Dutch policy goals and strategy with Jordan

A. Overarching goal

In the 2022 policy note for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation ‘Do what we do best’ Jordan has been designated as a country with a development cooperation relationship aimed at specific objectives. With Jordan, the Dutch primary development cooperation priority is the safe and humane reception of refugees.

This will remain the cornerstone of the Netherlands multi-annual strategy 20232026. The Netherlands stays committed to continued and substantial multi-annual support to Jordan’s ability to continue hosting refugees. The needs of refugees and vulnerable host communities are increasing in Jordan. To address these needs, and to leverage the opportunities of working closely with government in the refugee response, the Netherlands will increase its level of funding through the Prospects Partnership with IFC, ILO, UNICEF, UNHCR and World Bank in the coming years. The aim is to support Jordan in addressing needs of vulnerable people on the ground, as much as possible through national policies and practices, while contributing to social cohesion.


A conditio sine qua non for realising this development approach to forced displacement is that Jordan, situated in a turbulent region at Europe’s borders, maintains stability. In order to support this, a successful and sustainable program requires a comprehensive approach. Increased and balanced investments in protection, livelihoods and education for refugees and host communities are a central part of this approach. In addition, factors that (threaten to) impact Jordan’s stability and its ability to host refugees in the short, medium and long run need to be addressed. In this regard, socio-economic inclusion and resilience of refugees and host communities, sustainable and inclusive economic development, access to water, and universal human rights are each instrumental.

Based on policy priorities of the Netherlands Government, and closely aligning with policies of the Government, four key themes have been identified, to guide the Netherlands’ efforts in Jordan in the years to come: Hosting Refugees, Economic Resilience, Water and Climate, and Human Rights. Within these themes, the Netherlands will focus on strategic objectives that each contribute to Jordan’s hospitable efforts of hosting refugees. The Netherlands will support Jordan with tangible interventions benefiting people on the ground as well as in complex policy transitions relevant to the future of the refugee response. In all of our efforts, we will cooperate and coordinate as closely as possible with the Government of Jordan and like-minded international partners.

Throughout the strategy, attention is given to several cross-cutting priorities. Reaching vulnerable groups, including refugees and host communities, women and youth, and having their needs at heart, is centrestage in the Netherlands’ strategy. During design or inception phases, implementation partners will be requested, wherever possible, to finetune projects towards the greatest possible impact in terms of gender equality and youth relevance. Where relevant and possible, Dutch knowledge and expertise will be engaged, for example on water, agriculture and climate adaptation. Digitalization will also be a crosscutting priority. The Netherlands will support digital skills development and digital solutions to improve service delivery and the enabling environment for private sector development. Finally, the Shiraka programme will continue to create local income generating activities at the grassroot/community level and provide training programs, including government-to-government, to Jordanian counterparts.