Canada Lends $120 Million to Jordan's Education Sector
Following his first trip to Jordan as Canada's minister of international development, Harjit S. Sajjan has offered a concessional loan of up to $120 million to help Jordan improve the quality of public education for its residents and refugees.
The loan offer builds on Canada's long-term support for education projects in Jordan that help girls, refugees, and other vulnerable groups.
The minister also said that the country would get $25 million for development programmes. These programmes will support innovative financing, make it easier for women to get jobs, make sure that children and refugees have access to high-quality education, improve solid waste management, and help small and medium-sized businesses in Jordan grow in a way that benefits everyone.
“Jordan continues to be a leader in inclusive support for the millions of refugees that they are hosting through providing access to education and health care. By working in partnership with Jordan and our partners, we are focused on strengthening opportunities, equality and inclusion for refugees and Jordanians. We will continue to work together to build a better future for all,” said Sajjan.
Global Affairs Canada said minister Sajjan talked with partners about education, equality between men and women, human rights, the ongoing refugee crisis, and Canada's support for humanitarian and development work across the country.
He met with Crown Prince Hussein Bin Abdullah II, Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh, Minister of Education Wajih Owais, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi.
Sajjan met with people from the Queen Rania Teacher Academy to learn about the Teacher Professional Development project that is being paid for by Canada.
He also met with women in charge of civil society to improve women's rights, equality, and empowerment in the country. He emphasised that women's rights are human rights.
The minister also went to a solar power installation in the Deir Alla region. a project that is funded by Canada through Cowater International.
According to the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Jordan received $1.54 billion in foreign aid from the beginning of this year to the end of July.
This includes $187.5 million in grants and $1,100 million in soft loans to help various economic and infrastructure development projects.
The total amount of aid provided to Jordan in response to the Syrian crisis was $252.5 million.
According to the Jordanian news agency Petra, the social protection sector accounted for 45.7% of foreign aid, followed by the economic development sector (32.7 per cent). The employment sector scored third with 8.7 per cent, while the infrastructure sector received 7.6 per cent.
Source: Arabian Business
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