Project supporting refugees and host communities in Jordan moves forward

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disease in Jordan, accounting for 78% of all deaths, according to the Jordan National Stepwise Survey (STEPs) for NCD Risk Factors 2019.

 

Jordan’s government and civil society are working together to decrease this huge NCD burden, with WDF’s support. Since 2007, WDF has supported 11 projects in Jordan with nearly USD 8.5 million in funding. Jordan has been of particular focus for WDF for several reasons. The country is grappling with a combined NCD-humanitarian burden, due to an expanding refugee population (currently 30% of Jordan’s population, with the vast majority of refugees originating from Syria) putting additional pressure on an already challenged health care system. Jordan’s government and civil society are committed to improving the situation, and many international agencies working in the country are providing assistance, creating the potential for a multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder response to this dual challenge. In 2020, the Ministry and its close partner the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS), together with WDF launched an ambitious, multi-year  project: The Integrated NCD-Humanitarian Response. The project is working to reduce the burden of NCDs among Syrian refugees in Jordan and Jordanian host communities through a health system focus on NCDs (with emphasis on diabetes and hypertension) - especially at the primary care level. 

 

WDF is responsible for grant monitoring and oversight at country-level, as well as funding. The Novo Nordisk Foundation provided an additional, sizeable grant to WDF in support of the project.

The project focuses on three main tracks: health centres, communities (in particular schools and youth volunteers), and advocacy and policy, backed up by an implementation research component.

It’s WDF’s largest project to date, with the potential to strengthen NCD care and prevention in the country and provide a platform for cross-country knowledge sharing. 

In October, a delegation from WDF visited Jordan to see its progress.