Government of Finland partners with UN Women to promote women’s economic empowerment and resilience in Jordan
Date:
UN Women and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland announced today a new phase of partnership to promote the resilience and empowerment of Syrian refugee and vulnerable Jordanian women and girls. The partnership will focus on supporting women to enter and remain in the labour force by providing a combination of livelihood, education and civic engagement opportunities, coupled with gender-based violence prevention and protection services offered through the UN Women ‘Oasis’ model. Finland’s support of 2 million euros to the new phase is a continuation of Finland’s partnership with UN Women since 2014 to provide vulnerable women in Jordan with economic opportunities.
“When women join workforce, everyone benefits. In economic terms, female participation in work life will not only empower women themselves, but also bring benefits to society as a whole, not least to GDP growth of the country”,said Tarja Fernández, Ambassador of Finland to Jordan.
Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development (MOSD), this initiative will directly engage more than 480 women annually in the Governorates of Zarqa, East Amman, Karak, Maan, and Tafileh, through the implementation of the Oasis model in MOSD’s Community Centers, as well as Syrian refugee women living in the Za’atari and Azraq refugee camps. In support of Jordan’s priorities to promote women’s economic empowerment, this initiative seeks to strengthen women’s access to the labour market by addressing some of the key barriers they face, such as the availability of safe transportation and childcare facilities, as well as by promoting access to decent employment conditions and working closely with the community to build support for women’s economic engagement.
'Our goal is not only to ensure access to services for vulnerable women but also to foster their active participation in their communities and opportunities in the job-rich growth sectors of the future, especially around innovation and technology. And doing this through national systems is key to long-term success’,said Mr. Ziad Sheikh, UN Women Jordan Representative.
In 2012, UN Women opened its first Oasis Centre in the Za’atari refugee camp as a safe space for refugee women and girls. The Government of Finland has generously supported the Oasis model since its inception. The model has evolved over the years into what is now a centre for building women’s resilience and empowerment through access to multi-sectoral services, while also engaging men and boys in dialogue and mobilization for social equality. As a result of the services accessed in the Oases, women reported they were able to generate an income, increase their participation in household decision-making, improve household nutrition, and increase their sense of leadership, community engagement and empowerment.
For all media inquiries, please contact:
Lauren Rooney
Communications Specialist
Tel. 0792845822