The Season’s Market initiative demonstrates how inclusive, low-barrier local markets can become practical pathways for sustainable livelihoods, economic inclusion, and stronger market access for refugees, women, informal workers, and home-based entrepreneurs in Jordan.
Implemented by the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) in collaboration with the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC), under the project Future Forward: Unlocking Sustainable Local Opportunities, with support from the Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP), the initiative provides evidence that locally driven economic models can turn skills, creativity, and community knowledge into income-generating opportunities.
About the Report
This report assesses the impact of ARDD’s Season’s Market initiative across six seasonal bazaars held in Amman between 2024 and 2025. Drawing on vendor surveys and focus group discussions, it examines how organized local markets contribute to income generation, business development, market access, and social and professional networking.
While the findings are based on a pilot sample, they offer important insights into the potential of seasonal markets as scalable and sustainable livelihood platforms.
Key Findings
The report shows that Season’s Markets created tangible economic and social outcomes for participating vendors:
- 92% reported the bazaar as a primary source of income during participation.
- 100% reported increased sales during the bazaars.
- 92% gained access to new customers or markets.
- 100% established valuable business contacts.
- 92% reported improvements in products, sales methods, or customer engagement.
- 58% experienced a significant increase in sales.
These findings highlight the value of local markets not only as spaces for trade, but as platforms for confidence-building, business growth, and inclusive economic participation.
Why It Matters
In Jordan, many refugees, women, informal workers, and home-based entrepreneurs face barriers to entering the formal labor market. These barriers are often not linked to a lack of skills, but to limited access to regulated, affordable, and supportive economic platforms.
Season’s Markets help bridge this gap by providing accessible spaces where vendors can sell, test products, build customer relationships, improve business practices, and connect with wider networks.
From Pilot to Policy
The report argues that local markets should be recognized as more than temporary livelihood interventions. With supportive policies, flexible licensing, simplified procedures, and institutional investment, seasonal markets can become sustainable economic tools that contribute to inclusive local development.
The findings call for greater investment in community-based livelihood models that are rooted in local realities and capable of being expanded across Jordan.
Recommendations
The report offers recommendations for policymakers, donors, civil society, and the private sector, including:
- Integrating local markets into livelihood and economic inclusion strategies.
- Supporting flexible regulatory and licensing frameworks.
- Investing in market infrastructure and vendor capacity-building.
- Expanding seasonal market models beyond Amman.
- Strengthening partnerships between vendors, civil society, donors, and the private sector.
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP III) for Jordan and Lebanon, which is supported by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of ARDD and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the RDPP or its donors.
