UN Women and the European Union Sign Agreement to Advance Sustainable Livelihoods and Protection for Jordanian and Syrian Women in Jordan

Date: Sunday, 25 January 2026

[Press release]

H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union to Jordan, and Manal Benkirane, Deputy Representative of UN Women Jordan, during the signing of a new agreement between UN Women and the European Union, at an Oasis Centre in Burma, Jerash Governorate. Photo: Courtesy of Treasury

Burma, Jerash - UN Women and the European Union have signed a new agreement to support the implementation of a 36-month project aimed at addressing the urgent and long-term needs of Jordanian and Syrian women affected by the protracted Syria crisis in Jordan.

The EU-funded project, titled “Addressing the imminent needs of Syrian and Jordanian women impacted by the protracted Syria crisis in Jordan,” will be implemented across 11 governorates, Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, Balqa, Madaba, Jerash, Ajloun, Karak, Tafilah, Ma'an and Aqaba, as well as in Za’atari and Azraq camps, reaching women in both host communities and refugee settings through a network of 22 “Oasis” community centres.

The initiative will support the Government of Jordan in adapting and institutionalizing UN Women’s flagship Oasis model within the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), in line with the National Social Protection Strategy and the Economic Modernization Vision. First introduced in Jordan in 2012, and implemented in host communities in partnership with MoSD since 2019, the Oasis model, under this agreement, is transitioning from a humanitarian assistance approach based on short-term cash assistance toward sustainable livelihoods and integrated protection.

The project will focus on helping some of the most vulnerable women in Jordan to become economically active and increase their role in the community through vocational training, entrepreneurship and business development and job placement. It will also address care responsibilities, social norms and confidence barriers that limit women’s access to decent work, while strengthening access to gender-based violence prevention and protection services.

H.E. Pierre‑Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union to Jordan, and Manal Benkirane, Deputy Representative of UN Women Jordan, with members of the EU and UN Women teams, during the signing of a new agreement between UN Women and the European Union, at an Oasis Centre in Burma, Jerash Governorate. Photo: Courtesy of Treasury

By combining economic empowerment with protection and institutional strengthening, the initiative aims to deliver lasting impact, contributing to social cohesion, women’s economic participation and economic resilience in communities across Jordan. “Continuous and predictable support is essential to ensure that the most vulnerable women and communities in Jordan are not left behind,” said H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, Ambassador of the European Union. “This project goes beyond meeting immediate needs—it invests in sustainable livelihoods, protection, and dignity. Crucially, it is designed with a clear exit strategy, ensuring a gradual handover to the Ministry of Social Development. This transition reflects strong government ownership and a shared belief that these services are at a core of social cohesion, vital for all residents of Jordan.”

Commenting on the agreement, Nicolas Burniat, Representative of UN Women Jordan, said: “This agreement reflects a shared strategic vision with the European Union to move from short-term assistance toward sustainable, nationally owned solutions. By embedding the Oasis model within government systems and aligning livelihoods support with protection, skills development and employment pathways, we are strengthening women’s economic participation while reinforcing social cohesion and resilience. This approach ensures that investments made today contribute to lasting impact for women, families and communities across Jordan.”

The project will be implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development and the Vocational Training Corporation across governorates in Jordan, and with ACTED in Za’atari and Azraq camps, ensuring coordinated national and humanitarian action.