Women’s empowerment through microfactories

A 2016 study was carried out in the Zaatari Camp in Jordan to evaluate a vocational skills program where Syrian women refugees receive professional training to become participants in the labor market. Findings showed that the vocational skills program enhanced the self-confidence of all participants and corroborated that women’s empowerment is a key priority to sustainable development (Sinaria Abdel Jabbar & Haidar Ibrahim Zaza, 2016).

The efforts for providing refugees in Jordan with employment opportunities have been possible through multiple traineeship initiatives, such as the UN Cash-for-work program and the international governments’ support. Nowadays, UNHCR states that 45 percent of refugees of working age in Jordan have been given a work permit, with the Jordanian Government benefiting around 165,000 Syrian men and women. However, the Covid-19 rise of cases has led to stop the granting of work permits (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid operations, 2021) and the challenge in improving women’s access to legal jobs is even bigger.

In 2019, UNHCR stated that providing cash assistance to over 40,000 refugee families in Jordan could cost around 5,5 million dollars monthly, not considering the thousands of refugees living in urban areas that entirely rely on cash aid or that are forced to carry out illegal or indecent activities. Experts have advised on enlarging vocational and training activities and helping women explore the possibility of finding jobs in the local community.