ILO, Government of Jordan and KfW Inaugurate Community Development and Training Centre Project in Jerash

The International Labour Organization (ILO), together with the Government of Jordan and the German Development Bank (KfW), today inaugurated the Community Development and Training Centre around the Wildlife Reserve Project in Al-Ma‘rad Municipality, Jerash Governorate, reinforcing national efforts to promote decent work, local development, and environmentally sustainable livelihoods.

The inauguration ceremony brought together H.E. Eng. Walid Al-Masri, Minister of Local Administration; H.E Nidal Ayasrah Secretary General of Ministry of Culture, senior representatives from relevant line ministries; Dr. Assia Al Dhabi Senior Portfolio Manager German Development Bank (KfW); Amal Mowafy, ILO Country Coordinator in Jordan; municipal leadership; local authorities; community representatives; and workers who directly contributed to the implementation of the project.

Implemented through the ILO’s Employment-Intensive Investment Programme (EIIP), the project forms part of Jordan’s broader transition from short-term humanitarian responses toward sustainable, labour-based development approaches that link employment creation with skills development, institutional strengthening, and the creation of durable community assets.

Opening the event, Eng. Mahmoud Al Khalwdeh Head of Al-Ma‘rad Municipality Committee highlighted the project’s importance for the local community, emphasizing its contribution to improving municipal services, creating employment opportunities for residents, and strengthening the municipality’s capacity to manage and sustain public assets.

In his remarks, H.E. Eng. Walid Al-Masri, Minister of Local Administration, underscored the Government of Jordan’s commitment to empowering municipalities as key drivers of inclusive development.

“This project reflects our national direction toward strengthening local governance and enabling municipalities to play a central role in job creation and service delivery,” said Al-Masri. “Labour-based development approaches allow us to respond to community needs while investing in people and building sustainable assets that serve local priorities.”

“Locating this project in the vicinity of a wildlife reserve demonstrates how development can be designed in harmony with nature,” a Ministry representative said. “Such initiatives contribute to protecting natural resources while creating green and sustainable livelihood.” 

For the ILO, the project represents a people-centred development model that places decent work at the heart of local investment. Amal Mowafy, ILO Country Coordinator in Jordan, stated “This inauguration is not merely the opening of a new facility; it is a celebration of collective effort, genuine partnership, and the hard work of community members who made this achievement truly their own.”

She added, “What distinguishes this project is that it placed people at the heart of the development process. Through the Employment-Intensive Investment Programme, women and men accessed dignified work opportunities, gained practical skills, built their capacities, and strengthened their sense of dignity and belonging—while contributing to an asset that will continue to serve the local community for years to come”.

Representing the German Development Bank, Assia Al-Dahabi reaffirmed Germany’s long-standing partnership with Jordan and the ILO.

“Through our cooperation with the Government of Jordan and the ILO, we support development models that combine job creation with institutional strengthening and environmental sustainability,” she said. “Projects such as this demonstrate how integrated local development can deliver lasting benefits for communities.”

A representative of EIIP workers also addressed the audience, sharing how participation in the project provided not only short-term employment, but also practical experience, confidence, and pride in contributing to a community asset.

A distinctive feature of the project is its location in the vicinity of a wildlife reserve, reflecting an integrated approach that links employment creation, environmental protection, and sustainable local livelihoods. The newly established training centre is expected to serve as a hub for skills development, community engagement, and future economic opportunities.

The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and an on-site tour, during which participants engaged directly with workers and reviewed the completed works.

The inauguration reaffirmed that the most lasting impact of employment-intensive programmes lies not only in the infrastructure delivered, but in the capacities built, institutions strengthened, and partnerships reinforced. Through continued collaboration between the Government of Jordan, the ILO, and KfW, such initiatives continue to advance inclusive and sustainable development across the Kingdom.