Main Findings:
Design
1. The comprehensiveness nature of the strategy suggests that it covers reform in its broad way. For example, reviewing tax laws and ensuring health and social security coverage are considered incentives for Jordanians to accept jobs.
2. NES design approach was participatory, transparent, but yet unstructured.
3. Some government institutions (like some Ministries) were slightly engaged in the design of the strategy and don’t have projects registered in NES.
4. Other non-governmental entities (private sector, NGOs) that have employment initiatives were almost absent and not involved.
5. NES original projects do not cascade down from its strategic objectives. They are disconnected. Instead, implementing agencies were asked to suggest projects to be inserted into the strategy without clear criteria given to them. Some projects have started before the formal launching of NES.
6. Essential strategy components such as: risk assessment; financial plan/budget and resources are not clearly included in the NES document.
7. The strategy formulation process was not built on basic and secondary labor market data and information in Jordan such as Unemployment rates and others.
8. Correlation with ETVET Strategy; Jordan 2025; Human Development; and other national policies/ strategies are unclear in the NES.
9. Lack of a clear communication strategy and coordination between implementing agencies lead to duplicated efforts and wasted resources.
10. Unemployed youth; job seekers and private sector entities were marginally represented in the design committee; hence, they didn’t participate in designing the strategy. Chambers of commerce and industry participated to represent the private sector which is not enough.
11. The first two chapters of the strategy document (which contains employment figures) were updated. However, it is not clear how these updates are linked to the newly suggested/developed interventions.
12. Recommendations of the original strategy are not yet implemented like the establishment of the HR Higher Council.