jordan pulse -

AMMAN — Jordan has achieved remarkable progress in protecting and empowering children through expanded educational access, stronger legal safeguards, and targeted aid for vulnerable households, according to UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
Concluding an official visit to the Kingdom, Russell emphasized that sustaining these gains requires long-term financial commitment, with real success measured by whether children are actively learning, protected from harm, and supported in their development.
She expressed deep appreciation for Jordan’s enduring generosity toward families fleeing the Syrian conflict, noting that the nation has demonstrated exceptional solidarity despite severe strain on its economy, water reserves, and public infrastructure. Russell called on the global community to share this responsibility, pledging that UNICEF will remain an unwavering partner to the Kingdom.
"Support for refugee children and investment in host communities must go hand in hand," Russell stated, pointing to UNICEF-backed Makani centers—which offer integrated learning and safe spaces for both Syrian and Jordanian youth—as a primary model of this dual approach.
While celebrating a primary school enrollment rate above 97 percent, the UNICEF chief stressed that the central focus must now shift toward educational quality. She urged systemic updates to foundational literacy and math, modern curricula, teacher training, and inclusive spaces for children facing disability or poverty.
Highlighting a partnership spanning more than 70 years, Russell affirmed that UNICEF’s strategic roadmap directly aligns with Jordan's national development goals. Following the landmark adoption of the 2022 Child Rights Law, the core objective is converting legislative frameworks into well-funded, reliable public services.
A Critical Lifeline for Gaza
Beyond internal reforms, Russell recognized Jordan’s crucial role as a primary humanitarian lifeline for the broader region. Operating through the Jordan Corridor, UNICEF has facilitated the transport of over 1,600 aid trucks and five airlifts, delivering more than $54 million in vital health, nutrition, and winter supplies directly to children in Gaza. She called for safe, unobstructed passage and full respect for international law to ensure emergency aid continues to reach young populations in crisis.
Skills and System Building
To address youth unemployment, UNICEF is actively supporting the Ministry of Youth on the National Youth Strategy and partnering with the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training Corporation through the "Generation Ready" initiative. The project modernizes vocational programs to align young people's skills directly with evolving market demands.
Russell concluded by highlighting the importance of resilient institutional frameworks over temporary aid projects. By strengthening initiatives like the National Social Protection Strategy, the National Aid Fund’s Cash Plus unit, and unified child protection protocols, Jordan is positioning itself to deliver lasting, coordinated care to every child across the Kingdom.