World Refugee Day is observed annually on June 20, serving as a reminder of the universal right to protection for all individuals, regardless of their origin or circumstances. The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that in 2025, there are 122 million people displaced globally.
The UNHCR has expressed concern over the impact of significant budget cuts by donors, which jeopardize essential support for millions of vulnerable individuals. Children are particularly at risk, with more than 17.4 million refugee children facing potential violence, abuse, human trafficking, or family separation. They also face threats such as early marriage and recruitment by armed groups.
In Jordan, the UNHCR has registered 600,809 refugees as of April 2025, with 90% originating from Syria and approximately half being children. Since the onset of the Syrian conflict in 2011, KfW Development Bank has supported UNICEF programs funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). These initiatives provide education and psychological care for children and young people in safe environments.
KfW Development Bank has been active in Jordan for six decades, focusing on water and energy sectors and educational development. The influx of Syrian refugees has increased challenges in education, prompting collaboration between Jordan's Ministry of Education and international partners like UNICEF and UNOPS.
The 'Syrian Refugee Support to the Education Sector' program aims to enhance education access and social protection for Syrian refugees while creating job opportunities. Approximately 1,000 refugees per school year have found temporary employment in schools and youth centers as assistant teachers and administrative staff.
In 2024, KfW's independent evaluation unit assessed phase II of this program as 'successful,' despite limited sustainability due to ongoing crises and constrained capacities within Jordan's Ministry of Education.
Makani Centres in Jordanian refugee camps offer safe spaces for learning and skill development. In 2021, UNICEF operated 140 Makani centres across Jordan. These centers improve children's language skills, reduce school violence, promote social integration between Jordanian and Syrian pupils, and decrease dropout rates.
Volunteers involved in Makani programmes receive training that enhances their professional skills. Women have notably benefited from this initiative; although only 7% of female Syrian refugees were employed elsewhere, this project achieved a 60% female participation rate. Due to restrictions on foreign professionals in Jordan's education sector, Syrian teachers work voluntarily but receive incentive payments through NGOs or personnel management companies rather than direct employment by UNICEF.
This project is part of a broader financial cooperation portfolio supporting refugee care in Jordan through cash-for-work measures; maintenance of multi-shift schools; financing salaries for educators; and providing water and energy supplies in camps like Za'atari and Azraq.