The ILO finalizes the development of the National Strategy for Career Counselling and Career Guidance

© ILO/ April 2024/ Amman, Jordan

Amman, (ILO News) The International Labour Organization (ILO), under the project “Formalizing Access to the Legal Labour Market for Refugees and Host Communities in Jordan,” supported by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, finalized the development of the National Strategy for Career Counselling and Career Guidance in partnership with the Technical and Vocational Skills Development Commission (TVSDC). The National Strategy is a crucial component of the Jordanian economic modernization vision, which responds to increasing challenges faced by education, training systems, and the labour market due to global developments and labour changes. Additionally, it addresses the imperative to support professional and career development, enabling individuals to manage their educational, training, and vocational paths. Notably, the unemployment rate in the Kingdom reached 21.4% in the last quarter of 2023.

The strategy was developed in collaboration with various local stakeholders, including government entities, local and international civil society organizations, and the Technical Committee for Vocational Guidance. Its formulation entailed a comprehensive review of past strategies, targeted discussions with major partners in career guidance services, and individual interviews with relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, there were specialized workshops supported by the ILO and the German Development Cooperation Agency (GIZ), with representatives from 37 governmental and non-governmental organizations, institutes, and delegates from the private sector in Jordan. During these workshops, participants reviewed the strategy’s main and subsidiary objectives, and the executive plan, and provided feedback and suggestions in different group settings.

The National Strategy for Career Counselling and Career Guidance includes a detailed action plan, which distributes the main and subsidiary strategic objectives across four proposed work phases. The first phase involves immediate action on strategic objectives right after the launch of the National Strategy. The second phase focuses on goals that are preferable to work on after achieving some initial milestones and assessing their impact on target groups. Next comes the preparation stage, which involves providing necessary resources, both material and human. Finally, there’s the sustainability stage, which entails ongoing monitoring of activities, initiatives, and projects to ensure the sustained achievement of strategic goals.