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Jordan is the world’s second host country of refugees per capita in the world, according to the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR. The Syrian crisis has led to the displacement of millions, including over 600,000 refugees who are in Jordan. More than 70% Syrian refugees live in host communities while the remaining are in refugee camps. The massive increase in population has led to an over-stretching of the absorptive capacity of Jordanian communities, competition over employment and depressed wages. Jordan has an unemployment rate of 23% (Government of Jordan, 2021).

The impact of the crisis is particularly harsh in Mafraq and Irbid Governorates in the north of the country. This region is home to several archaeological sites of great interest which are not yet developed for tourism. The Syria crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic have affected travel and tourism, whose contribution to the GDP decreased from 16.3% in 2019 to 4.7% in 2020 (WTTC 2021).

With funding from the EU, UNESCO and International Labur Organization (ILO) are working with Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Department of Antiquities and the Ministry of Labour to:

• provide decent employment opportunities to 1,439 Syrians and Jordanians through the application of Employment Intensive schemes,
• provide vocational training to workers on basic site conservation and maintenance,
• rehabilitate 6 heritage sites in the northern districts of Irbid (Umm Qais, Pella, Beit Eidis) and Mafraq (Rihab, Al Fudayn, Um es-Surab),
• promote rehabilitated sites for tourism,
• set the basis for the development of Public-Private Partnerships in the cultural heritage sector in Jordan.

The EU-funded interventions aim to address unemployment and boost tourism in northern Jordan.