UNFPA looks to invest in programmes for young Jordanians

AMMAN — UNFPA executive board members recently highlighted their plans to invest in youth programmes in Jordan in order to benefit from the demographic opportunity and help ease challenges imposed by the Syrian crisis. 

They made their remarks on Wednesday at a meeting with HRH Princess Basma, UNFPA goodwill ambassador, during which they underlined the need for the government to pay more attention to the demographic opportunity — a stage in a country’s development during which the ratio of dependents (children and the elderly) to workers is at its lowest. 

The opportunity is projected to reach its peak between 2030 and 2050.

“National development priorities can only be realised through effective and cross-sectoral coordination between the public and private sectors to help alleviate the over-burdened government,” the princess said. 

Referring to the Syrian crisis, she noted that the situation is “both extremely sad on a humanitarian and economic level” and has “serious implications” on local development in all sectors. 

Edward Kallon, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator, said Jordan’s hospitality “came at a high cost to the country”, citing the UN’s emergency programmes to help the Syrian refugees. 

For his part, Fernando Carrera, president of the UNFPA, UNDP and UNOPS executive boards, noted that this year underlined the UN system’s commitment to improving assistance to Jordan, especially during such a “critical” time in the Middle East. 

Discussions during the meeting also covered issues of concern to the UNFPA, including early marriage, human trafficking and the need to create opportunities for unemployed young people. 

According to the agency, early marriages are an issue in Jordan, but more so for Syrian refugees, with 32 per cent of registered marriages among Syrians involving those under 18, while many marriages are not registered, leading to children born with no nationality. 

UNFPA executive board members were on a visit to Jordan to take part in the interactive thematic meeting titled “Jordanian Youth: the Power of 2 Million”, along with the executive boards members of UNOPS, UNDP, WFP, UNICEF and UN Women.

The meeting aimed at providing support for UN agencies in Jordan, especially for young people, through an open dialogue between the UN team, government bodies, NGOs and the private sector on youth issues and the UN’s work targeting them in the Kingdom.  

“Our visit to Jordan is very important as it showed our solidarity to host communities in addition to the refugees,” Leni Stenseth, director of UN affairs at the Norwegian ministry of foreign affairs, told The Jordan Times. 

Citing a visit to Mafraq, 80km northeast of Amman, she noted that the delegates checked on services related to maternal health and gender-based violence provided to Syrians in the Zaatrai Refugee Camp.

In addition, they visited local residents and listened to a briefing on a micro-project implemented by women to paint school walls. 

“In our capacity as board members, our duty is to give advice. I will make sure that my country is aware of the challenges in Jordan and able to work to help address them,” added Slenseth, who is also board member of UNDP and UNOPC.

Stressing that Jordan has shown “great resilience” during the turmoil, she underlined the need for the international community to focus on citizens and not only refugees. 

“That is the message I will send back to my government,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Higher Population Council Secretary General Sawsan Majali called for drawing up policies that capitalise on the large number of young people in order to avoid dire consequences.

“It is true that the government is facing so much pressure that it sometimes overlooks the future demographics, but the demographic shift must stay a top priority,” Majali added.  

Following the meeting, Princess Basma inaugurated UNFPA Jordan’s new office, where young people from the Y-Peer network preformed a “Freeze Mob”, creating scenarios promoting healthy lifestyles using live portraits.