Jordan is a resource-poor, food-deficit country, with limited agricultural land and increasingly frequent climate-related shocks.

Over the past decade, its economy has remained stagnant and unable to generate sufficient employment. 

Jordan hosts the second-largest number of refugees per capita worldwide. As of June 2025, over 586,600 refugees were registered with UNHCR, 81 percent of whom were living within communities and 19 percent in the Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps. 

These refugees experience worrying levels of food insecurity, while the numbers add unprecedented pressure on Jordan’s budget, natural resources, infrastructure and labour market.

The World Food Programme’s support includes food assistance for vulnerable refugees, technical assistance for the government’s national social protection programmes and expanding climate action.

What the World Food Programme is doing in Jordan

Refugee response
WFP’s response is centred around two pillars: a humanitarian response to address the immediate needs of refugees, and a transformational one to address the structural obstacles hampering refugees’ food security. Through cash-based transfers, WFP provides monthly assistance to vulnerable refugees, primarily Syrians, both in and out of camps, helping them to meet their essential food needs. WFP works with UNHCR to foster the economic participation of refugees in becoming self-reliant, while continuing to address their imminent needs.
Social protection
WFP supports the Government of Jordan in designing and implementing effective, inclusive and shock-responsive social protection schemes through technical assistance and capacity strengthening. Working with The National Aid Fund, the primary governmental social safety net agency, WFP provides technical support to ensure inclusion, analyse impact and enhance accountability to assisted families. WFP works with the Ministry of Social Development to improve its emergency preparedness, shock responsiveness and impact, and to develop digital systems for enhanced service delivery.
School meals
WFP supports the Ministry of Education with the National School Feeding Programme, the primary social safety net for children. Aligned with the National School Feeding Strategy, WFP provides nutritious meals (a baked pastry, a vegetable and fruit) to 90,000 children in public schools within poverty-stricken areas. A ‘home-grown’ model empowers women in community-based kitchens and supports local farmers and bakery workers. Additionally, WFP distributes fortified date bars to 430,000 vulnerable Jordanian and refugee children.
Climate action
In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP is working to enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers and pastoral communities, empowering them to mitigate the negative effects of climate change and protect their livelihoods through increased productivity, aggregation and marketing. WFP is advancing efforts in soil and water conservation, management of rangelands and forests, and improvements in seedling production – focused on locally suited and native species. WFP is also working with The National Center for Security and Crisis Management to provide capacity strengthening in early-warning systems and disaster risk management.
Food security governance
Under the leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture, WFP is developing the first management information system for food security monitoring, reporting and early warning. Additionally, WFP is establishing a roadmap for food system transformation, to coordinate the efforts of all stakeholders in this field. WFP is also developing several knowledge products for evidence-based policy decisions focused on food-consumption patterns, food waste and nutrition.

Publications

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Partners and donors

Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Jordan is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:
Germany USAID/BHA UK Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Canada

Operations in Jordan

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Contacts

Office

Al-Jubaiha, Rasheed District, 79 Al-Wefaq Street, P.O.Box: 930727, Amman 11193, Jordan.
Amman
Jordan

Phone
+962 6 5156493
Fax
+962 65155491
Social

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