Jordan turns existing skills into qualifications
Rank 25 | Skills and learning | Jordan | SDGs 4, 8, 10
Source publication: 2 October 2026. Clock time not stated by publisher. Evidence status: Institutional pilot completed; 1000 was its target.
AI-generated representative illustration | scratchboard illustration with warm amber highlights. Credit: Development Connects | Kallol Saha.
Jordan and the International Labour Organization marked completion of a two-year pilot to recognize skills acquired through work and informal learning, the ILO reported on 2 October. The initiative targeted 1,000 Jordanians and Syrian refugees. A target for pilot participation should not be treated as a verified count of qualifications issued or jobs obtained.
The system is designed to assess existing competencies against occupational standards and turn them into formal credentials. The pilot, supported by the Netherlands under the PROSPECTS partnership, involved Jordan's accreditation authority, the Jordan River Foundation and other national partners. It developed assessment and guidance tools and trained practitioners. Formal recognition can help people who already have practical skills seek jobs or further training without repeating a full course.
Case detail
National institutions have distinct delivery roles. The Accreditation and Quality Assurance Commission supported assessment tools, practitioner capacity and integration into the national qualifications framework. The Jordan River Foundation helped connect people with services at community level. The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship supported digital access by hosting the portal within national infrastructure.
Together, these arrangements are intended to make recognition sustainable beyond the pilot. The model assesses competencies against occupational standards, rather than assuming that years of experience alone establish a qualification. For refugees, documented skills may also support future livelihood rebuilding if they choose to return. The release reports completion of an institutional pilot but does not give an independently verifiable total of certificates issued or subsequent job placements.
Evidence and delivery status
Completion of the two-year initiative is the achieved milestone. The 1,000-person figure was the pilot's participation target. Recognition, certification and employment are distinct stages, and the release does not provide a verified count showing that every targeted participant completed all three.
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