National or International Drivers: What Motivates Jordanian Youth?

Youth make up over 70 per cent of the Jordanian population. For many university graduates, entering the job market is a struggle due to the high unemployment rate, the lack of opportunities that match their skills, and a tendency of employers to value connections over merit. Securing a job with an international NGO then seems appealing to many young Jordanians, yet does this serve Jordanian interests?

Jordan’s economic crisis, in combination with hosting around a registered population of 657,000 Syrian refugees, has put the country’s labour market and natural resources under pressure. As a response, the international community has offered unprecedented social, technical and financial support. The EU and member states, for example, have collectively mobilised over €6.1 billion in humanitarian and development assistance to support Jordan in dealing with the refugee crisis.

The wide range of foreign-funded job opportunities linked to this assistance, comes with appealing incentives, such as building a network that might open doors to future opportunities. This has lead Jordanian youth to focus on finding jobs with international agencies rather than exhausting national options.

How Is International Funding Leading the Way for Jordanian Youth?

Higher education in Jordan is considered an expensive life necessity. After years of investment, parents want to see their son’s or daughter’s future secured. Unlike many governmental and public institutions, international agencies often come with attractive job offers and satisfying salaries. The financial incentive is usually complemented with the opportunity for skills development, and to utilise innovative techniques and up-to-date tools such as social media.

International agencies are also more likely to provide an empowering working environment that values the youth’s energy and optimism.

Our research suggests that many Jordanian projects are suffering from relatively low levels of youth participation, operating in an environment embedded with cultural and traditional ideas that do not value a youth perspective. In such contexts, Jordanian youth are seen as lacking insight, and their input is disregarded, regardless of its merit. 

Every Coin Has Two Sides

On the other hand, foreign donors come with formulated and ready made agendas for project implementation, often based on assumptions derived from Western settings. This pushes Jordanian youth in a predetermined direction, rather than getting them to engage in strategic long-term planning. This can encourage a complacent attitude as opposed to proactively constructing their own vision for the country.

Casting blame on any individual stakeholder is not constructive. However, we must acknowledge that a country overflowing with young and fresh minds should value their efforts and allow them to flourish. Only in doing so, can Jordan become a nationally-driven country, which is key in creating a better future for all.

Institutions should work together to further engage youth in decision-making by involving them when drafting a new project or strategy. Building a partnership between youth and local organisations is a first step towards ensuring the integration of fresh minds.

Youth’s insights are indispensable in designing future strategies that incorporate upcoming technologies and breakthrough knowledge. Jordan’s leadership should take pride in the potential of its youth and develop a vision that rightfully showcases Jordan as a young, sustainable and resilient country.