Dutch embassy, Planning Ministry, launch second phase of ‘prospects partnership’

AMMAN — The Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation of Jordan marked the launch of the second phase of the Prospects Partnership in Jordan at an event held in Amman today. The event was hosted by Harry Verweij, ambassador of the Kingdom of The Netherlands, and attended by Zeina Toukan, minister of planning and international cooperation, and representatives from other donor countries, UN agencies, and local NGOs, according to a statement for The Jordan Times.

Prospects is a partnership that aims to improve the access of refugees and host communities to quality education, social protection and decent work. Funded by the Kingdom of The Netherlands, it is implemented by the IFC, ILO, UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Bank across eight countries, including Jordan.

Following the first four years of implementation (2019-2023), Prospects has transitioned into the second four year phase, starting from 2024. The Netherlands will be investing an additional $98 million to continue to support partners’ work in education, employment, and protection, with the addition of water as a new area of focus in Jordan, the statempent said.

“The main ambition of our development cooperation with Jordan has been and still is to make a positive contribution to the hosting of refugees. The Prospects partnership is at the centre of our programming in Jordan. With thanks to our implementing partners, IFC, ILO, UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Bank, Prospects has helped refugees and Jordanians to enjoy better education, dignified employment, and protection of their well -being and their legal rights. We will continue to invest in these areas in this second phase in close cooperation with the Jordanian government, while we also add water as a new area of focus,” said Ambassador Verweij during his opening remarks.

In line with the Government of Jordan’s efforts to build a more resilient and productive society, the Prospects partnership places self-reliance, social and economic empowerment at its core. The partnership has a specific focus on refugees and Jordanian host communities, women and youth. Prospects partners work closely with the government to implement their activities.

Speaking at the launch the minister of planning and international cooperation, Zeina Toukan, said “The Government of Jordan appreciates the support extended to Jordan under the first phase of Prospects and the partnership established with implementing partners to deliver on key priorities supporting refugees and host communities. We have seen the delivery of key results that we are keen to build on. We therefore look forward to engaging with the Dutch embassy and our partners on the second phase, which will help us deliver on priorities under the Economic Modernisation Vision and Jordan Response Plan in areas of livelihoods, private sector development, education, TVET, social protection and water.”

The partnership focuses on four key pillars: Education, employment, protection and water. In education, Prospects strengthens the entire system by training teachers and providing tools for basic education, life skills, and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) for refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, ensuring alignment with labour market needs, according to the statement.

For employment, it enhances opportunities for dignified work by supporting private sector growth, improving work conditions, and fostering entrepreneurship opportunities that engage both refugees and Jordanians.

Under social protection, Prospects collaborates with the Government of Jordan to enhance social assistance programmes, social security, and child protection systems, while ensuring refugees have access to legal documentation.

Lastly, the partnership focuses on improving water resource management and access to sustainable water and sanitation services, aiming to increase climate resilience and efficient water use for vulnerable populations, including those in refugee camps.

In a global context of refugee and forced displacement situations being increasingly longer-term, the five partners and The Netherlands pledge to build on each other’s strengths and look for sustainable solutions to forced displacement, in close coordination with the Government of Jordan.

The other countries benefitting from the partnership are Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, Uganda, Kenya, Sudan and Ethiopia. During phase 1 of the partnership, The Netherlands invested 500 million euros and has pledged 800 million euros for phase 2 of the partnership, which will run until 2028, the statement said.