The rate of absolute poverty in Jordan was estimated at 15.7 percent in 2018. Unemployment among Jordanians exceeds 19 percent overall; 28 percent among women and 39 percent among youth, and has been rising over the last few years. The COVID-19 crisis has cast its catastrophic shadows over the most vulnerable groups in Jordan (Jordanians, refugees and migrant workers). The government of Jordan leads with strong hands through this crisis and almost only allows the international community to assist Jordanians through the national system. The National Aid Fund (NAF) is a functioning and existing national instrument providing social assistance and has released first emergency payments.  

According to the databases of the National Unified Registry, the number of Jordanian families who will be affected significantly as a result of this crisis is estimated at approximately 300,000 families.

The NAF is in need of systemic reform that includes a review of eligibility criteria, definition of support levels, financial sustainability, payment methods, and accountability mechanisms. Many influential donors have shown their interest to engage, financially and with technical assistance.

Outcome 1: 115’000 Jordanian households with insufficient income levels, including as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, are enabled to better meet their basic needs and avoid negative coping mechanisms through (increased) social assistance.

Outcome 2: The Government of Jordan, through the NAF, takes concrete steps to improve eligibility, accountability, gender sensitivity, and the delivery mechanism of the country’s social assistance.

Principaux résultats attendus:  

Output 1.1: The NAF has identified, enrolled and paid the 10’000 new beneficiary households for temporary social assistance.

Output 1.2: The NAF has identified, enrolled and paid the 20’000 existing NAF beneficiary households for temporarily increased social assistance and winterization support 2020.

Output 1.3: The NAF has identified, enrolled and paid the 85’000 existing NAF beneficiary households identified for winterization support 2020.

Output 2.1: The NAF has reviewed its mechanism regarding targeting, gender sensitivity, accountability and the delivery mechanism for social assistance.

Output 2.2: The NAF engages in an evidence-based policy dialogue regarding a more inclusive vulnerability approach for eligibility.

Multi-donor framework partners:

-       United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

-       United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’s Department of International Development (DFID)

-       Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)

Other projects and actors:

-       Takaful and complementary COVID-19 programme of the World Bank

Technical assistance and capacity building by World Bank, UNICEF, WFP 

Phase 1 01.08.2020 - 31.12.2021   (Completed)