refugee camps.
Amidst prolonged global challenges posed by refugee and forced displacement scenarios, the five partners, along with the Netherlands, pledge to leverage their expertise and pursue sustainable solutions in coordination with the Jordanian government. The other beneficiary countries include Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, and Ethiopia.
During Phase 1, the Netherlands invested pound 500 million, and for Phase 2, it has pledged pound 800 million, extending support until 2028.
Source: Jordan News Agency