Project profile — Mashreq Gender Facility - Jordan

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) gender constraints to women’s full participation in society in Jordan are identified and addressed; and (2) women’s access to economic opportunities in the Mashreq are improved through the implementation of country-level action plans.

Results achieved as of March 2022 include: (1) completed a legal review of women’s access to small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and land ownership. The review looked at the legislative gaps and discriminatory provisions restricting women’s access to work and other economic opportunities; (2) implementation of a transport code of conduct which enhances women’s mobility experience and enables safer transportation. Developed a mobile app for public transport users to report violations, and breaches of the code of conduct; (3) reached a total of 180 companies through a series of webinars that highlighted best practices that firms could adopt to recruit, retain and promote women in their workforce; (4) presented a report to national partners on the socio-economic impacts of micro-lending on women entrepreneurs; (5) launched three case studies on gender diversity management in the private sector; (6) developed an instructions manual with graphics on licensing requirements of home-based businesses, for municipal staff and the public in general; (7) developed a roadmap on wage protection through digital payments; (8) selected ten leading private sector firms to receive technical assistance. The assistance helps the firms strengthen their capacity to hire, retain, and promote more women in their workforce and to strengthen the advancement of aspiring female leaders; and (9) completed a study on daycare services to obtain a better understanding of the main requirements for poor and middle income families.