How many refugees has EFE Jordan trained since 2017?

Since 2017, EFE Jordan has trained over 6,000 refugees, with Syrian refugees constituting more than 95% of this group.

What are the main tracks or programs offered by EFE Jordan?

EFE Jordan offers several tracks: job training and placement for full-time employment, entrepreneurship/self-employment focusing on women and home-based work, higher education support, and global job market connections like online freelancing.

What are the challenges faced when recruiting Syrian refugees in Jordan?

Challenges include government regulations on 'closed professions' limiting job options for refugees and difficulties in obtaining work permits, especially for those arriving after 2017.

How does EFE Jordan help women refugees enter the workforce?

EFE Jordan actively enrolls women, with 70% of their trainees being women, significantly higher than Jordan's national average. They offer entrepreneurship programs for working from home and focus on in-demand services suitable for women.

What is the success rate of EFE Jordan's training programs?

EFE Jordan has an 80-85% success rate in connecting graduates with income-generating opportunities, attributed to relevant youth selection and programs aligned with high market demand.

How does EFE Jordan reach and engage refugees for their programs?

EFE Jordan partners with UNHCR, community-based organizations (CBOs), utilizes its own social media channels, and benefits from alumni referrals to reach and inform potential participants about training opportunities.

What types of training does EFE Jordan provide to refugees?

EFE Jordan provides training in sectors with high market demand, adapting to both vocational/technical jobs and the ICT sector. They also offer self-employment training, online freelancing, and adapt programs to comply with government regulations on refugee employment.

How does EFE Jordan address the challenge of gender imbalance in programs?

While cultural factors exist, EFE Jordan actively promotes women's participation and offers flexible options like home-based work. For digital jobs, they focus on online freelancing due to closed professions and difficulties with digital literacy among some refugees.

Does EFE Jordan support refugees in starting their own businesses?

Yes, EFE Jordan has an entrepreneurship track that supports aspiring and established entrepreneurs, including micro-businesses. They provide training in ideation, skills development, financial literacy, and marketing, helping them generate income and potentially create jobs.

What is the 'graduation program' EFE Jordan is discussing with UN agencies?

The 'graduation program' aims to help refugees and individuals receiving aid (like from WFP or NAF) transition to self-sufficiency by providing skills training that allows them to generate their own income and no longer require external assistance.

Can employers benefit from hiring Syrian refugees?

Yes, the presentation emphasizes that hiring refugees is a win-win. Employers like the factory discussed benefit from committed and skilled workers trained by EFE, while refugees gain stable employment and income.

Key Moments

Examples of Sustainable Economic Development Activities for Refugees by EFE in Jordan - MS 24

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Education3 min read84 min video

Jul 5, 2024|59 views

Migration Summit refugees freelancing online jobs workforce sustainability economic development jordan efe jordan economy

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Education For Employment (EFE) Jordan empowers refugees with job skills, fostering economic independence and private sector partnerships.

Key Insights

EFE Jordan operates on a demand-driven model, aligning training programs with market needs.

The organization prioritizes refugee inclusion, with 20% of trainees being refugees, and 70% women.

EFE Jordan offers multiple tracks: job training, entrepreneurship, higher education support, and global job market connections.

Partnerships with private sector companies are crucial for providing employment opportunities and overcoming biases.

Successful integration of refugees into the workforce requires addressing legal barriers and providing support services like transportation.

Entrepreneurship and self-employment programs are vital for empowering women and creating micro-businesses, particularly those working from home.

OVERVIEW OF EFE JORDAN AND ITS MISSION

Education For Employment (EFE) Jordan is a non-profit organization, part of a global network, dedicated to creating economic opportunities for youth. Operating on a demand-driven model, EFE first identifies market needs and then provides relevant training to youth, including refugees. Since 2006, EFE Jordan has trained over 31,000 youth, with an impressive 80-85% placement rate. A significant focus is placed on women's labor force participation and refugee employment, aiming to foster economic independence and integration.

PROGRAMS TARGETING REFUGEES AND WOMEN

EFE Jordan's programs cater to both Jordanians and refugees, with a specific emphasis on Syrian refugees, who constitute over 95% of their refugee beneficiaries. Recognizing the low female labor participation in Jordan, EFE actively enrolls women, with nearly 70% of their graduates being women. These programs include a job training and placement track for full-time employment, an entrepreneurship track primarily for women enabling work-from-home opportunities, and support for higher education and global job market access.

THE DEMAND-DRIVEN MODEL AND MARKET ALIGNMENT

The core of EFE's strategy is its demand-driven approach. They meticulously study market needs to design training curriculums, ensuring that graduates are equipped with skills employers actively seek. This approach significantly increases the success rate of job placement. For refugees, this model also considers government regulations regarding open and closed professions, ensuring compliance while maximizing employment opportunities within the legal framework.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES AND FOSTERING PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS

Key challenges include legal barriers, such as lists of closed professions for refugees, and societal biases. EFE actively works to bridge the gap by partnering with companies like the factory discussed, which employs a significant number of Syrian refugees. These partnerships are vital for overcoming initial employer hesitations. By showcasing success stories and providing trained, job-ready candidates, EFE encourages the private sector to see refugees not as a burden, but as valuable contributors to the workforce.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SELF-EMPLOYMENT INITIATIVES

EFE Jordan strongly supports entrepreneurship and self-employment, particularly for women who may face barriers to traditional employment. Programs focus on ideation, skill development, financial literacy, and marketing, enabling participants to start micro-businesses. Examples include training women in mobile maintenance and plumbing, catering to specific community needs and preferences. This track empowers individuals to generate their own income, fostering financial independence and self-confidence.

INNOVATIVE TRACKS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Beyond traditional employment and entrepreneurship, EFE is exploring innovative tracks. This includes training inmates in prisons to prepare them for reintegration into the workforce upon release and empowering people with disabilities through vocational training and market access. EFE also collaborates with UN agencies like the World Food Programme on graduation programs to help recipients become self-sufficient, reducing reliance on aid and creating a more sustainable future for vulnerable populations.

THE WIN-WIN OF HIRING REFUGEES

The session emphasized that hiring refugees is a mutually beneficial arrangement, not an act of charity. Companies gain committed and skilled employees, contributing to their productivity and growth. Refugees gain the opportunity for dignified work, economic independence, and the chance to rebuild their lives. By sharing success stories and highlighting the tangible benefits, EFE Jordan aims to inspire more companies and partners to invest in refugee employment and foster inclusive economic development.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Tools

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

EFE Jordan's Approach to Refugee Economic Development

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Adopt a demand-driven approach: identify market needs first, then train youth.

Provide career guidance and counseling to ensure proper matching with opportunities.

Focus on high-demand sectors and tailor programs accordingly.

Incorporate entrepreneurship tracks, especially for women, focusing on services.

Offer online freelancing training and provide necessary tools like laptops.

Partner with UN agencies, CBOs, and the private sector for wider reach and impact.

Consider unique community needs and tailor program designs and success metrics.

Follow up with alumni for at least one year to gather feedback and provide ongoing support.

Promote the benefits of formalizing businesses and work.

Explore innovative training for marginalized groups like inmates and people with disabilities.

Emphasize that hiring refugees is a win-win for both employers and refugees.

Avoid This

Do not assume a one-size-fits-all solution for different refugee communities.

Do not offer training in sectors without proven market demand or supply willingness.

Do not overlook government regulations regarding professions open to refugees.

Do not rely solely on aid; aim for economic empowerment and graduation from assistance programs.

Do not neglect the importance of digital literacy for online job opportunities.

Do not dismiss the potential for informal sector work as an initial step towards income generation.

Do not stop at basic training; provide comprehensive support including financial literacy and access to finance.

Do not view hiring refugees as charity; see it as a mutually beneficial business decision.

Common Questions

EFE Jordan is a non-profit organization that creates economic opportunities for youth by identifying market needs and providing relevant training. Their mission is to connect young people, including refugees, with income-generating activities through a demand-driven approach.

Topics

Refugee Employment Jordan Syrian Refugees Skills Training Migrant Workers EFE Jordan Demand-driven Approach Labor Market Integration Work Permits Gender Balance Online Freelancing

Mentioned in this video

Events

Migration Summit

A week-long global convening organized by MIT Emerging Talent Nalan Karam Foundation focused on unlocking talent pathways for displaced individuals.

MENA Youth Employment Summit

A summit organized by EFE and its affiliates to highlight employment issues in the MENA region, scheduled to take place in Casablanca.

People

Lorine Charles

Co-host of the Migration Summit and director of Nal.

Organizations

Education for Employment (EFE) Jordan

An organization that creates economic opportunities for youth in Jordan by identifying market needs and providing relevant training.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

Provided arrangements for EFE Jordan to manage training centers in a mall and in Aqaba.

GoodFX

An organization running education programs for refugees in Kenya, facing challenges with gender imbalance.

USAID

A project that targeted women who were already generating some income and helped them grow their businesses.

people with disabilities

EFE Jordan provides economic empowerment training to people with disabilities and collaborates with community-based organizations to help them sell their products.

EFE Network

A network of EFE affiliates operating in various countries, facilitating knowledge sharing and collaborative activities like the MENA Youth Employment Summit.

Nalan Karam Foundation

Organizer of the Migration Summit 2024.

GIZ

Funded one of Nara's EFE programs in 2023.

National Aid Fund (NAF)

EFE Jordan also works with Jordanians receiving assistance from NAF to help them graduate from reliance on aid through skills training.

World Food Programme (WFP)

EFE Jordan has been discussing a 'graduation program' with WFP and other UN agencies to help refugees transition from receiving assistance to generating their own income.

AFD

Concepts

Syrian refugees

S discusses the challenges of recruiting Syrian refugees, particularly those arriving after 2017, due to government regulations on closed professions and work permits.

plumbing

Another practical skill training program for women offered by EFE Jordan, addressing a need for female plumbers in conservative areas.

mobile maintenance

A training program offered by EFE Jordan for women, enabling them to provide services within their communities.

flexible work permits

A type of work permit that allows Syrian refugees more agility to change jobs and employers.

online freelancing

An alternative EFE Jordan offers for Syrian refugees in Jordan, training them on gig platforms to generate income.