JORDAN INNOVATION PROGRAM
What is Jordan Innovation Program
Jordan Innovation program is an online innovation program that works around inviting Finnish startups and scale-up companies with the right competencies and ambition to solve defined challenges of women and girls under refugee status in Jordan in these four domains: Health, Education, Energy, and Sanitation.
The Jordan Innovation Program aims to bring Finnish tech solutions to tackle the challenges faced by refugees and vulnerable communities in Jordan and empower especially refugee women and girls to attain a better life. The focus of the program is health and education.
Through the Jordan Innovation Program, Finnish companies can network with local Jordanian partners and potential customers, develop the solutions with local stakeholders, understand the market and build a roadmap for market entry. Companies are also offered support from Business Finland and Finnpartnership to find and apply to appropriate funding options.
There are also funding options from Jordan, such as the Youth Technology and Job program (YTJ) by the Ministry of Digital Economic and Entrepreneurship.
The key objectives also of relevance for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the program are:
The Jordan Innovation Program aims to bring Finnish tech solutions to tackle the challenges faced by refugees and vulnerable communities in Jordan and empower especially refugee women and girls to attain a better life. The focus of the program is health and education.
Through the Jordan Innovation Program, Finnish companies can network with local Jordanian partners and potential customers, develop the solutions with local stakeholders, understand the market and build a roadmap for market entry. Companies are also offered support from Business Finland and Finnpartnership to find and apply to appropriate funding options.
There are also funding options from Jordan, such as the Youth Technology and Job program (YTJ) by the Ministry of Digital Economic and Entrepreneurship.
The key objectives also of relevance for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the program are:
- To create and support new development business opportunities for Finnish companies in Jordan and the MENA (Middle East North Africa) region.
- To offer unique opportunities to empower refugees in Jordan through innovative solutions for refugee women and girls' challenges.
Why Jordan?
Jordan is one of the countries most affected by the Syria crisis, hosting the second-highest share of refugees per capita in the world, according to the Fact Sheet of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (September 2020). In addition to Syrian refugees, there are currently more than 1,3 million refugees in Jordan from various countries such as Iraq, Yemen, Sudan, and Somalia.
Jordan has become one of the stable hubs with all surrounding countries giving direct businesses access to over 1 billion customers in the region.
Jordan is also an upper-middle-income liberal economy and WTO member. The country has high entrepreneurial activity and hosts interesting startup support programs. To power its economic growth and build a resilient infrastructure to support the refugees and the vulnerable host communities, Jordan is increasingly focusing on digitization and initiating multiple projects to dive into digital transformation.
Jordan has become one of the stable hubs with all surrounding countries giving direct businesses access to over 1 billion customers in the region.
Jordan is also an upper-middle-income liberal economy and WTO member. The country has high entrepreneurial activity and hosts interesting startup support programs. To power its economic growth and build a resilient infrastructure to support the refugees and the vulnerable host communities, Jordan is increasingly focusing on digitization and initiating multiple projects to dive into digital transformation.
Who is the Program for?
Finnish companies of any size interested in the MENA and/or Jordan market. Companies should have the solutions and/or competencies to address the challenges presented by the local partners. It is also recommended to have enough time, manpower, and economic resources to attend Jordan Innovation Program.
We encourage companies that have the following features to join the program:
We encourage companies that have the following features to join the program:
- Sufficient own financial and other resources (enough time and manpower) to co-create a solution with partners in Jordan and the wider region, there are also separate requirements if Business Finland or Finnpartnership funding is sought
- A willingness to engage in challenging developing markets and pursue business with impacts
- Preliminary ideas for scalable solutions, products, or services that could address challenges related to the refugee crisis
Who is Behind the Jordan Innovation Program?
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Supporting partners:
Challenge partners:
World Refugees School (WRS)
Wadi Araba Development Company (WADC)
UNFPA
UNDP
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
World Refugees School (WRS)
Wadi Araba Development Company (WADC)
UNFPA
UNDP
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Challenges
Challenges by the World Refugees School (WRS)
Read more...
Education Challenges
CHALLENGE 1 - INTEGRATE REFUGEE CHILDREN TO HOST EDUCATION SYSTEMS
About the Challenge:
More than 50% of refugees are children under the age of 18. A key goal for host governments and non-governmental organizations is to ensure the children refugees receive quality and accredited education.
Currently, the children pass through many education systems during their refugee journey, all of which have different learning standards. It has been challenging for the host country to assign the newly arrived children to the correct study level.
For example, in Turkey, a committee of fewer than 10 people has to evaluate and manually place thousands of Syrian children, refugees into the Turkish education system. This process takes more than a year, leaving the children out of school all the while. Another issue is to ensure the children receive quality and accredited education, giving them the best chance of a future career.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
World Refugees School, a leading NGO in education solutions for refugees, is looking for solutions that can:
More than 50% of refugees are children under the age of 18. A key goal for host governments and non-governmental organizations is to ensure the children refugees receive quality and accredited education.
Currently, the children pass through many education systems during their refugee journey, all of which have different learning standards. It has been challenging for the host country to assign the newly arrived children to the correct study level.
For example, in Turkey, a committee of fewer than 10 people has to evaluate and manually place thousands of Syrian children, refugees into the Turkish education system. This process takes more than a year, leaving the children out of school all the while. Another issue is to ensure the children receive quality and accredited education, giving them the best chance of a future career.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
World Refugees School, a leading NGO in education solutions for refugees, is looking for solutions that can:
- Cross-map different national and international education systems to automatically evaluate a refugee children's level of education and identify gaps in his/her education
- Build a personalized learning track for the child to bridge the education gaps and catch-up with the host country's learning standards
- Utilize e-resources and/or integrate existing e-learning resources to help the children bridge the gap or review old materials. The ideal solutions should be secured and can build trust with the host country's government. Artificial intelligence solutions are appreciated
CHALLENGE 2 - ONLINE FINNISH EDUCATION FOR REFUGEES
About the Challenge:
Finland is consistently considered to have the best education system in the world. It would be wonderful to make it accessible for everyone, especially refugee children who need a formal education the most. Moreover, in many countries, refugees are denied access to the host countries' education system, leaving them absent from formal education and personal and career development.
In Jordan, about 24 000 refugee children attend non-formal and makeshift schools in host communities where Jordanians and Syrians volunteer to teach. Accessing formal education is a challenge for most vulnerable refugee children for several reasons, including the schools' location being perceived as too far, the threat of harassment, and the perceived low quality of education.
Even the non-formal schools specifically for refugee children do not receive the number of students they should. Giving access to formal education and motivating the children to pursue education is crucial for all region agencies, especially to high-quality education such as the Finnish education system.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Finland is consistently considered to have the best education system in the world. It would be wonderful to make it accessible for everyone, especially refugee children who need a formal education the most. Moreover, in many countries, refugees are denied access to the host countries' education system, leaving them absent from formal education and personal and career development.
In Jordan, about 24 000 refugee children attend non-formal and makeshift schools in host communities where Jordanians and Syrians volunteer to teach. Accessing formal education is a challenge for most vulnerable refugee children for several reasons, including the schools' location being perceived as too far, the threat of harassment, and the perceived low quality of education.
Even the non-formal schools specifically for refugee children do not receive the number of students they should. Giving access to formal education and motivating the children to pursue education is crucial for all region agencies, especially to high-quality education such as the Finnish education system.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Digital curriculum and resources of Finnish education that can be accessible by refugee students online from anywhere. The curriculum and resources can be translated into various languages
- Assess the refugee students' progress and provide needed support from teachers, peers, or others
- Provide official certificate for completing the education
- Solutions should work in low-resource settings
- Solutions that can be intergratable with WRS education platforms. Resources on the WRS platform can be provided during the program.
Challenges by Wadi Araba Development Company (WADC)
Health challenges
CHALLENGE 3 - REMOTE HEALTHCARE
About the Challenge:
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on healthcare resources worldwide as well as Jordan. To reduce such tension on the hospital resources, we can facilitate more home care and remote healthcare and automate some tasks, thus lowering doctors' workload and focusing on intensive care.
At the same time, patients receive needed quality care and health information. Remote healthcare can also reduce health costs, making it more affordable for refugees.
Additionally, excellent remote healthcare is required for rural areas where pregnant women have to travel a long distance to access the nearest health centers.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Wadi Araba Development Company is looking for solutions that can:
The ideal solutions should be usable in low-resource settings (weak internet connection, electricity down, etc.) and work on mobile devices, the primary connected device for the refugees and population in the rural areas.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on healthcare resources worldwide as well as Jordan. To reduce such tension on the hospital resources, we can facilitate more home care and remote healthcare and automate some tasks, thus lowering doctors' workload and focusing on intensive care.
At the same time, patients receive needed quality care and health information. Remote healthcare can also reduce health costs, making it more affordable for refugees.
Additionally, excellent remote healthcare is required for rural areas where pregnant women have to travel a long distance to access the nearest health centers.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Wadi Araba Development Company is looking for solutions that can:
- Allow remote care consulting and Digital diagnostics in a low-resource setting
- Provide relevant assistance and information for home care
- Electronic and connected devices to monitor health indicators of pregnant women from afar
- Improve the patient journey from home to hospital and back
- Reduce the costs of healthcare so more people can afford quality care
The ideal solutions should be usable in low-resource settings (weak internet connection, electricity down, etc.) and work on mobile devices, the primary connected device for the refugees and population in the rural areas.
CHALLENGE 4 - INTEROPERABLE DIGITAL HEALTH RECORDS SYSTEM
About the Challenge:
A key area for digitalization in Jordan is the interoperable electronic health record system. A study in 2020 shows that nearly 75% of hospitals and healthcare centers in Jordan have not implemented electronic health records systems.
With the adoption of an interoperable system, patients can receive more rounded healthcare, reducing redundant treatment. The system can also allow secure sharing of health information between patients and clinicians. Doctors can also diagnose more effectively, reduce medical errors and provide safer care.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
A key area for digitalization in Jordan is the interoperable electronic health record system. A study in 2020 shows that nearly 75% of hospitals and healthcare centers in Jordan have not implemented electronic health records systems.
With the adoption of an interoperable system, patients can receive more rounded healthcare, reducing redundant treatment. The system can also allow secure sharing of health information between patients and clinicians. Doctors can also diagnose more effectively, reduce medical errors and provide safer care.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Digital health record systems allow health information exchange amongst health centers, hospitals, private and public, and patients
- The design should be secured, preferably interoperable, and work in low-resource settings
CHALLENGE 5 - HEALTH DATA ANALYTICS
About the Challenge:
In addition to the electronic health record systems, it would be beneficial to build actionable insights from the health data. With predictive and prescriptive algorithms, data analytics can allow authorities and healthcare professionals to improve healthcare services on both the individual level and population level.
On a personal level, health analytics enable doctors to make more informed diagnostics, better manage the patient’s safety and risk factors and maximize the healthcare experience's values while minimizing the side effects. Health data analytics allow authorities to understand the region's health trends on a population or regional level, make informed policy decisions, and prepare necessary resources.
This challenge is beneficial not only for the refugees by providing them more quality healthcare at a lower cost but also for the host countries’ population as a whole.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
In addition to the electronic health record systems, it would be beneficial to build actionable insights from the health data. With predictive and prescriptive algorithms, data analytics can allow authorities and healthcare professionals to improve healthcare services on both the individual level and population level.
On a personal level, health analytics enable doctors to make more informed diagnostics, better manage the patient’s safety and risk factors and maximize the healthcare experience's values while minimizing the side effects. Health data analytics allow authorities to understand the region's health trends on a population or regional level, make informed policy decisions, and prepare necessary resources.
This challenge is beneficial not only for the refugees by providing them more quality healthcare at a lower cost but also for the host countries’ population as a whole.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Develop analytical solutions with actionable insights and algorithms to support personal healthcare services, allowing doctors to make better diagnostics and provide necessary health information and advice more effectively to the patient. The solutions can improve healthcare quality or reduce the costs of it or both
- Develop analytics and algorithms that monitor population health and provide insights and recommendations for authorities and hospitals to manage their health resources, communicate necessary health information on a large scale, and control population health
Education challenges
CHALLENGE 6 - FACILITATE QUALITY DIGITAL EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS
About the Challenge:
Wadi Araba is a remote region lacking qualified and experienced teachers for students in general and high school students in particular. The level of teaching in public schools is negatively reflected, forcing students to travel daily to the big city to attend additional classes that help them improve their educational level and obtain the high school diploma.
Giving students access to quality education regardless of their location is crucial to ensure the children achieve the necessary level of education, motivate them to continue higher education, and have a brighter future.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Wadi Araba is a remote region lacking qualified and experienced teachers for students in general and high school students in particular. The level of teaching in public schools is negatively reflected, forcing students to travel daily to the big city to attend additional classes that help them improve their educational level and obtain the high school diploma.
Giving students access to quality education regardless of their location is crucial to ensure the children achieve the necessary level of education, motivate them to continue higher education, and have a brighter future.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Building digital education platforms & e-learning resources based on Jordan's national education system & learning standards allow students to access quality education
- Student evaluation and support through digital means are also greatly appreciated
MISCELLANEOUS CHALLENGES
CHALLENGE 7 - ENERGY
About the Challenge:
Jordan is highly dependent on foreign energy and electricity sources due to the lack of traditional natural resources such as oil and gas. As such, the electricity bill for the refugees and the average citizen can be unaffordable.
Electricity shortage becomes a common issue in the refugee camps. It is critical to find alternative and sustainable energy sources that can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. Reliable and affordable energy and electricity are the key to a quality life for refugees and enable them to operate businesses.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Jordan is highly dependent on foreign energy and electricity sources due to the lack of traditional natural resources such as oil and gas. As such, the electricity bill for the refugees and the average citizen can be unaffordable.
Electricity shortage becomes a common issue in the refugee camps. It is critical to find alternative and sustainable energy sources that can improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. Reliable and affordable energy and electricity are the key to a quality life for refugees and enable them to operate businesses.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Methods to reduce the costs of electricity and energy or improve its efficiency
- Off-the-grid renewable energy
CHALLENGE 8 - WASTE MANAGEMENT
About the Challenge:
Accumulation and improper disposal of domestic solid waste are real challenges in refugee camps and urban and rural areas. The accumulated waste affects the environment and poses significant risks to public health, animals, and crops.
Currently, waste is mainly collected by municipalities or non-governmental organizations in refugee camps to poorly engineered landfills or burned, negatively impacting the environment and valuable groundwater.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Accumulation and improper disposal of domestic solid waste are real challenges in refugee camps and urban and rural areas. The accumulated waste affects the environment and poses significant risks to public health, animals, and crops.
Currently, waste is mainly collected by municipalities or non-governmental organizations in refugee camps to poorly engineered landfills or burned, negatively impacting the environment and valuable groundwater.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Cost-effective methods to collect & recycle waste
- Sorting plastics, metals, and papers for reuse
- Collecting organic waste to turn into fertilizer for agriculture
- Turn waste into energy
CHALLENGE 9 - DESALINATE THE WATER
About the Challenge:
Jordan is one of the top 10 water-scarce countries in the world. Hosting more than 1.3 million refugees is putting tremendous pressure on the country's already scarce water resources, making it difficult for Jordan to provide sufficient water for the refugees.
Groundwater is one key source of water in the region; however, it's highly salinated, impacting refugees' and residents' health. Agriculture also requires water.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
Jordan is one of the top 10 water-scarce countries in the world. Hosting more than 1.3 million refugees is putting tremendous pressure on the country's already scarce water resources, making it difficult for Jordan to provide sufficient water for the refugees.
Groundwater is one key source of water in the region; however, it's highly salinated, impacting refugees' and residents' health. Agriculture also requires water.
Appreciated Solution Domains:
- Affordable, environmentally friendly, low-resource desalination solutions
- Real-time monitoring and analytics of drinking water networks support the water infrastructure to prepare for flash floods and the rainy season
- Other water sources and solutions are also welcomed.
Challenges by UNFPA
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CHALLENGE 10 - EMPOWERING ADOLESCENT GIRLS AGAINST GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
About the challenge:
Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan is the world's largest camp for Syrian refugees, located 10 kilometers east of Mafraq. The camp is situated near Jordan's northern border with Syria and home to 77 258 Syrian refugees (July 2020). Zaatari camp youth comprises almost 20% of the whole camp population.
By May 2020, more than 9700 adolescent girls between the age of 10 to 19 are registered in the camp. There are various programs and services for adolescent girls run by the 45 organizations and agencies in the camp. However, an area of improvement is the "Out of the box" thinking to tackle social issues such as Child Marriage and Sexual Harassment.
In Zaatari refugee Camp, child marriages (both under 15-years-old and under 18-years-old) are a particularly escalated challenge as the rates remain the highest in Jordan. 57% of registered marriages in Shariah Court in Zaatari were child marriages, according to sharia court reports, between June 2019 to July 2020 (one year lapse).
Reducing child marriage incidence and improving opportunities for young girls are necessary to ensure better outcomes for young women. According to (UNICEF's study on the Underlying Social Norms and Economic Causes)[https://www.unicef.org/jordan/media/1796/file/Jordan-Reports.pdf] that lead to child marriage in Jordan; the five fundamental causes of child marriage are:
(1) Custom and Tradition
(2) Poverty
(3) Broken Homes / Family Disintegration
(4) Lack of Knowledge, and
(5) Sutra (defined in multiple ways including financial stability and security, but was more often used to describe the protection of girls' reputations).
Moreover, all sectors must be involved to address causes of child marriage, including child protection, youth, social development, justice, health education, planning, etc., which are now scattered across the organizations in the camp. UNFPA and other partners have done extensive work in raising awareness of the child marriage problem since day one.
However, the results show that more tangible and innovative solutions are needed to tackle child marriage's root causes and bring out actual behavioral changes. We're now looking for answers to reduce child marriage in the camp by empowering adolescent girls to a better future.
Solution domains:
The solutions should focus on changing actual behaviors and engage actively with adolescent girls. The reason is that raising-awareness solutions have not been proven effective. Studies have shown that engaging girls and empowering them to act on their initiative drive behavioral changes.
The solutions can be technical, innovative, leveraging existing technologies, or an innovative model to empower the girls and support them in driving the changes.
The companies chosen by UNFPA can pilot their solutions in the upcoming Adolescent Girls center and/or established youth centers and women and girls safe spaces in the camps that focus on supporting activities and solutions initiated by the girls. Thus, keep in mind how you'd like to take advantage of this opportunity!
Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan is the world's largest camp for Syrian refugees, located 10 kilometers east of Mafraq. The camp is situated near Jordan's northern border with Syria and home to 77 258 Syrian refugees (July 2020). Zaatari camp youth comprises almost 20% of the whole camp population.
By May 2020, more than 9700 adolescent girls between the age of 10 to 19 are registered in the camp. There are various programs and services for adolescent girls run by the 45 organizations and agencies in the camp. However, an area of improvement is the "Out of the box" thinking to tackle social issues such as Child Marriage and Sexual Harassment.
In Zaatari refugee Camp, child marriages (both under 15-years-old and under 18-years-old) are a particularly escalated challenge as the rates remain the highest in Jordan. 57% of registered marriages in Shariah Court in Zaatari were child marriages, according to sharia court reports, between June 2019 to July 2020 (one year lapse).
Reducing child marriage incidence and improving opportunities for young girls are necessary to ensure better outcomes for young women. According to (UNICEF's study on the Underlying Social Norms and Economic Causes)[https://www.unicef.org/jordan/media/1796/file/Jordan-Reports.pdf] that lead to child marriage in Jordan; the five fundamental causes of child marriage are:
(1) Custom and Tradition
(2) Poverty
(3) Broken Homes / Family Disintegration
(4) Lack of Knowledge, and
(5) Sutra (defined in multiple ways including financial stability and security, but was more often used to describe the protection of girls' reputations).
Moreover, all sectors must be involved to address causes of child marriage, including child protection, youth, social development, justice, health education, planning, etc., which are now scattered across the organizations in the camp. UNFPA and other partners have done extensive work in raising awareness of the child marriage problem since day one.
However, the results show that more tangible and innovative solutions are needed to tackle child marriage's root causes and bring out actual behavioral changes. We're now looking for answers to reduce child marriage in the camp by empowering adolescent girls to a better future.
Solution domains:
- Solutions that encourage girls to continue higher-level education and families support girls' pursuit of education and future opportunities
- Solutions that create financially beneficial alternatives for girls and their families to support themselves
- Participatory and engagement solutions for adolescent girls in the camp
- Solutions to coordinate the services across the 45 organizations and agencies in the camp. Currently, there are various services for adolescent girls run by the organizations, which would be more efficient and effective if they are more coordinated across organizations and made more easily accessible for the girls
- Other innovative solutions to reduce child marriages and tackle the root causes of child marriage.
The solutions should focus on changing actual behaviors and engage actively with adolescent girls. The reason is that raising-awareness solutions have not been proven effective. Studies have shown that engaging girls and empowering them to act on their initiative drive behavioral changes.
The solutions can be technical, innovative, leveraging existing technologies, or an innovative model to empower the girls and support them in driving the changes.
The companies chosen by UNFPA can pilot their solutions in the upcoming Adolescent Girls center and/or established youth centers and women and girls safe spaces in the camps that focus on supporting activities and solutions initiated by the girls. Thus, keep in mind how you'd like to take advantage of this opportunity!
Challenges by UNDP
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CHALLENGE 11 - DIGITAL SKILL TRAINING
Amman, the capital city of Jordan, is one of the biggest hosts for refugees. UNDP Jordan runs the Heart of Amman program, which aims to revitalize downtown Amman by enabling sustainable livelihoods to the underprivileged communities.
A key area of focus of the Heart of Amman program is promoting and supporting social entrepreneurship, especially providing digital skill training for the refugee entrepreneurs and updating their technical knowledge to the highly demanded skills of the 21st century.
CHALLENGES:
UNDP, along with other agencies in the area, has provided basic level digital literacy training for the refugees to bridge the digital divide. However, digital literacy might not be enough.
There is much more job demand for higher-level specific digital skills such as programming, graphic design, UI/UX design, web development, business management, and entrepreneurship. Thus, to achieve UNDP's goal of enabling sustainable livelihoods for the vulnerable, specific high-level digital skills training are also of utmost importance.
UNDP has been a leader in creating skill-specific study materials for refugees; however, there are still some improvement areas.
Firstly, there is a lack of standardization of the materials and compiling them into stratified study tracks suitable for an individual's knowledge level. Without such standardization, it is also challenging to assess and provide certification for the refugee, which is essential during a job search.
Secondly, the vast amount of skill-specific materials available on the Internet are often in English only, incomprehensible by the refugees who mostly speak only Arabic, or might not be relevant to the Jordanian context. Materials are also not yet made accessible for the disabled.
Thirdly, with a shortage of quality teachers and that the materials are primarily for self-study, there is a substantial need for peer-to-peer support for the refugees and the disadvantaged to share knowledge, raise questions, mentoring and eventually matchmake the skilled refugee graduates with potential employers and clients.
Additionally, due to legal barriers to employment and establishing new businesses, most refugees find their jobs as freelancers in the gig economy or sole proprietors; a few launch their startups with various agencies' support. As such, they often need vocational and entrepreneurship training to manage their gigs and small businesses.
SOLUTION DOMAINS:
We appreciate solutions that can support digital skill training for the refugees and enable them to access the digital economy and obtain sustainable livelihoods. The keys can address the challenges listed above.
The solutions should preferably be behaviorally incentivizing for the refugee to use and work in low-resource settings such as low internet connectivity or low budget.
A key area of focus of the Heart of Amman program is promoting and supporting social entrepreneurship, especially providing digital skill training for the refugee entrepreneurs and updating their technical knowledge to the highly demanded skills of the 21st century.
CHALLENGES:
UNDP, along with other agencies in the area, has provided basic level digital literacy training for the refugees to bridge the digital divide. However, digital literacy might not be enough.
There is much more job demand for higher-level specific digital skills such as programming, graphic design, UI/UX design, web development, business management, and entrepreneurship. Thus, to achieve UNDP's goal of enabling sustainable livelihoods for the vulnerable, specific high-level digital skills training are also of utmost importance.
UNDP has been a leader in creating skill-specific study materials for refugees; however, there are still some improvement areas.
Firstly, there is a lack of standardization of the materials and compiling them into stratified study tracks suitable for an individual's knowledge level. Without such standardization, it is also challenging to assess and provide certification for the refugee, which is essential during a job search.
Secondly, the vast amount of skill-specific materials available on the Internet are often in English only, incomprehensible by the refugees who mostly speak only Arabic, or might not be relevant to the Jordanian context. Materials are also not yet made accessible for the disabled.
Thirdly, with a shortage of quality teachers and that the materials are primarily for self-study, there is a substantial need for peer-to-peer support for the refugees and the disadvantaged to share knowledge, raise questions, mentoring and eventually matchmake the skilled refugee graduates with potential employers and clients.
Additionally, due to legal barriers to employment and establishing new businesses, most refugees find their jobs as freelancers in the gig economy or sole proprietors; a few launch their startups with various agencies' support. As such, they often need vocational and entrepreneurship training to manage their gigs and small businesses.
SOLUTION DOMAINS:
We appreciate solutions that can support digital skill training for the refugees and enable them to access the digital economy and obtain sustainable livelihoods. The keys can address the challenges listed above.
- Solutions to standardize the existing materials and/or build upon them to create study tracks of different skill levels (from basic to advanced). The study tracks allow the refugees to be assessed and certified by a recognizable organization. Solutions can also analyze the job market trends and recommend study tracks for highly demanded skills
- Solutions to quickly and at a large scale translate relevant existing materials to Arabic and provide more practical Jordan context to be accessible by the refugees. Solutions to make the materials more accessible for the disabled
- Peer-to-peer support platforms enable refugee students to share knowledge and support each other in their learning journey. The platform can also provide mentoring features and build a sense of community. More importantly, the platform can also matchmake the certified refugee students to potential jobs and clients and/or provide access to the digital gig economy both locally and globally
- Any other innovative solutions
The solutions should preferably be behaviorally incentivizing for the refugee to use and work in low-resource settings such as low internet connectivity or low budget.
CHALLENGE 12 - WOMEN MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING DURING AND POST COVID-19
CHALLENGES:
According to the joint study by UNHCR and International Labor Organization (2020), COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on women, who have experienced increased stress and even incidents of gender-based and domestic violence during the pandemic lockdown.
Worries about getting infected or losing livelihoods are every day. Around 45% of refugee women reported that they cannot meet their family’s basic needs during the curfew. Also, women and girls are far less likely to gain access to material assistance in a crisis, leaving them dependent on family, partners, or aid agencies and exposed to risks of exploitation or denial of resources.
Women in particular experience higher stress levels under lockdown as the permanent presence of all household members can trigger excessive housework demands, leading to psychological risk and exhaustion.
The situation is indeed exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it does not contain within this time. Supporting gender equality and women’s mental health should extend beyond just crisis response.
SOLUTION DOMAINS:
We appreciate solutions that can promote mental health and well-being for women and provide knowledge and practical tools to cope with stress and/or violence during and post-COVID-19.
The solutions should ensure confidentiality and safety for all users.
According to the joint study by UNHCR and International Labor Organization (2020), COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on women, who have experienced increased stress and even incidents of gender-based and domestic violence during the pandemic lockdown.
Worries about getting infected or losing livelihoods are every day. Around 45% of refugee women reported that they cannot meet their family’s basic needs during the curfew. Also, women and girls are far less likely to gain access to material assistance in a crisis, leaving them dependent on family, partners, or aid agencies and exposed to risks of exploitation or denial of resources.
Women in particular experience higher stress levels under lockdown as the permanent presence of all household members can trigger excessive housework demands, leading to psychological risk and exhaustion.
The situation is indeed exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but it does not contain within this time. Supporting gender equality and women’s mental health should extend beyond just crisis response.
SOLUTION DOMAINS:
We appreciate solutions that can promote mental health and well-being for women and provide knowledge and practical tools to cope with stress and/or violence during and post-COVID-19.
- Virtual psychological and social support for women experiencing stress or violence. The solutions should be (semi)automated and personalized to each woman’s experience. The answers would most preferably work in low resource settings on mobile phones so that every woman can access it wherever or whenever they are. Data analytics functions are also appreciated to identify trends and helpful resources
- Platforms or solutions enable peer-to-peer support and act as a safe space for the women to assist each other through the difficulties
- UNDP and many other international agencies also provide plenty of helpful resources, which can be made more easily accessible for refugee women through chatbot services or others
The solutions should ensure confidentiality and safety for all users.
Challenges by International Rescue Committee (IRC)
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CHALLENGE 13 - IMPROVE FEEDBACK, ACCOUNTABILITY AND RESPONSE MECHANISM FOR HEALTH, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
The IRC has a "People" centered strategy and a high focus on "Inclusion." Our aim is to keep individuals of different marginalized groups engaged and properly reached and served.
One key strategy for the IRC is to systematically and deliberately integrate our clients' and partners' perspectives into shaping and improving services. Currently, IRC Jordan Country Program runs the Feedback, Accountability, and Response Mechanism (FARM) to gather and improve our services based on Clients' feedback.
The IRC Jordan Country Program is always aspiring to upgrade our accountability reporting channels across sectors such as livelihood, health, and protection interventions, especially during the COVID-19 emergency, where vulnerable and marginalized groups experience increased poverty and domestic violence.
The system currently operates through an 8-17 hotline for clients to send in feedback, after which the IRC team will reach out again to share some information resources.
Solution domains
Through the Jordan Innovation Program, we are hoping to find solutions that can:
The solutions should preferably allow for anonymous reporting and be compatible with IRC's existing resources, systems, and confidentiality requirements.
IRC can provide experts, accountability specialists, datasets, and sector technical know-how to support the teams in creating suitable solutions.
One key strategy for the IRC is to systematically and deliberately integrate our clients' and partners' perspectives into shaping and improving services. Currently, IRC Jordan Country Program runs the Feedback, Accountability, and Response Mechanism (FARM) to gather and improve our services based on Clients' feedback.
The IRC Jordan Country Program is always aspiring to upgrade our accountability reporting channels across sectors such as livelihood, health, and protection interventions, especially during the COVID-19 emergency, where vulnerable and marginalized groups experience increased poverty and domestic violence.
The system currently operates through an 8-17 hotline for clients to send in feedback, after which the IRC team will reach out again to share some information resources.
Solution domains
Through the Jordan Innovation Program, we are hoping to find solutions that can:
- Automate the FARM process to adapt for the broader base of clients using IRC services across different parts of the country without increasing the restraints on human and financial resources
- Extend the FARM service to 24/7 that receives clients' feedback anytime anywhere and reduce the waiting response time
- Facilitate Clients' access to the Accountability reporting channels beyond just phone calls. The channels can be more accessible for clients through different channels
- Analyze the feedback and provide actionable insights for the IRC team to improve our services
The solutions should preferably allow for anonymous reporting and be compatible with IRC's existing resources, systems, and confidentiality requirements.
IRC can provide experts, accountability specialists, datasets, and sector technical know-how to support the teams in creating suitable solutions.