Jordan exceeds economic women's empowerment targets two years ahead of schedule
Amman5 min read
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Jordan has exceeded key targets in the project to enhance women's economic opportunities about two years before its closing date, after the number of new businesses owned or led by women rose to more than double the target, and the number of accounts and financial services owned by women exceeded a target set for the end of 2027, in parallel with progress in flexible work and childcare.
The World Bank, in its latest Implementation Status and Results Report for the project, which it funds with $226 million, said that the operation continues to make "significant progress" toward its development objective of increasing economic opportunities for women in the areas of employment, financial inclusion, transport, and childcare, confirming that it remains on track to achieve its goal.
The Bank classified progress toward achieving the project's development objective as "satisfactory," while overall implementation progress was classified as "moderately satisfactory," with the overall risk rating remaining at "moderate."
The project aims to address the constraints women face in entering and remaining in the labor market, related to workplace conditions, financial inclusion, transport, and childcare.
The total funding included for the project is distributed between primary funding of $221 million and a grant of $5 million.
The World Bank approved the project on March 26, 2024, and it became effective on June 29 of the same year, with the primary funding scheduled to close on June 30, 2028.
The value of amounts disbursed from the primary funding reached $154.06 million, equivalent to 69.71% of its value, while the amount disbursed from the grant reached $520,000, bringing the total disbursed amounts to $154.58 million.
- Targets achieved ahead of schedule
Women's entrepreneurship recorded the most advanced results against the timeline, after the number of new businesses owned or led by women registered with the Companies Control Department reached 2,026 by July 2026, against a final target of 1,000 by June 2028, which is more than double the target nearly two years ahead of schedule.
In financial inclusion, the number of basic bank accounts and e-wallets for women reached 3,338,807, compared to a baseline of 2,437,375, exceeding the target level of 3,197,375 scheduled to be reached in December 2027.
The share of women in total individual credit facilities reported by the Central Bank also rose to 23.15%, compared to a baseline of 22.3%, nearing the target of 25%.
Action plans related to the National Financial Inclusion Strategy 2023-2027 were completed and adopted, including gender-disaggregated targets, and published on the Central Bank's website.
- Progress in flexible work
The project recorded progress in improving working conditions, as the Bank stated that 122 companies implemented flexible work arrangements, exceeding the target of 100 companies.
The number of women benefiting from flexible work arrangements also rose to 241 women by July 2026, against a final target of 300 women by June 2028.
A system for reporting and documenting flexible work contracts was developed and operationalized, launched on September 21, 2025, in cooperation between the Ministry of Labor, the Social Security Corporation, and the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship.
The Cabinet adopted and published a new flexible work regulation in accordance with the amended Labor Law, while the indicator related to the number of private companies reporting the implementation of the new system reached 100 companies, according to the results indicators.
Jordan also launched the National Gender Equality Seal in April 2026, with the project aiming for 60 companies to receive the seal by June 2028.
- Childcare and transport indicators
Among the results nearing their final target early is the rise in the percentage of children enrolled in nurseries to 3.9% in July 2026, compared to 2.4% in the baseline, against a target of 4% by June 2028.
The Bank said in the implementation status summary that 1,040 childcare workers received certificates, and 222 new nurseries were registered or licensed, while the number of eligible mothers benefiting from childcare support reached 3,760.
The indicators table shows a figure of 1,032 new childcare workers who received certificates by July, compared to a baseline of 242 and a target of 1,242, in a "partially achieved" indicator.
The number of eligible mothers receiving support from the Social Security Corporation for childcare in nurseries also rose from a baseline of 1,347 mothers to 3,760 mothers, against a target of 7,347.
Four new nurseries established under the operation began their work and received the grant, with 67 children enrolled, contributing to the creation of 15 jobs for women as of the report date.
The Ministry of Social Development also issued the necessary instructions to activate the nursery system regarding licensing center-based private nurseries and registering home-based nurseries, and the Bank classified this indicator as "achieved."
The final round of reviews of the National Childcare Policy and the required consultations have been completed in preparation for their formal submission and adoption.
In the transport sector, the Land Transport Regulatory Commission adopted modern, climate-resilient standards for bus stop design, and the Bank said the step provides a foundation for safer and more accessible public transport infrastructure.
The action and implementation plan for women's access to safe and affordable transport has also been completed, but it still requires endorsement and adoption. The project also aims to establish 30 bus stops according to modern standards by June 2028.
