ILO-Jordan ink a landmark three-year agreement to strengthen cooperative societies and promote decent work. This partnership aims to enhance the cooperative sector in Jordan by leveraging ILO tools, training programmes, and the introduction of digital services.
The agreement was formalised during a ceremony held under the patronage of Jordan’s Minister of Agriculture, Khaled Al-Hunaifat, and attended by ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake, Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat, and the Netherlands’ Ambassador to Jordan, Harry Verweij.
Minister Al-Hunaifat remarked, “Last week, the government presented the proposed cooperative law with an integrated approach, including training and the empowerment of cooperatives, also supported by a Cooperative Development Fund to strengthen the entire sector. Today, alongside our partners, we are celebrating a new agreement that through their efforts will support the training of cooperatives, enhance their infrastructure, create more job opportunities, and combat poverty across Jordan’s governorates.”
Focus on Empowering Cooperatives
The new agreement is a critical component of the second phase of the PROSPECTS Partnership, a global initiative supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands. As part of the collaboration, JCC will integrate ILO’s Think.Coop, Start.Coop, and My.Coop training tools, adapted specifically for Jordan, into its annual training programme. These resources will target both emerging and established cooperatives, helping them enhance governance, improve management, and promote sustainable practices.
ILO Deputy Director-General Celeste Drake explained, “Through the agreement signed today, we hope to expand the scope of the ILO’s tools for cooperatives by institutionalizing them in the Jordan Cooperative Corporation, to empower new cooperatives with the skills and knowledge needed to operate effectively. The ILO’s work with the cooperative sector today is based on ILO Recommendation No. 193, which recognizes that strengthening cooperatives is an effective means of promoting decent work and sustainable development for all members of society.”
The agreement will address critical areas such as cooperative development, occupational safety, and combating child labour within Jordan’s agricultural sector.
Building on Proven Success
The partnership builds on a 2020 agreement that developed the National Strategy for the Jordanian Cooperative Movement. Key outcomes of that strategy include updated cooperative legislation and the creation of a Cooperative Development Fund and Institute.
ILO Regional Director Ruba Jaradat said, “This agreement is the fruit of a joint cooperation that has extended over several years. By working together, we can create a cooperative movement in Jordan that contributes to building the foundation for a brighter and more just future.” Jaradat highlighted the success of the first phase of the PROSPECTS programme, which facilitated 3,400 job opportunities, registered 3,600 agricultural workers, and issued 2,500 work permits for Syrian refugees.
The ILO will also provide JCC with free training materials, digital tools, and ongoing updates to its database and electronic services. The agreement includes training for JCC employees to enhance their use of these systems.
Ambassador Harry Verweij added, “Today we are celebrating one of the successes achieved through the PROSPECTS partnership, which is the centerpiece of our support in Jordan. By advancing the work of the cooperatives, we are taking firm steps towards achieving what the PROSPECTS partnership aims to do – enhancing the economic and social prospects for refugees and host communities in Jordan.”
Vision for a Sustainable Future
JCC Director General Abdel Fattah Al Shalabi underscored the transformative potential of the agreement, saying, “This agreement supports the Jordanian cooperative sector by empowering members to establish cooperatives, strengthening agricultural governance, and promoting decent work in cooperative-driven sectors. Through our longstanding partnership with the ILO, we aim to build cooperatives’ capacities in line with international standards.”
Al Shalabi also pointed to key achievements, including the updated cooperative legislation and the establishment of the Cooperative Development Fund and Institute, which have collectively laid a solid foundation for the sector’s growth.
The PROSPECTS Partnership, spearheaded by the Government of the Netherlands, continues to be a global leader in improving access to education, social protection, and decent work for host communities and displaced people.
This new agreement marks a critical step forward for the cooperative movement in Jordan, with a shared vision to promote decent work and sustainable development.
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