AVSI welcomes the AICS delegation to Jordan

On April 25, 2025, AVSI in Jordan hosted a field visit from a high-level delegation of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), including the General Director of AICS, Marco Riccardo Rusconi, and the Head of the AICS Amman Office, Roxane Weber.

The visit took place in Gweirah, a town in southern Jordan on the outskirts of Wadi Rum desert, where the delegation toured a range of AVSI’s ongoing Protection and Livelihoods projects, co-funded by the Italian Development Cooperation.

During the visit, the AICS delegation had the opportunity to explore the BORO’OM Project and its innovative agricultural training sites. At the heart of the visit were two Smart-Climate-Controlled Greenhouses, developed under the previous JODHOUR project phase. These facilities, equipped with advanced Italian technology for temperature control during the hot summer days of the desert area, offer hands-on training for 60 young Jordanians and Syrian refugees in soilless farming methods. Managed in partnership with NET and local authorities, the greenhouses provide a promising model for sustainable agricultural employment.

Another key moment of the visit was a stop at Hamzah’s mosaic workshop in Qweirah, one of the 20 start-ups supported by ARCS Culture Solidali, our Consortium partner, through the BORO’OM initiative. As part of the project's entrepreneurship track, aspiring local entrepreneurs receive both basic and advanced business training, alongside in-kind grants and market support. These components aim to foster business resilience and income generation among youth and vulnerable groups in both the tourism and agriculture sectors across Aqaba and Mafraq governorates.

The delegation also observed activities under the STEP TOGETHER project, a comprehensive social protection initiative implemented by AVSI Foundation in partnership with Terre des Hommes Italia (TDH-Italy). Targeting over 10,000 Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians in Ma’an, Aqaba, Zarqa, and Mafraq governorates, the project focuses on reinforcing community-based child protection and psychosocial support systems.

In Gweirah’s municipal park, rehabilitated by AVSI with GIZ and AICS funds in 2019-2020, the AICS visitors attended a training session of Art for Resilience. Led by AVSI’s Child Protection expert, Cecilia Laker Pizzi, the session works with local caregivers to help them interpret children’s emotions through art—a method designed to nurture emotional expression and healing. These caregivers will later guide children through 20 weeks of creative workshops aimed at promoting psychosocial well-being, strengthen family bonds, and enhance resilience.

The visit also included a stop at the local Youth Centre, where trained youth coaches—mentored in previous program phases through a collaboration with the Italian Footballers Association (AIC)—lead sports activities for children. The sports sessions are part of remedial education programs and are designed not just for recreation, but also as platforms to instill life skills such as teamwork, leadership, and emotional resilience.

As part of the Step Together health initiatives, the delegation was introduced to the dignity kit distribution program. Carried out by TDH mobile health units in coordination with local public health centers in Mafraq, Zarqa, and Gweirah, this program ensures essential hygiene items reach the most vulnerable women and girls in rural and semi-emergency contexts. Each of the 700 kits distributed includes basic hygiene items such as reusable sanitary towels, soap, underwear, toothbrushes, and diapers. These kits aim to provide immediate relief and preserve personal dignity, while contributing to the long-term empowerment of women in underserved communities.

At the end of the visit, AICS representatives shared this message:

"Let us take the opportunity to send a big thank you to the entire AVSI Jordan team. We truly appreciate such collaborative and prepared humanitarian operators. Your passion and professionalism are evident and of big value. A heartfelt thank you for all the work you do and for the support you give us."

General Director Marco Riccardo Rusconi highlighted Italy’s continued commitment to Jordan as a priority partner in development cooperation. Italy currently supports a portfolio of €43.4 million in grants and €200.2 million in soft loans in the country, targeting a range of sectors including youth and women’s empowerment, vocational training, social protection, and cultural heritage preservation. Through collaborations with Italian civil society organizations, universities, and Jordanian community-based institutions, these efforts aim to improve living conditions for both host communities and Syrian refugees.

Reflecting on the visit, AVSI expressed gratitude for the partnership with AICS and other consortium members, emphasizing the shared goal of inclusive and sustainable development. By combining innovation with grassroots community engagement and local authorities’ participation and commitment, AVSI’s projects in Jordan continue to deliver impact where it’s most needed—on the ground, in the lives of families and individuals striving for a better future.