Jordan Women Economic Participation

completed

The project is delivered in two phases. The expected development impact of phase 2 (July 2021 - December 2022) is 1) an increased share of women in pay-roll employment and improved quality of women’s pay-roll jobs in the private sector in Jordan. The project will also 2) support women-led SMEs by creating an “Export Hub for Women SMEs”, a platform that will deliver several activities (i.e. market study, export readiness training, peer-to-peer support networking events, buyer matchmaking events) aimed at building the capacity and ability of these women-led SMEs to position their products and services for exporting to regional and global markets. For Activity 1: The project will achieve its impact through a combination of evidence-based research, setting up a country-wide private sector peer learning platform and providing in-depth advisory to two IFC investment clients or potential investment clients. By completion, the work on women in pay-roll employment, will have delivered capacity building activities (i.e. introductory webinars, Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) tool design workshops; L4E expo; leadership training for aspiring female leaders from the company cohort;) and recommendations (i.e. bespoke company-specific designed D&I tool/ initiative/deliverable such as i.e. gender diversity strategy or action plan, gender diversity HR policy, etc.) will have been delivered to firms under the L4E PLP. Of the companies reached, they are expected to have increased their knowledge and skills, and are expected to have designed 1 D&I bespoke tool/ initiative/deliverable and present it in the L4E Expo. For Activity 2: The project will work with both, women-led SMEs that already export and would like to expand and those who do not export yet. IFC will also establish and manage this virtual “Export Hub for Women SMEs” The “Export Hub for Women SMEs” will be sponsored by a number of large companies. These sponsors will serve as an entry point for new markets and networks for participating women-led SMEs. By completion, women-led SMEs will have been trained in business export strategies and participated in peer-to-peer networking events as well as a matchmaking event with buyers. The expected development impact of phase 1 (June 2020 - June 2021) is an increased share of women in pay-roll employment and improved quality of women’s pay-roll jobs in the private sector in Jordan. By completion, knowledge activities (i.e. case studies, webinars) and recommendations will have been delivered. Of the firms reached, they are expected to participate in a virtual awards company competition, in order to ensure companies trained have retained the information delivered to them, and that they showcase commitments to implement gender parity at their organization levels. Of these companies, some are expected to implement at least one activity of the project proposal, and 2 are expected to win the competition and implement their commitments with advisory support from the project team. Any of IFC ‘s clients will be invited to join.