Agricultural Sector Skills Council celebrates milestones in enhancing Jordan’s workforce and economy

AMMAN, Jordan -The International Labour Organization under its PROSPECTS programme, in partnership with the Jordanian Association of Agricultural Engineers (JAEA) and the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC), celebrated the achievements gained across the country through the crucial role played by the Agricultural Sector Skills Council over the past year and a half.

The Council has closely collaborated with both JAEA and the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC), which oversees policies and legislation for vocational training in Jordan. The commission ensures high-quality training aligned with labour market needs, creating job opportunities for Jordanian youth and addressing challenges faced by regional refugees.

"Special focus in our work was given to key sectors like agriculture, a vital pillar of the national economy," said Raghda El Faouri, Head of the TVSDC and representative of the Ministry of Labour at the event. "We collaborated with the Agricultural Sector Skills Council to map agricultural professions, assess labour market needs, and develop targeted training programmes for rural workers.

Established in 2019 with support from the Government of the Netherlands through the Prospects partnership, the Agricultural Sector Skills Council has been instrumental in enhancing agricultural skills by aligning education and vocational training with labour market demands. It has strengthened the workforce's professional capacities by setting standards and curricula and providing consultations to improve efficiency in the sector. Through the partnership, this initiative is expected to create more and higher-quality jobs for both Jordanians and Syrian refugees, many of whom work in the agricultural sector.

"This event reflects an important milestone for supporting and enhancing the agriculture sector in Jordan. This is ultimately an investment for a better future for Jordan, for host communities and refugees alike, which contributes to the realisation of the vision of the modernization plan for the country. It is an example of the Netherlands' commitment towards supporting Jordan where it is needed."

- Joost de Vries, First Secretary at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jordan.

Achievements of the Agricultural Sector Skills Council include developing a strategic plan for the sector and conducting a skills gap study.

"This project has achieved several key milestones. It developed a comprehensive professional map for the agricultural sector, and created national occupational standards for four essential agricultural professions-tree grafting farms, seed production farms, poultry breeders - hatcheries, seedling nursery farms," said ILO Jordan Country Coordinator Amal Mowafy. "Educational curricula were also designed for these four occupations to address sector needs and provide young people with sustainable, quality job opportunities. The ILO's work keeps focusing on improving both the quantity and quality of employment, particularly in terms of decent work standards."

The Agreement that lasted for 18 months between PRSOPECTS Jordan and the JAEA supported the Agricultural Sector Skills Council with both technical and administrative expertise.

"We remain committed to supporting the agricultural sector by providing ongoing education and training opportunities to meet labour market needs," said Aly Abou Nootta, Head of the JAEA and the Agriculture Sector Skills Council. "Today marks a crucial phase in the project's progress, highlighting priorities essential to a sector that is a cornerstone of our national economy. This sector, which blends traditional skills with advanced technologies, has produced a skilled workforce capable of navigating the dynamic intersection between agricultural heritage and modern innovations."

Over the past decade, Jordan has faced significant challenges, including the global economic downturn, the Syrian refugee crisis, and the impacts of COVID-19, leading to rising unemployment and skills mismatches. These pressures have strained the labour market, raising unemployment from around 12 percent in 2012 to some 21 percent this year, with youth and female unemployment persistently high. In response, the government has prioritized reforming the TVET sector through the National Strategy for Human Resource Development (2016-2025), focusing on aligning training with labour market needs and improving quality.

PROSPECTS is a global partnership that brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank, with the aim of improving access to education, social protection, and decent work for host communities and forcibly displaced people.

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