AMMAN — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the government of Japan on Wednesday marked the conclusion of the “Mitigating Juvenile Crime Incidents in Aqaba and Wadi Rum — Advancing the Roles, Participation and Protection of Women, Youth and Vulnerable Groups” Project. 

 

The project supported five civil society organisations through the Community Security Grants Mechanism to create opportunities for young people through creative and cultural industries, according to a UNDP statement.

 

Working across Aqaba and Wadi Rum, the mechanism supported more than 1,600 young women and men through 27 community-led initiatives and 90 additional activities, including training and capacity building, the creation of safe spaces, dialogue and awareness-raising sessions, and awareness messaging.

 

The activities focused on three areas: community and cultural empowerment; tourism, environment and green economy; and digital resilience and creative innovation.

 

The activities used culture, creativity and local knowledge to help young people develop skills, explore economic opportunities and play a more active role in their communities, while strengthening dialogue and stakeholder capacities to help prevent juvenile crime.

 

The programme was informed by research conducted with 587 young people in Aqaba and Wadi Rum on their priorities, experiences and perceptions of community security. The findings helped shape the programme’s capacity-building activities and grant themes, allowing participating organisations to translate locally identified priorities into practical initiatives.

 

The results and lessons were presented at the Second Creative Pathways Forum in Aqaba, which brought together young people, community organisations, government institutions and other local partners.

 

The project also supported the refurbishment of a temporary centre for the Community Peace Centre (CPC) in Aqaba, strengthening its capacity to engage with young people and local communities.

 

CPC also supported the project’s awareness campaign through workshops, community partnerships, and media and podcast training focused on crime prevention and social issues affecting young people, resulting in three podcast episodes.

 

“We hope that this project, which complements national efforts, including Economic Modernization Vision, Aqaba Social Master Plan as well as Aqaba Vision 2040, has contributed to strengthening inclusive, community-based resilience and social stability in Aqaba and beyond,” said Keiko Matsuzaki, Head of Economic and Development Cooperation at the embassy of Japan.

 

“Creative and cultural industries can open practical pathways for young people to build skills, pursue economic opportunities and participate in shaping the future of their communities,” said Baker Hiyari, Head of Governance and Peacebuilding at UNDP Jordan.

 

“By investing in local organisations and ideas rooted in Aqaba and Wadi Rum, we are creating opportunities for young women and men while showing how community-led solutions can contribute to more inclusive and sustainable local development,” he added.

 

Funded by the government of Japan and implemented by UNDP in cooperation with local and national partners, the programme brought together community action, research and institutional collaboration to respond to priorities identified by young people.