Dead Sea, 16 September, 2025 –The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Jordan, in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship and through funding from the Government of Japan, has today launched the Jordan Valley Creative Pathways Forum at the King Hussein bin Talal Convention Center in the Dead Sea as part of the “Safe Pathways for At-Risk Youth and Women in Jordan” project. The forum brought together youth, creatives, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to reimagine the Jordan Valley as a hub for inclusive, locally driven growth powered by cultural and creative industries (CCIs).

Organized under the Safe Pathways initiative, the forum aligns with national efforts to empower youth and women in underserved areas by positioning creativity and culture as catalysts for meaningful employment, innovation, and community resilience. More than 200 participants explored how sectors like agrotourism, culinary arts, digital tools, and green entrepreneurship can fuel sustainable development in the Jordan Valley.

“Culture and creativity are not side stories — they are part of the core infrastructure of development,” said Majida Alassaf, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Jordan. “This forum is about investing in the ingenuity and leadership of youth in the Jordan Valley and showing how creative expression can powerfully contribute to economic justice, inclusion, and dignity.”

The event featured four parallel thematic workshops addressing key growth areas: agrotourism, food systems, identity-based industries, digital resilience, and green enterprise. Led by local innovators and sector leaders, these sessions offered actionable insights and opportunities for public-private collaboration.

“By embedding innovation into our economic transformation, we create room for inclusive participation, especially for young people and rural communities,” said H.E. Samira Al-Zoubi, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship. “The Jordan Valley is a vital part of our national story — and its creative potential is a national asset we are committed to unlocking.”

The forum concluded with a call to action encouraging investment, policy reform, and donor engagement to scale Jordan’s creative economy and support pathways to opportunity for vulnerable youth and women.

“Today’s forum showcases how the integration of Creative and Cultural industries (CCIs) strengthened digital and socio-economic resilience among at-risk youth and women, particularly in the Jordan Valley, using a human security approach that emphasized empowerment, prevention, and community cohesion, and aligning with Japan's Development Cooperation Policy for Jordan,” said H.E. Mr. ASARI Hideki, Ambassador of Japan to Jordan.

This forum is part of Japan’s broader partnership with UNDP Jordan to advance peace, stability, and inclusive growth across the country. In addition to supporting creative industries, Japan is also funding the new initiative “Mitigating Juvenile Crime Incidents in Aqaba and Wadi Rum,” which aims to enhance community security and resilience through prevention-focused, community-led solutions that address the root causes of youth vulnerability and social exclusion.

Media Enquiries: 
Firas.salameh@undp.org   
yasmeen.zaj@undp.org 

About UNDP:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. 
Learn more at https://www.undp.org/jordan or follow @UndpJordan.

About the Government of Japan:
Japan is a longstanding development partner of Jordan and UNDP, committed to supporting inclusive and human-centered approaches to stability, resilience, and opportunity across the region.