EMPOWERING WOMEN

Women's Programme Centres in Jordan

"Empowering women with knowledge, enabling them to acquire the skills to earn a living and facilitate their role in their communities have been the centrepiece of UNRWA's work with women over the last few years", explains Fuad Shawwa, Chief of Relief and Social Services Programme of UNRWA in Jordan. The 21 women's centres established by UNRWA in Jordan offer a wide range of courses like computer word processing, business skills, civic education, household maintenance, in addition to traditional courses such as sewing, machine-knitting and hairdressing. "Our aim is to prepare women for income-earning opportunities and enhance their role in community development", says Mr. Shawwa.

Community savings and loan groups were set up in Amman New Camp (Wihdat), Jabal el-Hussein, Marka, Zarqa and Jerash camps to provide loans to members, mainly women, from a revolving fund. The fund was established in 1996 with the women's own pooled savings and external funding to assist them in starting up their own businesses. At the Jerash women's programme centre, about 70 women earn an income through a wool spinning enterprise, and 20 women in Jabal el-Hussein camp earn a living through a food production unit.

"All of this is part of our poverty alleviation strategy that targets the poorest of the refugees, in particular those registered with UNRWA as special hardship cases", says Mr. Shawwa. At the centre of this endeavour is the income-generation loan programme. Launched in Jordan in 1991 with a starting capital of $500,000, the programme now has a loan capital base of about $830,000. It has financed 146 enterprises and has created over 350 jobs.