Young people below the age of 30 that constitute more than two-third of Jordan’s population, will now be able to make contributions to the country’s developmental plans through the first ever National Youth Strategy.
The National Youth Strategy and the Programme of Action are part of a project co-funded by the Government of Jordan in cooperation with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and was implemented by the Higher Council for Youth. The Strategy successfully recognizes youth as key participants in decision-making and development and provides creative and thoughtful tools that engage youth to work in improving their communities. It identifies the mechanisms that ensure young people are involved in the development process of the country and ensures that youth perspectives are heard and that the country’s plans will meet their concerns.
The Strategy is authentic and relevant. Not only work for youth, but also with them. During the preparation of the strategy, young people were the primary actors with whom the strategy was formulated. Youth were given a voice through a huge “Youth Voice Campaign” on youth awareness and social mobilization. The campaign was launched across the target group (12-30) together with their families. Around 90,000 from all over the country took part in the campaign and participated in thematic groups and focus groups discussions as well as in youth technical committees. The Campaign covered schools, community colleges, universities, employed and unemployed young people as well as special target groups with special needs (the children of SOS villages, disabled, talented, juveniles, and school drop-outs).
The resulting Jordan National Youth Strategy covers nine main sectors: health, education and training, environment, employment, participation, culture and media, recreational activities and leisure time, ICT and globalization, civil rights and citizenship.
The National Youth Strategy and its Programme of Action are just one part of a project that seeks to strengthen the Youth sector in Jordan which is in response to a request from the Government of Jordan, the recommendations of Jordan’s first National Human Development Report (Year 2000) and based on the findings of a capacity assessment mission by Dr. Nabil Al Nawwab, Regional Adviser for Social Development of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
UNDP within the project will provide technical assistance aiming at the institutional building of the Higher Council for Youth and the Youth and Sports Fund through the preparation and adoption of an Investment Strategy for the Youth and Sports Fund. The project will establish a network system that includes web sites for both institutions.