In Jordan, increasing economic pressure – partly caused by the combined effects on the local economy of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war on Ukraine – and persistent inequalities are leading to lost ground on the empowerment of women and girls, hardship and destitution, a rise in negative coping strategies, greater indebtedness, worsening of mental health and higher reliance on humanitarian assistance. Unemployment rate in Jordan remains high and employment opportunities for Syrians refugees are confined to a few sectors. Social and gender norms as well as patriarchal ideology limit the economic participation of women and girls. 

Building on best practices and lessons developed from phase I of the PRO JORDAN project, CARE implements a comprehensive intervention to improve self-reliance and protection of vulnerable populations, in particular women and youth in urban areas and Azraq refugee camp through an integrated package of protection and empowerment activities. The intervention cohesively links all three programmatic areas as follows. Specifically, CARE will collaborate with the Institute for Family Health (IFH) to provide comprehensive case management to refugees and asylum seekers to help them prevent or address food insecurity, illness, eviction, exploitation, GBV, including CEFM, and/or lack of legal status. CARE will increase access to livelihoods and income, contributing to resilience, through a three-pronged approach, including (1) scaling the hydroponic systems in Azraq camp, (2) enhancing employability of and employment linkages for youth, and (3) a holistic support to the development of MSEs. Specifically, CARE will apply the Program Youth (Y) curriculum to engage young men and adolescent boys in discussions and activism around gender equality and positive masculinities. In parallel, CARE will continue and expand the engagement with Community Committees (CCs) and Women’s Leadership Councils (WLCs) established and strengthened under PRO-JORDAN phase I, through the application of CARE’s Social Action and Analysis (SAA) approach, which facilitates positive engagement and reflection on social norms and change.

Main Activities 

• Provision of in-depth case management services;  
• Provision of cash for protection outcomes;  
• Support the establishment and management of hydroponic cooperatives;  
• Provide employability and skills training, linked to employment opportunities;  
• Provide support to Micro- and Small Enterprise start-up and development;  
• Facilitate Social Analysis and Action with Women’s Leadership Committees and Community Committees. 

Participants 

14,363 vulnerable Syrian refugees, marginalized non-Syrian refugees, and vulnerable Jordanian host communities (50% women).