Italian-led programme launched to improve living conditions of refugees, host communities

AMMAN — A regional programme was officially launched in Amman on Tuesday with the aim of improving living conditions of refugees and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt. 

Dubbed “Assistance to and empowerment of Syrian refugee women and girls and vulnerable women and girls in host communities in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon”, the three-year programme is part of efforts made by the Italian Development Cooperation’s response towards the Syrian crisis. 

“It has a regional approach that will contribute to the empowerment of women in refugee and host communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt in a very coherent, comprehensive way,” Italian Ambassador to Jordan Fabio Cassese told The Jordan Times in an interview during the launch ceremony. 

The ambassador said he expected more than 10,000 people to benefit from the programme.

Carla Pagnao, gender expert and regional programme coordinator at the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), said the programme was designed for the benefit of both Syrian refugees and host communities. 

 The gender expert said the initiative includes four components aimed at tackling sexual and productive health, combating gender based violence, rights and security. 

“It is implemented by a vast partnership of about 20 organisations… The aim of the project is to improve living conditions of refugees and host communities in the three countries by tackling these specific aspects,” she told The Jordan Times.  

A panel of partners from international agencies and Italian and national civil society organisations will work for the next three years to provide support, develop tools and build capacities of about 10,000 women, girls, men and boys, from refugee and host communities in neglected areas of Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon, according to the organiser’s statement. 

The economic empowerment component of the programme will be implemented by two consortia led by Oxfam and AICS, and will work to develop innovative solutions for social cooperatives, and to microcredit plans. 

The United Nations Population Fund will support initiatives for improving access to sexual and reproductive health, the creation of safe spaces and capacity building targeting youth development centres. 

Finally, UN-ESCWA will provide technical capacity for refugee women and their partners in host countries to enhance women’s voice and participation in the peace building process.