Whereas entrepreneurship is recognized by the government as an engine of economic growth, job creation and prosperity of its country, people and future, it remains recognized by relevant stakeholders, starting with entrepreneurs themselves, as a weak link in Jordan’s labor market. Despite the emergence of an entrepreneurship ecosystem notably composed of technical
and financial governmental and private sector technical and credit assistance, challenges faced by Jordanians willing to open and grow businesses remain significant, in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) more especially : From financial and administrative challenges, to the lack of entrepreneurship spirit within the Jordanian population.
Based on ARDD experience in establishing a business incubator in partnership with the Al-Zummurod for Orientals company in Amman, further supported by research and analysis and as part of its Human and Economic Development Platform(HEDP) efforts that seek to foster transformative change towards a better-informed, empowered, resilient and just society
in Jordan and the Arab World through inclusive and informed socioeconomic research and policy this Policy Memo proposes the following recommendations to help entrepreneurs succeed in starting and developing their businesses, thus becoming true agents of economic change
in Jordan.
• Create a more favorable environment by facilitating the registration process and procedures
• Pursue efforts to make aspiring entrepreneurs more familiar with the world of enterprise
• Toward a more even geographical distribution of incubators and facilitators
• Increase efforts to provide young entrepreneurs, female entrepreneurs more especially, with access to finance
• Recognize the specificity of home-based businesses
• Recognize the existence of social enterprises
• Towards a fragmented social security package for small entrepreneurs
This document comes within the framework of the Design and Determine project. This project is funded by the European Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPPII) for Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, which is supported by the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, and Switzerland.
The contents of this policy brief are the sole responsibility of ARDD and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the RDPP or its donors.
