Jordan Economic Opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian Refugees Program for Results Project Additional Financing
Starting Date
Sep 27, 2016
End Date
Dec 31, 2023
Budget
US$ 400 million
Type of Program
Loan
Program Development Objective :
Improve Economic Opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian Refugees in Jordan. Aiming to:
continue to support Jordan in honoring its commitments to the Jordan Compact by granting Syrians refugees access to economic opportunities.
support the GoJ (Government of Jordan) ambitious reform agenda to grow the Jordanian economy through investment climate and sectoral reforms.
The programme consists of nine results areas, including:
01 Improving the labor market for Syrians
02 Improving the investment climate
03 Improving investment promotion
04 Improving formality and working conditions
05 Improving entrepreneurship
06 Improving digital financial inclusion
07 Improving women’s economic opportunities through childcare
08 Improving women’s economic opportunities through social norms
09 Improving export competitiveness
The Program has a special focus on women’s economic opportunities. It aims to increase female labor force participation by improving the investment climate in the childcare sector and expanding women’s entrepreneurial activity through improving the investment climate for home‐based businesses (HBB). The Program also aims to address social norms around women’s employment.
The Program supports the implementation of critical reforms that have been initiated under the Reform Matrix. Reforms to strengthen both public and private investment focusing on areas of green growth, tourism development, and female labor force participation. In addition to growth and investment, the Program will also help Jordan to expand and improve on Social Safety Nets to better protect the poor and vulnerable, as well as in the promotion of water security and agribusiness.
Notable Achievements:
01 Improving job and entrepreneurship opportunities for Jordanians and Syrian refugees
Opening of the labor market to Syrians – progressive flexibility informed by data.
Introducing the first legislations regulating employment in agriculture.
Improved labor inspection capacity at Ministry of Labor.
Ministry of Labor introduced the first national classification of occupations based on ISCO 8 with the aim of standardizing technical reference in the Jordanian labor market and clearly and comprehensively classifying occupations.
02 Multiple reforms on business and investment climate, and competitiveness.
Predictability of business regulations - Code of Governance Practices for Policies and Legislative is being piloted.
Improved licensing at Greater Amman Municipality - was streamlined through a new law enacted.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the export of perishable agricultural Ministry of Agriculture to improve export competitiveness.
Pesticides management, extension services and inspections are being improved.
03 Improved financial inclusion for Syrians and Jordanians indicated by the considerable progress made on the expansion of access to digital finance.
04 Implementing campaigns to enhance women’s economic opportunities using behaviorally informed communications to affect social norms.
Relevant Stakeholders / Partners:
Line Agencies
