Action Against Hunger has been operating in Jordan since 2013. The Jordan mission is dynamic and rapidly growing, with large-scale WASH, Livelihoods and Mental Health and Care Practices (MHCP) programmes being implemented in host communities and the Azraq refugee camp. The Jordan country strategy combines humanitarian and development projects to address the needs of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians through a holistic approach. With a team of 12 international employees and more than 100 national colleagues, the Action Against Hunger Jordan team manages a portfolio of projects for over 7 million euros, in response to the Syria crisis and its reverberating effects on development conditions in Jordan. Donors supporting these programmes include the EU via MADAD, AFD, GIZ, SDC, UNOCHA, UN Habitat, the Suez Foundation and ACF internal funding. Action Against Hunger also works in close partnership with UNICEF.
Eleven years into the Syrian conflict, more than 1.3 million Syrians have sought refuge in Jordan; 676,164 are registered refugees and approximately 80% live in non-camp settings. This influx of refugees has strained Jordan’s economy and resources, with Syrians often accepting worse working conditions and lower compensation than Jordanians and taking on low-skill, informal jobs in sectors such as in manufacturing, construction and agriculture. In 2022, Jordan had a 23% unemployment rate. For Syrian refugees, unemployment rates are significantly worse with 80% of Syrian refugees unemployed in 2021, up from 50% and 65% in 2019 and 2020.
With field offices in Irbid and Azraq and a head office in Amman, ACF has been operational in Jordan since 2014, delivering livelihoods, social protection WASH and MHPSS programming in Irbid, Zarqa, Mafraq, and Madaba governorates. Through its livelihoods and social protection program, ACF aims to improve the livelihoods status of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians through decent and sustainable employment opportunities; strengthening sustainable livelihoods and value chains and enhancing the capacity of local actors to promote economic opportunities and improve working conditions. So far, ACF has reached over 4,000 beneficiaries through its social protection and livelihood activities in 2022.
ACF is an active member of the Livelihoods, Basic Needs, Food Security and Durable Solutions Working Groups; Graduation Approach and Vocational Training Taskforces; and Common Cash Facility Steering Committee. ACF is also the co-lead of the WASH Working Group, an active participant in the Mental Health and Protection Working Groups and on the steering committee of the Jordan INGO Forum.
To find out more about Jordan : HERE