Supporting Circular Economy Opportunities for Employment and Social Inclusion (SIRCLES)

Main project objective: Promotion of social inclusion and fight against poverty (Promote economic and social development) by providing underprivileged NEETS (Youth not in employment, education, or training sectors) and women with marketable skills based on circular economy business models applied to the hotel, food retail and household sectors.

What will be improved?

It is estimated that 8 new jobs will be created directly by the project for NEETs and women in Aqaba, Jordan. Pilots will continue developing circular economy business models, serving as training platforms, even after the project ends, for an emerging sector that is foreseen to create more opportunities in the future. Finally, the project will promote job placements for vulnerable groups in new services created by the partners, mainly related to waste management and farming.

Who will benefit?

• Unemployed women of all ages and NEETs of 18–24 years at risk of exclusion.
• Aqaba’s civil based organization.
• Aqaba’s targeted hotels.

Project outputs:

• Promote a cross-border network and establish local mechanisms involving public, private, and civil society sector, that will assist NEET and women through supported employment schemes in circular economy jobs.
• Deliver a training program for NEET and women focused on developing soft and hard skills related to biowaste management and entrepreneurship, combining theoretical and on-the-job methods, and using digital tools.
• Implement circular biowaste management pilots that create jobs and serve as a platform to foster sustainable circular economy employment in partnering countries.