On the 5th of July 2023, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), in partnership with the Ministry of Environment in Jordan, announced the official launch of an impactful project named “Creating Sustainable Green Jobs for Refugees and Host Communities through the Green Economy in Jordan.” (Project Link). This USD 6 million project is mainly funded by KOICA with co-financing from GGGI. The event was attended by over 70 participants from Jordanian governments including the Ministry of Youth, the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, and the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC), embassies, development partners, and academia, marking the start of a three-year project aimed at establishing an inclusive green employment ecosystem in Jordan.
This initiative comes at a critical juncture when Jordan faces significant environmental challenges like resource scarcity, desertification, and water scarcity, compounded by high unemployment rates, particularly among youth, women, and refugees. The project aims to address these issues by cultivating green entrepreneurship, job seekers’ green skill development, and creating new green employment opportunities.
The project launch event started with a welcome speech by H.E. Dr. Muawieh Khalid Radaideh, the Minister of Environment, who underscored the project’s relevance, saying, “Jordan faces significant environmental challenges, which this project aims to address. We hope this effort will foster a more sustainable, green economy, addressing the unemployment issue while fulfilling our commitments under the Paris Agreement.”
H.E. Kim Dong-gi, the Korean Ambassador to Jordan, emphasized the Korean government’s commitment to global sustainability and green job creation. He highlighted the strategic alignment of this project with the Jordanian government’s policy, reflecting the project’s commitment to tackling climate change and promoting sustainable development.
Mr. Seo Dongsung, the Country Director of KOICA Jordan reiterated KOICA’s dedication to contributing to common prosperity and world peace through inclusive and mutual development cooperation. “This project aligns well with KOICA’s mission and will help establish an inclusive green employment ecosystem in Jordan”, said the Country Director.
The project stands to create a significant impact by diversifying job opportunities in areas like renewable energy, waste management, sustainable agriculture, and eco-tourism. It also aims to fill the skills gaps in the green labor market by enhancing workforce skills through comprehensive training programs.
The project aligns with Jordan’s Green Growth National Action Plan 2021-2025 and complements Economic Modernisation Vision, Economic Implementation Plan, and Economic Growth Roadmap by offering new green job opportunities, enhancing job seekers’ green skills, fostering green entrepreneurs, and supporting the green transition of MSMEs.
Focusing on refugees, women, and youth, the project will also contribute to social inclusion and gender equality in Jordan’s labor market.
“By establishing an inclusive green employment ecosystem in Jordan, we aim to contribute to sustainable economic growth and diversification in the country,” said Mr. Christophe Assicot, the GGGI Country Representative in Jordan.
A panel discussion featuring key players in the green growth sector was held on ‘Building an Inclusive Green Employment Ecosystem in Jordan.’ The panel, comprising Dr. Jihad Alsawair, Director of the Green Economy Unit, Ministry of Environment; Ms. Elisaveta Kostova, Green Action in Enterprises Project Manager, GIZ; Mr. Maisam Otoum, Country Director, CEWAS; and Ms. Lianne Manna, Co-founder, Impact Hub Amman and Founder, Ecope, shared their insights on the potential of green entrepreneurship in job creation and social empowerment. They also discussed strategies to engage youth, women, and refugees in the green economy and their organizations’ role in cultivating a green employment ecosystem in Jordan.
The launch event was marked by the signing of a grant agreement between KOICA and GGGI, and a sub-grant agreement between GGGI and Good Neighbors International for the project. The project reflects GGGI’s ongoing commitment to creating a resilient world of strong, inclusive, and sustainable growth.
About KOICA (Link)
Established in 1991, Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) aims to enhance the effectiveness of South Korea’s grant aid programs for developing countries by providing them with direct aid and by implementing projects that strengthen their capabilities. As part of its mission to contribute to global prosperity and the promotion of world peace, KOICA is committed to inclusive and mutual development cooperation that leaves no one behind. Following South Korea’s successful transition from a recipient country to a donor country, KOICA is also committed to sharing Korea’s unique development experience with the international community. By 2025, South Korea has a strategic goal of using 28.1% of the ODA budget in the green sector to help overcome the climate crisis and achieve carbon neutrality in developing countries.
About Good Neighbors International (Link)
Good Neighbors International (GNI) is an international humanitarian development NGO founded in Korea in 1991 to make the world a place without hunger, where people live together in harmony. GNI aims to improve the lives of people, particularly children, who are in need by providing them with a better environment for sustainable development through 262 community development projects in 42 countries worldwide. GNI seeks to make a tangible impact in these areas to ensure long-lasting and sustainable development for individuals, families, and communities, focusing on but not limited to protection, education, sustainable income generation, youth empowerment, environmental protection, and climate change. Good Neighbors attained General consultative status with United Nations Economic and Social Council in 1996 and has been committed to fulfilling the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs.)