World Vision's Kufranja Dam Protection project... Improving quality of life in the midst of a global pandemic

Since October 2019, World Vision has been implementing a maintenance and protection project for the Kufranja Dam, located in Ajloun city, northern Jordan. The project, which is implemented by “Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH” (GIZ), is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany (BMZ). It aims at reducing the effect of landslides within the dam facility by implementing landslides prevention techniques through provision of cash-for-work opportunities to 1,200 vulnerable Syrian refugees and Jordanian host community members. Such interventions come at a very needed time since unemployment rates in Jordan reached 19 per cent in the first quarter of 2019 and since significant gaps in sustainable livelihood opportunities, employment and inclusive economic growth were reported.

At a time when a global pandemic has made it even more difficult for families to cope with its effects, especially those with children who have been hit hard psychologically, livelihood projects like this one seem to be the only hope for them to stand on their own two feet and not fall into deeper vulnerabilities.