2013-03-07 10:36:16 - Amman, Jordan, November 29, 2012—IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is helping develop new standards for information and communication technology (ICT) professionals in Jordan, part of an effort to help young people find work in the fast-growing sector.

IFC today signed a partnership agreement with Int@j, Jordan’s leading ICT industry association. The accord will see the two organizations design international-caliber certification standards for the sector, which while growing quickly is suffering from a shortage of skilled workers. Universities, training providers, and professional associations will be encouraged to adopt the standards, which would ensure that graduating students have the skills necessary to find work in the ICT sector. That is important in a country where 27 percent of young people are unemployed.

“There is tremendous potential in the ICT sector, but often new graduates don’t have the skills that companies are looking for,” said Abed Shamlawi, Int@j CEO. “This partnership with IFC will help ensure that graduates are prepared to

embark on careers in the field.”

The effort is part of IFC’s E4E Initiative for Arab Youth, which is designed to improve the employability of young people across the Middle East and North Africa.

“Youth unemployment in Jordan - and the wider region - is high because many young people lack the skills necessary to succeed in the job market,” said Ahmed Attiga, IFC Country Manager in Jordan. “By providing them with practical, international-calibre training in areas like ICT, we can make it easier for them to find work.”

The E4E Initiative for Arab Youth is a joint effort by IFC and the Islamic Development Bank. The program aims to develop a common approach to working with the private sector to enhance education and training options and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth in the Middle East and North Africa. The region has one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world, estimated at over 25%, which costs the region’s economies up to $50 billion annually, according to estimates.