When One Door Closes, Another Opens: Syrian Entrepreneurs Creating New Economic Opportunities in Jordan
When One Door Closes, Another Opens: Syrian Entrepreneurs Creating New Economic Opportunities in Jordan The Alwis Brothers Co. was established in Syria in 1935 as a small family business that produced glucose. By 1994, their factory had become the largest producer of glucose and starch in the region, and the owners expanded with new factories…
Read MoreLight of Hope in the Middle of the Crisis: Solar Power to Light Up Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan
Light of Hope in the Middle of the Crisis: Solar Power to Light Up Syrian Refugee Camp in Jordan The Azraq camp for Syrian refugees will be the first refugee camp in the world to be powered by clean energy. Established in April 2014, the Azraq camp is home to more than 50,000 Syrian refugees…
Read MoreYouth Local Councils in Palestine: Promoting Civic Participation Among Youth in Palestine
The capacity of local government to reach out to citizens and to involve them in identifying priorities, planning, and monitoring builds trust and solidifies the relationship between citizens and government officials. Over the past decade, Global Communities in Palestine has designed interventions to enhance awareness of good governance practices and the important role of the…
Read MoreLocal Government and Infrastructure (LGI) Program
The overall goal of the Local Government and Infrastructure (LGI) program is to promote an enabling environment for good local governance and provide the basic infrastructure necessary for sustainable improvements in the quality of life of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Awarded in 2010, the program focuses on two main components, infrastructure and…
Read MoreInnovation in Infrastructure – Creating the Ras Atiya School in the West Bank
Global Communities West Bank & Gaza worked with architects and engineers to build a school in the West Bank that is seismic resistant. This school can withstand earthquakes and can be used as a shelter for other emergencies. The innovation used in constructing the school will allow it to be a safe learning place for…
Read MoreMENA YES: Adapting and Sustaining Demand-Driven Training Programs
Adapting and Sustaining Demand-Driven Training Programs: A Case Study from the Middle East While the unprecedented transitions taking place in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have been greatly stimulated by the activism of youth seeking better future for themselves and their societies, the region has the highest youth unemployment rate in the world. In…
Read MoreAllowing Refugees to Better Their Communities Results in Big Benefits
Allowing Refugees to Better Their Communities Results in Big Benefits By David Weiss, President and CEO, Global Communities This article originally appeared in the Huffington Post. The approaching UN General Assembly summit on refugees and migrants promises to bring attention to humane and coordinated approaches to addressing the needs of the millions of displaced individuals around…
Read MoreHow the Jordan Loan Guaranty Facility is Helping Small Businesses in Jordan Access the Finance They Need to Grow
How the Jordan Loan Guaranty Facility is Helping Small Businesses in Jordan Access the Finance They Need to Grow This article first appeared on the OPIC Blog  |  By Adnan Afaneh, Head of Credit, Jordan Loan Guarantee Facility Despite their importance in supporting both sustainable economic growth and job creation in emerging countries, small and…
Read MoreHosting the Syrian Crisis: A Jordanian Community Gets a Lifeline
Hosting the Syrian Crisis: A Jordanian Community Gets a Lifeline Global Communities has been partnering with US Government in Jordan to support communities under stress through the USAID Community Engagement Program (USAID CEP). Working with communities, local organizations, municipal governments and the private sector, USAID CEP builds cohesion and enhances the resilience of communities to…
Read MoreTurning on the Lights in Al Sarhan
Turning on the Lights in Al Sarhan The Al Sarhan municipality, located in the governorate of Mafraq, is made up of nine widely dispersed villages. It is located 20 kilometers to the west of Mafraq city, close to the Syrian border. It is one of the Jordanian communities most affected by the recent influx of…
Read MoreNew Play Center Puts Smiles on Children’s Faces
Al Khansa’a Puts Smiles on Children’s Faces If childhood is the foundation upon which adulthood rests, then carefree play is one of its most important pillars. Providing children with a safe place to play, explore, and interact with others only enhances a child’s feeling of belonging, but also contributes to her healthy development. With a…
Read MoreHow Jordan Makes Local Governments Work in the Midst of the World’s Largest Refugee Crisis
How Jordan Makes Local Governments Work in the Midst of the World’s Largest Refugee Crisis An influx of Syrians has strained city services but has fostered cooperation to meet the needs of a dramatically increased population. By Erin Leonardson This story originally appeared in USAID Frontlines. Throughout the uprisings of the Arab Spring, while sharing…
Read MoreSyria’s Crisis: Helping Families Survive in War-torn Areas
By Pia Wanek, Director of Humanitarian Assistance, Global Communities This article originally appeared in Devex. In a humanitarian crisis, the image of emergency aid is often one of distribution: boxes of food, blankets and other staples being flung off of flatbeds into outstretched hands. Yet as the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year, emerging evidence…
Read MoreCash-based Response Feasibility Assessment in Northern Syria
Cash-based Response Feasibility Assessment in Northern Syria As the conflict in Syria extends beyond the fourth year, there is need for a widespread humanitarian response focused on urban areas that addresses humanitarian needs and promotes resilience for the 13.5 million people in need of protection and humanitarian assistance within Syria. The majority of humanitarian assistance…
Read MoreGlobal Communities in Lebanon
Global Communities in Lebanon Global Communities, known as CHF International inside of the country, has been working in Lebanon since 1997. With more than 15 years of experience, Global Communities has established a reputation for implementing community driven programs that address a broad range of social issues, from agricultural development, to education and the current Syrian Crisis.…
Read MoreWhat aid workers are saying about Yemen
What aid workers are saying about Yemen This article originally appeared in Devex By Anna Patricia Valerio The violation of what was supposed to be a weeklong cease-fire, the abduction of two aid workers from the International Committee of the Red Cross, and a cyclone that has complicated relief operations are just some of the…
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