Developing Digital Solutions to Improve the Livelihoods of Refugees and Their Jordanian Host Communities

DEVELOPING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF REFUGEES AND THEIR JORDANIAN HOST COMMUNITIES

Project sponsor: CARE Austria, Association for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid
Country: Jordan 
Funding amount: € 500,000.00 
Start: 01.12.2022 
End: 11/30/2024

BRIEF DESCRIPTION: 

Project goal

Digital solutions create improved financial inclusion, income and learning opportunities for refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, especially women.

Expected results

1. Improved bankability and financial inclusion of urban refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, especially women, through the completion of a savings group mobile app – the VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association) app.

2. Improved income generation and self-employment opportunities for urban refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, especially women, through a job placement app (“HandyAid”).

3. Increased access to training opportunities for urban refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, especially women, through expanded use of CARE's e-learning platform.

4. Increased effectiveness of support to urban refugees and vulnerable Jordanian host communities by establishing a one-stop shop through the integration of the digital solutions (Outputs 1, 2 and 3) into CARE's digital portal.

Target group

The project will directly involve 6,000 refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, of which at least 70% are women and at least 30% are young people, as well as 30 stakeholders in relation to financial inclusion and up to 5 employers in relation to improving income opportunities. In addition, 3,600 family members of the project participants (VSLA, HandyAid) benefit indirectly.

Measures

Result 1: The VSLA app is applied in the second VSLA cycle; creditworthiness case study; Advocacy for the introduction of the VSLA app by the Jordanian government and the banking sector.

Result 2: Development of the HandyAid app (employment agency platform); working with providers and employers; The participants apply for job offers.

Result 3: Technical work on an e-learning platform; Development of a dissemination plan, marketing and mobilization for e-learning participants; Participants receive e-learning courses.

Result 4: Integration of the VSLA app, the HandyAid app and the e-learning platform with the CARE portal and system; Data collection and evaluation of the effectiveness of the digital tools.

Background information

In recent years, Jordan has faced rising inflation, sluggish economic growth and deteriorating labor market conditions. The current unemployment rate is 23%, significantly higher for women and young people (30.7% and 52.1% respectively). This has particularly impacted the most vulnerable: refugees and vulnerable Jordanians who face a difficult socio-economic environment with little or no access to work and livelihoods. This results in the majority living below the poverty line and struggling to meet daily needs. While COVID-19 has highlighted the potential of digitization and accelerated investments in the ICT sector in Jordan as well, the most vulnerable young people – young women, Schoolless youth and young refugees – the digital literacy skills required to do so, which prevent them from unlocking the potential of this sector. At the same time, the growth of the digital economy is exacerbating gender inequality.