World Bank Approves $700 Million For Jordan's Human Capital And Education Boost
The World Bank Group has approved two programs aimed at boosting Jordan's human capital through targeted investments in education, health, and social assistance. The Jordan Human Capital Program and the Jordan: Modernizing Education, Skills, and Administrative Reforms (MASAR) Program have a combined financing of $700 million. These initiatives seek to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, improve education quality, and better prepare young people for future jobs.
Jordan has faced economic challenges due to external shocks that have affected growth and job creation. Despite having over 66% of its population under 30, gaps remain in education access, particularly for early childhood education, according to World Bank report.
Further investments are needed to enhance education quality and expand technical and vocational education and training (TVET) for future jobs. Additionally, the high prevalence of risk factors such as smoking and non-communicable diseases contribute to increased morbidity, reduced productivity, and lower job market participation.
Jean-Christophe Carret, World Bank Country Director for the Middle East Department, said: "To achieve its development ambitions, Jordan will need to harness its greatest potential asset — its human capital, particularly its youth and women." He added that by investing in education, health, and social protection, Jordan can strengthen its economy's resilience and make it more inclusive.
The Jordan Human Capital Program ($300 million) aims to improve governance and effectiveness in social sectors to ensure better outcomes for all Jordanians. It supports results-oriented service delivery in key sectors such as education, health, and social assistance. The MASAR Program ($400 million) focuses on three key areas: improving home-to-school transitions; enhancing school-to-work transitions; and improving the efficiency of the education system.
By 2029, MASAR is expected to achieve significant milestones including enrolling 25,000 additional students in KG2; ensuring 4,200 KG classrooms meet minimum quality standards; graduating 50,000 students from accredited TVET programs; and recruiting 70% of civil servant teachers through a new competency-based mechanism. The program will also benefit refugees and contribute to the 2024-2026 Jordan Response Plan for the Syrian Crisis.
Both programs align with Jordan's Economic Modernization Vision and Public Sector Modernization roadmap 2023-2025. They prioritize human capital development and support the implementation of the ambitious 'Smart Jordan' driver.
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