Dutch-funded project to support economic empowerment of youth concludes

AMMAN — Finn Church Aid (FCA), a Finnish non-profit organisation, and HelpAge International (HAI), an international NGO, hosted a closing ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of the Dutch-funded Municipal Business (MUBU) project. 

The project supported the economic empowerment of youth from vulnerable communities across Jordan, according to a FCA statement. 

The closing ceremony was held in the presence of Harry Verweij, ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Jordan, and project stakeholders including government representatives, donors, project beneficiaries and local and international nongovernmental organisations.    

Launched in 2019, the MUBU project supported vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian refugee youth with livelihood opportunities through a holistic family approach. 

The project was implemented in six regions: Jarash, Junaid, Zaatari and Manshieh, Dhulail, Sahab and Mahis. 

The project links to the decentralised agenda of Government of Jordan as localised support ensures sustainability and utilise local resources. 

Over the project’s two-year implementation period, 256 individuals were supported to establish their own home-based or retail business. 

In addition, 162 women and men, out of which 70 per cent are youth, from the local communities were employed at these businesses. 

The project provided beneficiaries with a number of business and technical trainings to enhance their entrepreneurial knowledge and skills to manage their own businesses. 

“Youth are at the heart of the Netherlands development cooperation and we take pride in MUBU for not only providing youth with training and skills workshops but also empowering them to form peer-to-peer advisory groups,” said Verweij during his opening words at the ceremony. 

The MUBU project facilitated the establishment of the Youth Business Mentors Network (YBMN) —  an initiative that embraces entrepreneurial, passionate and talented beneficiaries from local communities.