Training initiative helps develop handcraft sector

Amman – Development of Jordan’s handcraft sector continues as a major capacity building initiative was implemented this month, reaching around 90 artisans across the country. The initiative entailed implementing a series of training sessions and workshops for Jordanian artisans in three key areas in the Kingdom: Amman, Salt and Wadi Mousa. The initiative was implemented by the USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities (MoTA) and Aid to Artisans (ATA).

The workshops, which took place over the course of three weeks, covered a range of topics, focusing on product development, pricing, packaging, finishing and quality control. Around 30 artisans from each of Amman, Salt and Wadi Mousa took part in the respective workshops and learned from both interactive sessions with handcraft experts combined with practical, hands-on training sessions. This enabled the participants to hone their ability to create and sell handcrafts. The participants were mainly freelance artisans along with artisans from Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).

 “To ensure effective development of Jordan’s handcraft sector, we are working with our partners to implement such handcraft workshops over a long-term period so that artisans are able to partake in follow-up sessions and thus receive maximum benefit from the initiative,” said Dr. Joseph Ruddy, USAID/Jordan Tourism Development Project II Component Leader.

Speaking about the training initiative and how the participants benefitted from it, Ms. Tha’era Arabiyat, Head of the Nashmiyat Al Balqa Cooperative, said, "The women who took part have learned that any woman who operates a small handcraft project from home can access great marketing channels. The training also gave the ladies greater confidence in their ability to develop their products and market them, and thus gain increased revenues.”

The workshops were presented by ATA, an international organization that seeks to create economic opportunities for handcraft artisan groups around the world.

The purpose of this training initiative is to build the capacities of Jordanian artisans. The workshops helped them develop their products by creating new designs that are geared towards the tourist market, as well as helping them improve skills and techniques. To ensure sustainability of the training impact on the market, the training will also help local artisans to become experts and qualified trainers in handcraft production.

This training initiative was a follow-up to the first one, which took place in July 2009 and provided artisans with knowledge and skills needed in product development, packaging, finishing, pricing and marketing.