At a glance: Jordan

The big picture

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This map does not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the delimitation of any frontiers.

UNICEF’s programmes in Jordan have been developed based on the emeging needs in the country and in full cooperation with the Jordanian government and civil society. UNICEF’s work is comprised of five interdependent programmes and supports the Government of Jordan, within the framework of its national plan for the acceleration of socio-economic development and within the framework of the United Nations (UN) Common Country Assessment/UN Development Assistance Framework process to promote the rights of children and women and contribute to their protection.

All activities follow a rights-based, gender sensitive and life cycle approach. At the national level, the proposed programme will focus on informing policy and legislative changes through surveys, research, advocacy, mobilization, facilitating policy dialogue and setting standards at all levels with opinion leaders. This is coupled with alliance-building and strategic partnerships at all levels, with opinion leaders, the private sector, youth, civil society organizations and other United Nations agencies.

To ensure that maximum impact is achieved in the underserved communities, all programme components converge through the community development programme in three governorates of Irbid, Zarqa and Mafrak, while policy advocacy and capacity building interventions will remain national in scope. Also, the implementation of the Integrated Early Child Care and Development and Adolescent programme components will be taking place at national level.

UNICEF priorities

The integrated early child care and development (ECCD) programme supports the translation of the national early childhood strategy into legislative and administrative action. It ensures that in the three target governorates, the necessary knowledge and skills exist for providing integrated ECCD services and for applying the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness approach. Interventions for this project is based on community-oriented and family-focused programme. Parental education in integrated ECCD, including for fathers and communities, will encompass care, psychosocial stimulation and early learning as integral components. In addition to the Government and national non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UNICEF will develop its partnership with the National Council for Family Affairs, and continue to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the private sector.

Public awareness on child protection issues has been raised. Efforts are being undertaken to harmonize national legislation with both Conventions (Convention on the Rights of the Child and Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women) and to develop policies and support implementation of initiatives for the protection of children and women. The programme will build national capacities to address the needs of children deprived of parental care, of children and women victims of violence and abuse, as well as community-based rehabilitation of disabled children. UNICEF will continue its partnerships with the Government, national NGOs, the British Council, National Centre for Hunman Rights, law enforcement officials, Family Protection Development, and the International Labour Organization and develop its partnership with the National Council for Family Affairs.

Adolescent participation supports operational research, public awareness-raising and the development and implementation of a national youth strategy, and building the capacities of adolescents, especially girls, in leadership, life skills and healthy lifestyles. It also provides forums for self-expression and organization. Service providers are trained in participatory planning and in the implementation of programmes for adolescents. It supports the Government in creating better environments in primary and secondary schools and in youth centres. UNICEF will collaborate in this programme with UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and Save the Children Alliance, in addition to government and national NGO partners.

A national approach to community-led social development is actively promoted. NGOs and community leaders mobilize local resources, establish community development structures and strengthen their self-organization, participatory assessment and programme management skills. Through the convergence of all other programme interventions, this programme will empower families of under-privileged communities with the skills and knowledge to effect positive behaviour change for the benefit of children and women. In addition to government and NGO partners, UNICEF will work with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UNFPA, WHO, the World Food Programme and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The national movement for children and monitoring of rights programme creates awareness among policy and decision makers, media and prominent opinion leaders of key priority issues for children, and improves the skills of media persons in gender-sensitive reporting. It also strengthens national capacities for monitoring the situation of children and women, identifying disparities and reporting on the implementation of the two Conventions and future plans for children. The programme will further ensure integrated monitoring and evaluation of all programme components as well as the development of programme communication plans in support of the other four programmes. In addition to the Government and national NGOs, UNICEF will work with UNDP, USAID and the private sector, and develop its partnership with the National Council for Family Affairs.