BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — In the past 20 years, United Nations representative Sheri Ritsema-Anderson has worked in more than 15 Middle Eastern countries, in times of both peace and crisis. When she was assigned in 2023 to the UN office in Jordan, however, she knew it would be a different experience. Like many countries she had worked with before, poverty in Jordan was high, with an estimated 21.5% of the population unemployed and 24% living in poverty. Meanwhile, at the time, all-out war had just broken out among its neighbors Israel and Gaza, sending thousands of refugees to Jordan. Yet, despite these issues, peace in Jordan has always been a priority.
Education for All
When a nation struggles with poverty, a common side effect is lack of access to education. In Jordan, this matter is especially important: 63% of its population is younger than 30, one of the highest youth populations in the world. In many countries where a vast number of children are unable to attend school, the door is wide open for any faction to teach their own ideals—a historical strategy to create extremist states. Expanding access to education is one part of Jordan’s broader efforts to strengthen opportunity and social resilience.
In addition to her other duties, Queen Rania Al Abdullah works tirelessly to improve education in her country. In 2013, she established the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development, which not only provides schools with maintenance and teaching resources, but also runs apps that supplement learning when in-person education may not be an option. She is not working alone, either. In 2026, UNESCO partnered with Jordan’s Ministry of Education to renew their Education Strategic Plan. This strategy targets the UN’s own Sustainable Development Goals, specifically the fourth one—fostering accessible and well-rounded education. Ritsema-Anderson shares that as a result, a million jobs are projected to open up in the next decade. The plan also links education with employability and Jordan’s broader economic development goals.
Future-Focused
When combatting poverty, small efforts add up over time. Ritsema-Anderson shared that, at the time of the interview, she had just met with the minister of agriculture to discuss improving the income of Jordan farmers by giving them technical support, offering them training and certification, and improving working conditions. As it stands, 16% of citizens live below the poverty line, as well as 72% of refugees; this project is projected to help improve that number by supporting more than 1,500 family farms. The Ministry of Agriculture has another project in this vein, which aims to make farming accessible to people with disabilities. Advancements in soilless farming have made it possible for people with physical challenges to work in agriculture. These new jobs help stimulate the economy and provide financial freedom to citizens disadvantaged in other work environments.
These projects illustrate efforts to connect livelihood support with wider development goals. “A lot of my effort is just connecting the dots,” says Ritsema-Anderson. “Making sure what one part is doing relates to another part, and making sure they stay interconnected and building on each other.”
Such initiatives can support livelihoods and access to economic opportunity.
Community Kindness
The state of peace in Jordan makes it an oasis for the people with whom the UN is most concerned: refugees. Though the UN’s ultimate goal is to help these refugees one day return home, their day-to-day needs take priority, including health, education and safety.
“People are generally far more resilient and far more generous, even if they have nothing, than frankly sometimes those who have more,” Ritsema-Anderson comments. She takes note of Jordan’s culture of tolerance—a commitment that seems to be top-down.
The nation is host to several million Palestinians, Syrians, Armenians and other groups fleeing conflict. Remarkably, these refugees are not scorned by society, but roped into it. Jordanian schools adopt an attitude of “Education for All,” the same motto their queen adopted from Sustainable Development Goal 4. The Ministry of Health also began the Jordan Health Fund for refugees, a massive healthcare budget supported by several major donors. On paper, the nation does not make back what they give to these refugees, yet the good work marches on.
It is a simple moral on a large scale: treat others the way you want to be treated. Jordan’s long-standing role as a refugee host also forms part of the country’s wider humanitarian and regional context.
Peace in Jordan
Jordan’s emphasis on dialogue, adaptability and regional cooperation has contributed to its reputation for stability. Poverty does not destine a country for turmoil. Though it is not a wealthy nation, peace in Jordan is achieved because its people and officials strive for the best—quality education, innovative solutions, advancements in technology and a welcoming attitude. These qualities reflect the reason Sheri Ritsema-Anderson began working for the UN at all: to make the world a better place.
“It consistently chooses to talk, to value peace, to value dialogue over other tactics,” she concludes. “And for that it is quite a remarkable place.”
– Madison Hoar
Madison is based in Birmingham, AL, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.
Photo: Flickr