Context:
Jordan, with a population of 7.6 million and GDP US$37.5 billion, has an unemployment rate of 13.2%. One substantial obstacle for finding a good job is the mismatch between requirements of the job and qualifications of applicants. Youth constitute 14% of the total population and 21.5% of the working-age population. The male-female salary gap is up to 20% in the public sector where 82% of women are working. Jordan has the second highest average of educational attainment (10 school years) compared to other Arab countries. Participation of youth in civil society seems to be low as less than 9% of Jordanian youth had volunteered in an organization in 2014.
Darb targets Jordanian sophomore university students who are committed and have a succeeding average. Students must not be enrolled in the summer university semester and the training should not coincide with their university academic hours.
Implementation of programme/ initiative:
Darb is a partnership between King Abdullah Fund for Development and Lothan Youth Achievement Centre (LOYAC). Darb aims at increasing students’ ability to compete in the labour market through honing their skills and providing them with opportunities to gain practical experience. More specifically, Darb aims at introducing students to the realities of the labour market environment, enhancing the training culture among students and the private sector, increasing the number of practical training opportunities in companies, especially in the provinces where these opportunities are limited, promoting a culture of volunteering among students, and enhancing students’ self-confidence to face difficulties and obstacles that they may encounter in their working lives and future careers.
Main challenges:
- N/A
Results achieved:
From 2011 to 2015, Darb targeted 6459 public and private university students.
A total of 6459 students from all governorates of Jordan attended work skills training workshops. 3465 were placed and completed paid internships in more than 150 private companies and NGOs for six to eight weeks. These internships are either in the students’ field of study or in the students’ area of interest or talent. 68% of the students were offered employment opportunities after graduation.
Moving Forward:
Darb 2 is the second phase of the program. Darb internships are provided for students who finished the first stage. The internship opportunities are either within the students’ field of study or area of interest/talent. Darb 3 is the last stage of the program targeting fresh graduates who finished Darb 2 and aims at providing them with employment.
Replicability:
- N/A
References:
http://www.kafd.jo/ar/program/%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8
AHDR 2016
http://loyacjordan.org/Programs/Darb_EN.aspx
http://www.darb.jo/
OECD Youth in the MENA region, 2016
World Bank, 2016
International Labor Organization, 2016
Project Details
Date: October 12, 2017