Even before the COVID-19 crisis, over 1 million Jordanians (15% of the population) and over 600,000 refugees in Jordan (85% of refugees) lived below the poverty line. The pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing challenges among refugee and host communities to generate income.

Expected Results

ER 1.1. Enhanced profitability and job creation potential of micro businesses owned by refugees and vulnerable host Jordanians in urban areas, especially women, including identified participants from phases I & II.

ER 1.2. Enhanced financial inclusion of urban refugees and vulnerable host Jordanians, especially women and youth, including identified participants from phases I & II.

ER 2.1. Enhanced income-generating capacities of Azraq camp residents, especially women and youth, including identified participants from phases I & II.

ER 2.2. Enhanced access to financial services for Azraq camp residents, especially women and youth, including identified participants from phases I & II.

Main Activities

• Advanced business skills training + Grants + Business mentoring for microbusinesses in urban areas
• Awareness raising and information provision on business registration and financial services
• Establishment of new VSLA groups with roll-out of VSLA Application developed during phase II
• Documentation and dissemination of key learnings and advocacy messages around financial inclusion of refugees, women, and youth
• Information provision on access to financial services to VSLA groups and their members
• Advanced business training and assistance for micro-businesses in Azraq camp
• Grants and toolkits for micro-business development in Azraq camp
• Transfer of VSLA methodology to Azraq camp and establishment of groups (pilot)
• Information provision and guidance on financial services in Azraq camp

Participants

• 1,515 refugees in urban areas and Azraq camp as well as vulnerable Jordanians will benefit directly (at least 70% of them women and 40% youth).
• 5 institutions will be engaged around financial inclusion.
• 75 employees in micro businesses and 7,575 family members of project participants will benefit indirectly.