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International and national partners mark the successful completion of the “Labor-Intensive Maintenance in Public Schools” project in Jordan
Amman, July 12, 2026 – Today, representatives from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour, the German Embassy in Jordan, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), KfW Development Bank and UNOPS marked the successful completion of the “Labor-Intensive Maintenance in Public Schools in Jordan” project.
Implemented over two phases during the past seven years through the strategic partnership between the German government, Jordanian government and UNOPS, the project responded to the dual challenges of strained service delivery and economic hardship. The project supported livelihoods through creating short term employment opportunities for both vulnerable Jordanians and Syrian refugees, building the workers’ practical skills to enhance their future employability while supporting public schools across Jordan.
Dr. Sahar Shakhtreh, the Secretary-General for Administrative and Financial Affairs at the Ministry of Education, on behalf of the Minister of Education in Jordan Dr. Azmi Mahafzah, noted: “This project aligns with our national priorities, as it contributed to the implementation of Jordan’s response plan to the Syrian crisis by providing employment opportunities and supporting host communities. It also reinforced the strategic plan for the education sector by improving the school environment and maintaining public schools, which is also consistent with the preventive maintenance program implemented by the ministry. The project is also linked to the ‘Partnership for the Future’ initiative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.”
The project’s cash for work modality has improved livelihoods through generating over 16,000 temporary employment opportunities in cleaning and maintaining over 660 public schools, contributing to an improved and healthier learning environment that enhanced the educational experience for more than 250,000 students, 42 percent of whom are girls.
Mr. Ibrahim Al-Saket, Assistant Secretary-General, Ministry of Labour, said: “The Ministry of Labour has been closely involved with this project since its inception. We are pleased that 37 percent of the participants were women, which aligns with our national policy to empower women in the workforce. The skills acquired by both Jordanian and Syrian refugee workers will play a pivotal role in improving their livelihoods and long-term career prospects.”
Reflecting the project’s commitment to inclusion and equal access to work opportunities, more than one-third of participants were women and 6% were persons with disabilities. In addition, by balancing participation between Jordanians and Syrian refugees, the project reinforced the social fabric and stability of host communities across Jordan.
Dr. Mattias Schmidt-Rosen, Director, KfW office in Amman, stated: “Germany and KfW Development Bank are proud to support Jordan’s efforts to improve public services while expanding economic opportunities for vulnerable Jordanians and Syrian refugees. This project demonstrates that investing in public infrastructure can also strengthen livelihoods, develop skills, and generate lasting social and economic benefits. We are pleased to have supported this successful initiative and look forward to continuing our partnership with Jordan in advancing sustainable and inclusive development.”
Muhammad Usman Akram, Representative and Director of UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Amman, said: “I extend my profound appreciation to the government of Germany and the KfW Development Bank for their sustained trust and confidence in UNOPS. I also thank our national counterparts for their continued support and guidance to ensure our operations remained synchronized with Jordan’s development path.” He continued, “by aligning our efforts with Jordan’s national vision, we have transformed infrastructure maintenance into tangible, high-quality results for local communities. This collaboration demonstrates that practical, cash for work interventions can contribute to stability while addressing national priorities.”
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About UNOPS:
UNOPS offers practical solutions to the UN and other partners, across peace and security, humanitarian and development operations. UNOPS mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve peace and sustainable development. We help the United Nations, governments and other partners to manage projects, and deliver sustainable infrastructure and procurement in an efficient way. Read more: www.unops.org
UNOPS Multi-Country Office in Amman implements projects in Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen and implements work in partnership with bilateral and multilateral donors, national governments and other UN agencies.
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