The World Bank announced on Monday that it will provide funding in the form of loans amounting to $700 million for two new programs in Jordan aimed at enhancing investment in education, health, and social protection.
The World Bank clarified in a statement that the programs aim to "strengthen human capital in Jordan through targeted investments in education, health, and social assistance, as well as enhance the resilience of Jordanian families against shocks.”
The "Human Capital" program has been allocated $300 million to support "the governance and effectiveness of social sectors, ensuring better and more sustainable outcomes for all Jordanians, and enhancing resilience, including protecting families from the negative impacts of climate change.” This program focuses on enhancing governance and accountability in public spending in education, health, and social assistance.
The second program, "Pathway," has been allocated $400 million with the goal of "equipping Jordanian children and youth with the skills necessary for the labor market and the ongoing economic transformation across the Kingdom.” This program emphasizes "increasing access to basic education, enhancing the transition from study to work, expanding access to vocational and technical training that meets labor market needs, and improving the efficiency of the education system and human resource management."
The statement quoted the World Bank's Regional Director for the Middle East, Jean-Christophe Carret, as saying that "by increasing investment in education, health, and social protection, Jordan can enhance its economy's resilience to shocks." He added that it can also "empower youth, particularly women and the most vulnerable groups, to fully participate in driving growth and development across the Kingdom and benefiting from it.”
The programs aim to enroll an additional 25,000 students in the second grade of kindergarten by 2029, ensure that 4,200 kindergarten classrooms meet quality standards, and enroll 150,000 students in grades one to three in basic skills improvement programs. Additionally, the goal is to graduate 50,000 students from accredited technical and vocational education and training programs in priority sectors.
Children under the age of 18 represent about 40 percent of Jordan's population, which totals around 11 million.
