According to the project restructuring paper, the closing date will move from February 28, 2027, to August 31, 2028, to allow additional time to complete ongoing activities and results that are still being implemented or verified.
The restructuring comes at a time when the number of beneficiaries of new documented income opportunities rose to 5,935 beneficiaries, those trained in digital skills to 12,429 people, and the number of school students benefiting from the digital skills curriculum reached 760,554 students, while private sector investments mobilized by the project amounted to about $16.6 million, and the percentage of digitally enabled government payment services exceeded 80%.
The project, approved in March 2020 and implemented by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, aims to improve digitally supported income opportunities and expand digital government services in Jordan.
The financing data shows a net commitment from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development of $163.1 million, of which $88.37 million has been disbursed, along with grants of $36.9 million, of which $19.95 million has been disbursed.
- Increase in Income and Training Opportunities
The number of beneficiaries who reported new documented income opportunities increased from 4,938 at the end of 2025 to 5,935 by June 30, 2026, compared to a final target of 10,000 beneficiaries, including 2,754 Jordanians and 163 Syrians.
The Bank noted the existence of a contractual path for about 5,000 opportunities through agreements being verified by the Social Security Corporation, providing a basis for reaching the final target.
The number of people trained by project-supported training service providers also increased from 10,591 to 12,429 people, equivalent to 83% of the target of 15,000, with 7,056 Jordanians among the trainees, exceeding the final target of 4,800 by 47%.
- 760,000 Students Included in Digital Skills Curricula
The number of students in grades 7 to 12 who received the digital skills curriculum increased from 402,757 students at the end of 2025 to 760,554 by June 2026, about 2.5 times the final target of 300,000 students.
The number of Jordanian students benefiting from the curriculum was 376,741, while the number of Syrian students reached 41,048, exceeding the targets set at 150,000 and 18,000, respectively.
Regarding STEAM teachers for grades 1 to 6, the results tables showed a 68% integration of digital skills into core subjects compared to a target of 70%, and about 6,000 teachers were trained by June/July 2026.
The project recorded 52,896,189 transactions through digital government services, more than 10 times the target of 5 million transactions, while the number of new digitized government services reached 178 compared to a target of 100 services.
The percentage of digitally enabled government payment services increased from 30% to over 80%, while the second quarter report of 2026 showed it reached 80.2%.
The digital receipt system was completed during the second quarter, and integration with the 'Sind' platform through 'E-Fawateerkum' became a factor, with ongoing third-party verification.
Private sector investments mobilized by the project in digital services increased from $15.95 million to about $16.6 million, equivalent to 83% of the final target of $20 million.
The number of digital skills beneficiaries from supported IT and outsourcing services companies under GrowJo Talent increased from 3,091 to 3,515 people, while the number of supported companies for expansion increased from 47 to 50 companies, achieving the final target for this indicator.
The number of beneficiaries of technology centers was 3,391 by June 2026, an increase of 60% from the first quarter of the year, coinciding with the operation of the Aqaba and Irbid centers.
- Why Request an Extension?
The restructuring paper explains that a number of activities have reached advanced stages of implementation but need more time beyond February 2027 to fully achieve their results, as the technology centers in Aqaba and Irbid have become operational, while the remaining time before the current closing date is not sufficient to reach a larger number of beneficiaries.
Training programs for youth in the governorates and Syrian participants are also being implemented and need additional time for operation, employment, verification, and registration with the Social Security Corporation, while training on digital platform services under 23 active agreements is moving towards reaching 6,002 beneficiaries.
The amendment includes canceling the startup grants activity, while keeping other activities within the entrepreneurship development path, including technical assistance and training for eligible startups. The document confirmed that no funds were disbursed for startup grants.
It pointed out that the cancellation of the activity, reallocation of funds, and review of disbursement arrangements were discussed and agreed upon between Jordan and the Bank within the restructuring discussions, confirmed in a letter from the Bank to the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation dated August 20, 2026.
Out of the $3.8 million to be redirected, $2 million will be transferred to employment support, increasing its allocation from $11.5 million to $13.5 million, while $1.8 million will be reallocated to project management and implementation support.
The additional funding allocated to employment will be used to fund additional on-the-job training opportunities and wage incentives, prioritizing Syrian refugees and members of Jordanian host communities, while maintaining the final target of 10,000 beneficiaries of new income opportunities.
