UNRC/HC Isaczai meets with children and youth in Makani Centers

The UN Jordan Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ghulam M. Isaczai visited Makani Centre in East Amman, where he met with Syrian refugee children and youth, who benefit from the Centre’s services.

During the visit, Mr. Isaczai was briefed about UNICEF services provided in Makani Centre which benefit nearly 177,000 children, youth and parents, with access to safe learning opportunities - as well as integrated community-based child protection, early childhood development, life skills and social innovation training.

Makani (“My Space” in Arabic) is UNICEF’s comprehensive approach to service provision in Jordan linking educational learning support services, community-based child protection, early childhood development, adolescent and youth participation as well as life skills and innovation labs for children and young people, girls and boys, families and community members. The programme aims to promote and contribute to the full development and well-being of children, youth and their parents.

Under its social protection programme, UNICEF provides an integrated package of support for the most vulnerable children and youth in Jordan, while also supporting the Government of Jordan to develop and implement social protection and poverty reduction strategies. These interventions include:

·        A network of 137 Makani centres (66 in host communities, 51 in informal settelments and 20 in camps) supporting over 177,000 children, youth and parents, with access to safe learning opportunities - as well as integrated community-based child protection, early childhood development, life skills and social innovation training.

·         Hajati cash transfer programme - a monthly child grant to allow vulnerable girls and boys to enrol, and stay, in school.

·         Providing technical support to strengthen national systems, including National Aid Fund, to more effectively reach the most vulnerable children and their families;

·         Supporting the development of a child-friendly and equity-focused national social protection and poverty reduction strategy.

·         Generating evidence to inform policy, including the development of a national Multidimensional Poverty Index, and undertaking frequent monitoring of children, youth and women in Jordan to better understand the impact of changing economic situation on families.