Jordan has undertaken key policy and procedural steps toward child protection since the 1990s. However, the turbulent regional context has strained Jordan’s capacities due to the huge influx of refugee children, currently estimated at 337,279 (14,489 Iraqis, 317,423 Syrians, and 5,367 other nationalities). The declining socio-economic conditions in the country also impact protection services for Jordanian children. Governmental and NGO stakeholders collaborate to address these needs.
The Riadati/رياض Programme, funded by the Olympic Refuge Foundation and implemented by Generations For Peace since 2022, exemplifies these efforts. It aims to improve the psychosocial well-being of 15,000 vulnerable refugee and Jordanian children through sports activities conducted at UNICEF’s Makani Centres and summer camps in public schools.
The analysis draws on Riadati activities, three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with 16 stakeholders (7 males, 9 females) from education, health, and sports sectors, including national policymakers, UN agencies, and NGO practitioners. Two group interviews were conducted with five officials from the Jordan School Sport Federation and the Ministry of Education (MoE) in February-March 2024.
This policy brief advocates for investing in Sport for Protection programmes through formal and non-formal education. It recommends developing a unified policy framework aligning national protection systems with international commitments, including clear guiding notes and procedural plans. Without such investment, the potential of Sport for Protection to improve the psychosocial well-being of children in host and refugee communities will remain unfulfilled.
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