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JOHUD promotes the view that one of the best long term solutions to poverty is for people to be able to work productively and to earn their own living, whether employed by others or working for themselves.
The world of work has changed radically over the last decade. Through the work of the CDCs and through targetted projects, JOHUD provides opportunities for people to acquire new skills that are useful in the current and emerging job markets, whether in manufacturing, agriculture, trade, tourism and hospitality, or the financial service sectors
Many CDCs now operate ‘employability centres' where people can find out about job opportunities, improve their CV, and learn how to present themselves for work. The Makana programme helps connect women with employment opportunities in factories, and also works with local opinion leaders to reduce gender-based social obstacles to this form of paid work for women.
Micro-enterprise
A central pillar of the government's poverty alleviation strategy is to promote the growth of micro-enterprises. JOHUD supports this effort through the work of the Small Business Development Centre.
Between 2005 and 2007, SBDC provided advice and training to more than 1,400 clients, mostly women, to help them learn about enterprise and then to gain the necessary skills to start their own business. JOHUD's long-term presence in the community means that it also follows up on these entrepreneurs, providing on-going support and mentoring. As a result, there are successful businesses - from women making jam and pickles at home to women setting up shops in the high street and employing others.
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Access to credit
Through the Small Business Development Centre, JOHUD provides loans
for entrepreneurs- especially women who might otherwise find it hard to
get access to credit. The network of CDCs means that even in remote
areas, people can get access to credit through JOHUD.
By the end of 2007, JOHUD had a portfolio of 2,000 clients.
Building on a six year partnership with OXFAM Quebec, and working
through the CDCs in Madaba, Jerash and Sahab, JOHUD's SBDC has helped
more than 1,244 entrepreneurs gain access to credit.
When women run enterprises they tend to invest in their family - so
through the support to enterprise between 2005 and 2007, JOHUD
estimates that impacted on the lives and wellbeing of about 10,000
people.
Economic empowerment, poverty alleviation and
community enterprise
Not all people have the skills, resources or the family support that
are essential elements to set up a micro-enterprise. In some
situations, a community-owned enterprise is a more realistic option -
because it allows people to pool resources and to share risk. Since
2005, JOHUD has helped communities set up co-ops to run businesses
through the Government of Jordan's socio-economic plan to alleviate
poverty, first through the Village Cluster Project and then through the
Pockets of Poverty Projects.
Through these programmes JOHUD has helped communities establish small
scale factories for agro-processing: a jam factory at Jerash, a pickle
factory in Tafileh, and cheese and dairy production in Mafraq.
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In some
communities, they choose to benefit from opportunities from tourism -
with support from funds from Village Clusters they have opened a small
hotel / resthouse in Showbak, and later in 2008 JOHUD will open a
tourism complex in Mount Nebo in partnership with al Faysaliyyah
Community. These enterprises create employment for local people,
provide opportunity for local micro- entrepreneurs to sell their
products and generate revenue to invest in development projects so
everyone can benefit.
Decent work and responsible employment
An essential component of economic empowerment is making sure that work
opportunities are open to all sectors of the community without
discrimination. JOHUD actively advocates for gender mainstreaming
within employment so that women have access to work and are treated
fairly and in accordance with the law. JOHUD also raises awareness of
the rights of disabled workers, and through its Qwara workshop provides
employment for people with special needs
Through the Child Labour Project in Sahab, JOHUD works with the local
community, employers, labour associations, the Greater Amman
Municipality and the Ministry of Labour to present a multi-stakeholder
model to combat child labour and unsafe and unhealthy working
environments.
For details of employment related projects, click here
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Promoting fair trade,
Through the work of the SBDC, JOHUD also became more interested in the
issues ethical transactions in trade. Working with the Royal Society
for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) JOHUD helped establish the ‘Fair Trade Jordan' alliance.
For more details of the work of Fair Trade Jordan ....click here
Souq al Ard -
Promoting access to markets
In 2007, JOHUD
launched Souq al Ard - a farmers market where customers can make their
purchases directly from producers. This market has created a loyal
customer base of some 500 people, and each week around 200 people shop at the
Souq al Ard. With 25 producers and an average market trade of around JD2,000,
this market has made a significant difference to the lives of poor and
marginalised producers, the majority of whom are women. For more details of
Souq al Ard producers click here producers click here and for the Souq al Ard project click here
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Facts & Figures
2006 / 2007
Through JOHUD support:
More than 550 people
enjoyed secure, waged and productive employment
300 clients, mainly women, received business advice
32 training courses were
delivered in enterprise to 720 participants of which 400 were women.
1,000+ clients received loans to start or expand
businesses
9 women entrepreneurs received awards
800 child workers were helped to withdraw from hazardous employment
180
awareness raising sessions promoting employability skills were
delivered, mainly to unemployed youth as part of JOHUD's work in
poverty alleviation
More than 15 employers took part in activities against child labour
In Sahab, ZENID helped 200 unemployed young adults find work in the manufacturing sector
More than 50 meetings between employers and job-seekers were facilitated
JOHUD played a leading role in promoting decent work and fair wages, especially in the garment sector
Fair Trade Jordan was established with RSCN and IUCN - 15 days of fair trade
markets were operated
Fair Trade Jordan established its FTJ tourism strategy - and JOHUD will promote community based tourism to help rural communities increase their income.
Souq al Ard was pilot-tested and launched: 100 small producers
benefited and JD30,000 was traded over 18 separate market Saturdays in 2007
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The context for our work
Selected analysis from the NHDR
2004
The feminisation of labour
In urban and rural communities, many
men are moving away from their communities in search of new employment
opportunities.
As a result, more women are entering
the paid labour force especially in seasonal agricultural work and in the
manufacturing sector. This type of
employment tends to be low paid and is often carried out under difficult
conditions, but research shows that women value such opportunities.
Women who enter sectors that are not
considered "appropriate" to their gender role report that they may
face considerable obstacles from within the family and the broader community.
Source: NHDR2004
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