• ESPP Background

• Structure

• Duties and Objectives

• ESPP Expected Results

ESPP Background

In 1998, the Government of Jordan launched the Social Productivity Program (SPP) to address the problems of poverty and unemployment. There were many overarching goals of the program. First, it was intended to make an immediate and visible impact on the living conditions of the poor, towards the goal of providing universal access to good public infrastructure and services.  Second, it was intended to make an immediate impact on the incomes of the poor, towards the goal of lifting all Jordanian households above the poverty line. Third, it was intended to assist the poor in obtaining productive employment, towards the goal of creating sustainable incomes for all those who are able. The main beneficiaries of the SPP were the poor living below the absolute poverty line and the unemployed, and more specifically, members of the under-privileged and less advantaged groups particularly exposed to poverty.

The Enhanced Productivity Program (EPP) was created by Cabinet decree on 3 January 2002, adopting a comprehensive developmental approach to improve the standard of living for all Jordanians, especially rural and disadvantaged individuals, by creating and increasing access to opportunities for productivity gains in each of the governorates. The decision to launch EPP developed from consultations between the public, private, and non-governmental sectors, and the consensus that was reached on national socio-economic priorities during the Second National Economic Forum in March 2001 (Dead Sea). The EPP is a government-funded development project for Jordan. Unlike previous government initiatives, the EPP focuses on an integrated approach to rural development where one EPP project leads directly to, and supports another. The end result will be individuals and communities generating income and employment in their towns and villages, with the government playing the role of enabler and supporter.

ESPP Structure

Main Components of the Economic & Social Productivity Programs Unit (ESPP)

Housing and Infrastructure

Improve the status and living conditions of less fortunate communities, by transferring resources, implementing productive projects and providing infrastructural services and shelter.

QUDORAT

Follow-up and develop working labor to increase the quality of the capabilities of institutions and NGOs to improve standards of living and to establish developmental projects within the targeted societies.

IRADA

Encourage the establishment of individual income generating projects through presenting free training sessions.

Small Grants and Direct Intervention

Establish productive and income generating projects from the social and economic perspective of targeted areas, to alleviate poverty and decrease unemployment in them, in addition cover direct needs of priority that serve developmental purposes.

Geographic Information Systems

Build a complete structure base in all areas of the Kingdom for Geographic Information Systems using needed programming so that decision makers take action based on the developmental needs in targeted areas.

Poverty Pockets

Identify Poverty Pocket areas and needs, conduct studies, design developmental projects, and follow-up in executing them in synchronization with NGOs.

Contracting Department 

Renew programs that reflect ESPP's objectives in addition to the preparation of technical documents and contracts.

ESPP Duties and Objectives

• Study and assess the needs of targeted areas and groups, and to design and execute developmental programs and projects through related institutions.

• Monitor and follow-up progress and expenditure for different programs and projects that are within the Economic and Social Productivity Program, and to prepare reports in cooperation with related parties.

• Support executing parties of all projects within ESPP.

• Regularly assess the programs' different achievements and components, and to present required suggestions for improvements.

• Provide technical, managerial, and financial coordination between participating and executing governmental and non-governmental   institutions in regard to all of the program's components and projects.

• Work on providing the required financing to execute different projects that fall under ESPP's umbrella in cooperation and collaboration with intended parties that relate to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation.

• Guarantee organization between internal and external financing and executive parties that relate to ESPP.

• Design and implement general awareness programs related to ESPP's components.

• Act as an executive secretary to the program's steering committee.

ESPP Expected Results:

ESPP aims to establish an effective and sustainable instrument to improve the status and conditions of disadvantaged communities and vulnerable groups. By transferring resources to deprived communities through the national, regional and community focused programs with the participation of NGOs, CBOs and local governments, ESPP endeavors to raise the living standard of targeted communities and improve access to basic social services and economic infrastructure.

All specific objectives are interrelated and demand an integrated approach if the program is to achieve maximum impact. Activities under each program and/or project will focus on mobilizing communities to identify their own development priorities; planning, designing and implementing solutions (activities and projects) in an inclusive and participatory manner. This process involves local leaders, business, social service and civil society organizations, women and youth representatives, and members of vulnerable groups such as the disabled. The community mobilization process, manifested through several ESPP programs, is the vehicle for all of ESPP's initiatives, including infrastructure, employment creation and environmental improvements. These will ensure a far reaching sustainable impact in the communities, and will, through participatory learning and action, enable them to take responsibility for their affairs, and to manage their well-being. Moreover, the mobilization and empowerment processes are as important as ESPP's other outputs – improved access to basic needs and services, developing basic infrastructure, availing capital, setting income-generating projects and enhancing environmental protection – in achieving the ESPP strategic goal of enabling communities to take direct responsibility for their social and basic infrastructure needs, by promoting community management and encouraging community development initiatives. This approach necessitates the establishment of democratic processes and structures at the local levels so that communities know how to and feel confident about engaging themselves in decision-making processes to continue improving their conditions.