Support the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI) in mainstreaming disability inclusion among their services and functions

BACKGROUND:
Jordan Chamber of Industry is the main employers body representing the interest of industrialists
in Jordan and it is the ILO employer’s constituent. It is an APEX organization without direct
company-members but composed by the three local chambers of industry (Amman, Irbid and
Zarqa). As most of the chambers, it primarily deals with economic and trade matters, but
nonetheless it covers within its mandate social and labour issues as well. It aims to participate in
the formulation of the general policy, strategies and plans of industry, participate in the
development of national industry, take care of the interests of industrial and craft enterprises,
enhance cooperation between the chambers of industry, enhance the capabilities of the
chambers and coordinate their efforts.1 Jordan Chamber of Industry mandates includes
representing industrialists and chambers of industry before any entity inside and outside the
Kingdom, providing technical advice to the industrial and economic ones, using experts and
economists for this purpose, and submitting proposals for legislation, draft laws and regulations
related to it, and any other tasks related to its objectives. 2
As part of its services, JCI has a dedicated industrial labour market unit which was established
in 2009 with the aim of providing information and advocate for a better alignment of skill
development and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policy and industrial
sector needs. In 2022-23 this Unit expanded its services on aspects related to labour relations
(labour law, contract dispute, occupational safety and health, etc.) The unit includes the
organization of HR committees to discuss about training, employment and labour issues, the
management of several vocational training centres to support national efforts to produce a
workforce that matches with the needs of the different industrial sectors and the delivery of
services to companies encountering challenges to recruit, select and train their workforces. JCI
also offer support through career advice, employment inclusion programmes for vulnerable
populations, workplace learning and other apprenticeship method ensuring the provision of
decent work and responding to their members need at the same time. The unit is supposed to
include a labour economist, a labour lawyer and two skills specialists.
The economic integration of people with disabilities (PWDs) in Jordan, particularly within the
private sector, is a topic of increasing importance. The Kingdom has ratified the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2008 and promulgated the Law
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2007) providing equal opportunities in employment,

education, and access to public services for PwD. Besides it has created the Higher Council for
Rights of Persons with Disabilities and defined a national strategy to improve lives of persons
with disabilities. Moreover, the country is hosting in 2025 jointly with Germany and the
International Disability Alliance (IDA) the third Global Disability Summit, a key conference to
advance the rights of persons with disabilities.
Despite these legal protections, challenges persist in translating policy into practice, particularly
related to decent work. These include barriers to employment, education, and social
participation. It is estimated that around 13-16% of the population in Jordan has a disability3,
though the actual number may be higher due to underreporting. However, the labour force
participation rate for people with disabilities remains significantly lower than that of the general
population, with many facing unemployment or underemployment. Barriers to employment
include lack of enforcement of existing laws, discrimination, lack of accessibility in the workplace,
inadequate skills training and support, and social stigma. There is thus much room for
improvement: Initiatives such as awareness campaigns, skills development, and workplace
collaboration programmes and incentives for employers to hire people with disabilities can help
address these challenges. Additionally, ensuring accessibility in workplaces and providing
reasonable accommodations are essential steps towards creating an inclusive work environment.
To achieve these goals, JCI needs to mainstream the inclusion of people with disabilities among
their services and strengthening the role of the private sector in ensuring disability inclusion. This
can be achieved through exchanges with other peer organizations in the ILO supported Global
Business and Disability Network that aim to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in
the workforce and thus can be a guiding example for Jordanian enterprises. JCI is the most
appropriate organization to host the Jordan Business and Disability Network, a national platform
where companies can share their experiences and learn from each other on how to make sure
the imperative inclusion of persons with disabilities can happen effectively at their companies.
In order to effectively promote and host the Jordan Business and Disability Network, JCI, with
the support of the ILO and other international partners, might need to strengthen its service
provision and mainstreaming the disability inclusion business case among their employment
and training services.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY:
The objective of this consultancy is to mainstreaming disability inclusion among the ILMU services
offered by JCI and ensure hosting the Jordan chapter of the Business and disability network as a
way to create awareness and promote effectively the inclusion of people with disabilities among
Jordanian enterprises.

SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY and deliverables:

The Work will be performed under the guidance and supervision of José Manuel Medina Checa,
Senior ACTEMP Specialist in Beirut and in close coordination with Jordan Chamber of Industry,
Director general and project manager in charge of the Labour Market Unit.

Task 1 Mapping of disability inclusion services and stakeholders

Conduct a mapping of partners and services promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities
in the Jordan labour market. The mapping will include public and private institutions (NGOs,
training centres, recruitment agencies, community associations, etc), regional coverage, service
provided, status, contact person and a description of service provided. The consultant will also
map and collect different methodologies, guidelines, tools supporting the inclusion of people
with disabilities in Jordan and at international level and will recommend the best materials to be
used by the Labour market unit.

Deliverable: short report (around 4-5 pages) and Mapping of institution, services and
methodologies delivered by each institution in English

Task 2 Organization of at least 3 focus groups discussions with main regional chambers
on challenges to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities and support requested
Organization of 3 focus groups discussion (one per region) in partnership with Chamber of
Amman, Irbid and Zarqa for around 10-15 companies to identify main challenges these
companies may have in the inclusion of people with disabilities and main services requested.

Deliverable: Concise report summarizing main challenges and support requested from the
private sector in English

Task 3: Analysis of services provided by the Industrial Labour market unit and design of a
specific service providing information, training and support to companies willing to
promote disability inclusion

The consultant will analyse the actual services provided by the Industrial Labour market Unit and
will look for to mainstream the concept of inclusion of people with disability at workplace. This
will include the drafting /adapting of specific guidelines, checklists, factsheets or any other
training material allowing any company willing to recruit a person with disability to successfully
achieve it.
The consultant will design specific referral mechanism in partnership with specialized institutions
allowing companies interested to have access to technical, legal and labour advice as well as
capacity building to companies willing to include persons with disabilities into their workforce, to
access to services such as support on recruitment practices, onboarding training and workforce
awareness, reasonable accommodation advice (necessary adjustments to facilities or
infrastructure, such as paving factory floors, to enhance mobility, orientation, workplace safety,
software adaptation, accessibility).

Deliverable: Services analysis report and referral mechanism in English and Arabic

Task 4: Drafting of a position paper

Drafting of a position paper (5-10 pages) summarizing the position of the private sector to
promote the inclusion of people with disabilities and Advocating for a more enabling business
environment for the inclusion of people with disabilities at workplace, such as tax exemptions,
social security contributions and incentives requested from the Government.

Deliverable: Position paper in Arabic of JCI on the role of the private sector to promote the
inclusion of people with disabilities

Task 5: Capacity building to staff in the Labour Market Unit and main partners on
instruments and services promoting disability inclusion
Organization of a 3-days workshop for main JCI ILMU Staff and associated actors as well as
regional chambers on the promotion of disability inclusion. The consultant will be in charge of
proposing an agenda, identifying other experts if required and will act as main facilitator of the
sessions.
Deliverable: Technical training report

Task 6: Facilitation of a workshop among main JCI members and Board members
(including large companies with experience in the inclusion of people with disabilities) to
validate JCI approach and service delivery, including the decision of JCI hosting the
National Business and Disability Network
The consultant will present its main findings and recommendations, the changes included in the
including the referral mechanism to main Board members and regional chambers. During this
validation workshop ILO representatives will introduce the Global Business and Disability
Network and the potential role of JCI as coordinator of this network In Jordan
Deliverable: Technical report and letter from

TIMEFRAME
This assignment should take place from between March 2025 to June 2025
DELIVERABLES    NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS            DEADLINE
Deliverable 1                         3 days                                 27th March 2025
Deliverable 2                         4 days                                    5th April 2025
Deliverable 3                        14 days                                  25th April 2025
Deliverable 4                         2 days                                  30th April 2025
Deliverable 5                         4 days                                   15th May 2025
Deliverable 6                         3 days                                   30th May 2025
TOTAL                                  32 days

Payment schedule

First payment: The consultant will receive a first payment upon delivery of deliverables 1, 2 and
3 formal clearances by the Senior ACTEMP Specialist.

Second payment: The consultant will receive a second payment upon completion of deliverables
4, 5 and 6 and formal clearance by the Senior ACTEMP Specialist

Requirements

Academic Qualifications and experience
 Master’s degree in law or political sciences, with at least 10 years of experience in
employment, and labour topics, preferably in labour law
 Proven working experience in disability inclusion
 Prior work with private sector and/or business association and a deep understanding of chamber structures and processes as an asset
 International experience as an asset

Competencies
 Training skills
 Analytical skills
 Interpersonal and communication skills, both oral and written
 Accuracy, punctuality and reliability
 Ability to work as part of a team
 Ability to transfer knowledge and methodologies
 Problem-solving and strategic planning ability
 Flexibility
 Ability to cope with pressure and challenges
 Understanding of business environment in Jordan

Language and other skills

 Excellent knowledge of Arabic and English
 Capacity to communicate fluently with different stakeholders (business community,
government authorities, donors)

Selection Process

All proposals should include a detailed methodology description, team assigned to the
intervention and a detailed financial budget breakdown, inclusive of any taxes and logistic- travel costs, including transportation and accommodation in the field if requested. Shortlisted companies may be invited for presentations or interviews. Interested companies should send its proposal to Mr. José Manuel Medina Checa, medinacheca@ilo.org by maximum 15 March 2025.