UNDP Advocates for poverty reduction and promotion of human development through nationally-owned sound solutions. We sponsor innovative projects; connect Jordan to global good practices and resources; promote the role of women and youth in development and work with a broad range of partners to help the country achieve its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Poverty in Jordan
Jordan has achieved impressive human development results and is on track to achieve most of its MDG goals. However, poverty still stands at 14.2% and based on the World Bank's 2004 Jordan Poverty Assessment, the Government has identified twenty pockets of poverty in different areas of the country. Furthermore, with a young and rapidly growing population, scarce natural resources, reduced aid and the inability of the economy to generate enough jobs to accommodate large numbers of job seekers, there is a risk that the sizeable segment of the near-poor (currently estimated at 600,000 people) of Jordanians will fall below the poverty line and the unemployment rate which is now estimated at 14.8% will increase.
UNDP on the Ground in Jordan
UNDP Jordan’s engagement in poverty reduction focuses on two areas:
a. To strengthen pro-poor participatory planning, implementation and monitoring; and
b. To support entrepreneurship and SMEs growth, with particular focus on women and youth.
UNDP advocates for sustainable national solutions to eradicate poverty and helps to make them effective through the following on going projects:
MDG Country Reporting and Poverty Monitoring