Country
Jordan

Local project partner
Ahli Microfinance Company
Microfund for Women
National Microfinance Bank 
Business Development Center
Theodor-Schneller-School

German project partner
--

Donor
BMZ

Duration
01.10.2020 - 30.09.2022

Jordan has limited natural resources and a poorly developed industry. The country's economy depends heavily on loans and financial aid from abroad. Despite stable general conditions, Jordan's per capita income has declined in recent years. On the one hand this is due to strong population growth. On the other hand, regional instability has led to the loss of important trade routes and partners. The political crises in neighboring countries have also led to an increase in immigration from these countries.

Unemployment is high, especially among the younger population and refugees, who are often limited in their ability to pursue formal occupations. Women can participate in economic life only to a limited extent. Poverty currently affects more than 15 % of the population, and the trend is upward.

The economic downward trend is further exacerbated by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are particularly affected by the crisis, as they do not have adequate financial reserves to cushion the economic impact. Promoting employment, creating jobs, and strengthening players in the financial sector are thus key issues for the government of Jordan.

The aim of the project is to improve the socio-economic living conditions of the population by strengthening the resilience of segments of the population particularly affected by crises, especially by creating and maintaining jobs.

The target groups of the project are poor and vulnerable groups, especially women, graduates of education and/or training, micro and small enterprises, individual entrepreneurs, and other disadvantaged groups of Jordanian and non-Jordanian origin. The target groups are supported by MFIs (microfinance institutions), which provide adapted financial products, as well as by other institutions, which offer training and counseling to the target group.

Project Tasks

• During the orientation phase, local project partners are being identified and strengthened: three MFIs as providers of financial services to microenterprises and at least one partner with direct access to the sub-target groups of the population (e.g., providers of vocational training, educational institutions, women's organizations).
• A comprehensive stakeholder mapping identified actors of resilience building within the population. The structures and needs of the population affected by crises were analyzed.
• The identified partner institutions are strengthened in a target group-oriented manner.