Strengthening Social Protection in Jordan

Project completed

Switzerland's contribution to this multi-donor project will provide social assistance to Jordanians households which are unable to meet their basic needs, including as a result of COVID-19, and at the same time support the institutional reform process of Jordan's social protection system. Switzerland will contribute to the reform process of the National Aid Fund to make it more effective, inclusive, accountable and sustainable. This first phase orient Switzerland’s engagement in upcoming phases which will be manly focussed on the institutional reform process.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Jordan
Employment & economic development
Governance
Agriculture & food security
Social protection
Public sector policy
Household food security
01.08.2020 - 31.12.2021
CHF  3’200’000
Background

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.

Objectives The strategic objective of this intervention is to provide through the NAF targeted social assistance to an increasing number of Jordanians who are unable to be economically self-sufficient, including as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. At the same time it seeks to support the Government of Jordan to improve its social assistance mechanism in terms of targeting, accountability, payment methods, and harmonization with assistance programs targeting non-Jordanians. 
Target groups Direct beneficiaries of this intervention are the NAF (institutional level) and vulnerable Jordanians (beneficiary level). The project will enable 115’000 vulnerable Jordanian households to benefit from (increased) social assistance. The NAF will be supported through technical and financial assistance that strengthens its accountability and operational systems and thus contributes to a more efficient and effective national social assistance mechanism.
Medium-term outcomes

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.

Results

Expected results:  

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.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Credit area Development cooperation
Project partners Contract partner
Foreign state institution
  • Central State of South East
  • SDC Field Office


Other partners
Government of Jordan, represented by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation
Coordination with other projects and actors

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 

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    3’200’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    3’125’000 Total project since first phase Budget inclusive project partner CHF   12’200’000
Project phases

Phase 1 01.08.2020 - 31.12.2021   (Completed)