Inclusive Systems: Access to Services

The project is implemented by the Government of Jordan. It began in January 2022 and is currently ongoing. It started at the beginning of the Syrian crisis and is ongoing.

The good practices document highlights good practices showcasing the affirmative and leading role of the Government of Jordan, with support of other actors – national and international – consistent with the whole-of-society, multi-stakeholder approach to hosting refugees, and enabling their access to services that enhances protection environment and creates solutions opportunities in different sectors: Health, Education, Protection, Legal, Gender and GBV, CP, Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods, Sustainable Housing and Settlements, Energy and Climate as well as support for solutions process. 

The main goal is to develop inclusive systems for refugees through a multi stakeholder, multi donors approach led by the government of Jordan. 

Main activities of the Good Practice

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, building on the achievements of the Jordan Compact of 2016, and reflecting the Kingdom’s deeply held values and traditions, built upon its progressive and inclusive approach to hosting refugees, with the support from the donor community enabling their access to services that enhances protection environment and creates solutions opportunities consistent with the whole-of-society, multi-stakeholder approach. 

These good practices are reflected in many ways in different sectors. Refugees can access public healthcare facilities at subsidized (non-insured Jordanian) rates with the support of the Jordan Health Fund for Refugees (JHFR) / Multi-donor Account (MDA). In the education sector refugees 

Th government of Jordan granted equitable quality education and access to refugees of all nationalities with no expenses with the support of the donors multi donor account as one example. Furthermore, the government of Jordan included refugees in all key national education strategies and instructed including the international protection status in their management information systems. 

A third example under protection is highlighted through the government's commitment to establish various government entities in charge of managing the refugee portfolio, developing strong documentation systems of Syrian refugees through issuance of the so called “MOI Service Cards” which enable access to services, upholding of the principle of non-refoulement, granting of unhindered access to justice for refugees under the same conditions as for Jordanians. Family Protection, child protection and GBV sector ensure inclusive service provision through national systems, developed national prevent and response SOPs the include refugees, engagement of the government in the coordination Sector in Jordan. 

Under Economic Empowerment and Livelihoods for refugees, the government of Jordan waived the work permit (WP) fees for Syrian refugees since the signing of the Jordan Compact in 2016 until end of 2023. Also, facilitating flexible work permits obtained from the General Federation of Jordan Trade Unions (GFJTU) or agricultural cooperatives allow refugee holders to freely move between different employers and more recently across all open sectors. The government has allowed Syrian refugees living outside camps to register and operate home-based businesses since November 2018. 

The government of Jordan has supported the sustainable Housing and Shelter portfolio by Providing a safe and secure environment with enhanced civilian character of asylum for sustainable settlements and housing for refugees in camps and within host communities. Furthermore, facilitated access to natural resources, municipal and social infrastructure. 

The government of Jordan's contribution to Energy and Climate has been evident through provision of renewable energy, reduction in energy cost and protection of the environment through Solar Plants at Zaatari and Azraq camps providing year-round renewable energy to shelters and businesses in the camps. In addition to facilitating temporary electricity subsidy program for 35,000 vulnerable Syrian refugees in host communities and being part of the Green Deal for Jordan Agreement on Allocation of the Capacity and Sale of Electric Power Project to increase clean energy per capita of refugees in camps. 

Finally, the government of Jordan showcases its support for Solutions Processes through collaborating with UNHCR to support refugees to access solutions including through data sharing, flagging protection needs at border centres, and facilitation of resettlement interviews. Furthermore, facilitating exit permission for refugees leaving Jordan on resettlement including through the waiver of overstay fees.

Elements which helped facilitate the implementation of the good practice

Policy Decisions and support by Donors. 

Partners involved

Government of Jordan represented by all ministries (Health, Education, Labour, Ministry of Interior, Syrian Refugee Affairs Department, Public Security Directorate/ Family Protection and Juvenile Department, Ministry of Environment and natural Resources, General Federation of Jordan Trade Unions, Ministry of Social Development, Shariah Courts, Ministry of Justice, Civil Status Department among others). 

Also, the development and Humanitarian donors, supporting all sectors whether through Multi Donor ACCOUNT or direct support to relevant ministries, semi government Institutions or to UNHCR. Furthermore, the UN sister agency played an important role. Civil society, and private sector has also been involved.

What challenges were encountered in delivering the project and how were they overcome?

Challenges

Lessons learned were mainly related to stressing the essence of a multistakeholder approach and highlighting the importance of shared responsibility ad burden sharing. The next steps would focus on ensuring continuity of these inclusive services through shared responsibility. 

How they were overcome

Through applying the principles of the GCR precisely easing pressure on host communities, Coordination, provision of evidence -based data, engaging with development donors. 

Results of the Good Practice

Facilitated access to inclusive services in different sectors. 

In what way does the good practice meet one or more of the four objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees?

Objective 1: Ease the pressures on host countries

The good practices shared from Jordan are a reflection of inclusive services provided by the government of Jordan. Hence represents pressure on national systems, based on which requires continues to support by international community to continue to enable Jordan's inclusive approach.

Objective 2: Enhance refugee self-reliance

• The waiving of work permit (WP) fees for Syrian refugees since the signing of the Jordan Compact in 2016 until end of 2023.
• 2017: Allowing camp refugees to work outside the camps, and to use their WP rather than exit permits.
• Flexible work permits obtained from the General Federation of Jordan Trade Unions (GFJTU) or agricultural cooperatives allow their holders to freely move between different employers and more recently across all open sectors. Allowed Syrian refugees living outside camps to register and operate home-based businesses since November 2018.

Objective 3: Expand access to third-country solutions

Support for Solutions Processes

• Collaborating with UNHCR to support refugees to access solutions including through data sharing, flagging protection needs at border centers, and facilitation of resettlement interviews.
• Facilitating exit permission for over 10,000 refugees leaving Jordan on resettlement in 2023 including through the waiver of overstay fees.

Next steps

Jordan has been a generous host to refugees, taking progressive approaches worthy of maintaining and building upon; but it cannot bear this burden alone. Hence, together with the support of government and a wide range of partners, a strong signal of solidarity and commitment to stay the course (government) and stand with Jordan (partners) is needed.