– Expanded financial inclusion, improved child care services – 122 companies adopted flexible work arrangements – Child nursery enrollment rises to 3.9% – Project disbursements increase to 37.8% of total financing Amman, Sept. 15 (Petra) -- Jordan has made significant progress in expanding women’s economic opportunities, exceeding several key targets ahead of schedule under the $226 million Women’s Economic Opportunities Project, according to a World Bank report.

The report said Jordan remains on track to achieve its development objectives in women’s employment, financial inclusion, transportation, and child care.

Women’s entrepreneurship recorded the strongest progress, with the number of newly registered women-owned or women-managed businesses reaching 2,026 as of July 2026, more than double the project’s final target of 1,000 by June 2028.

Financial inclusion also exceeded its target, with the number of basic bank accounts, bank accounts, and e-wallets held by women reaching 3,338,807, compared with a target of 3,197,375 by December 2027.

The report said 122 companies have adopted flexible work arrangements, surpassing the target of 100 companies. The number of women benefiting from such arrangements reached 241 as of July, compared with a final target of 300 by June 2028.

The progress reflects improved access to financial services, a rise in the number of women with active bank accounts and e-wallets, and easier access to financing for women-owned micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises, the report said.

Jordan’s adoption and implementation of regulatory frameworks for flexible and remote work in the public and private sectors have also helped women balance work and caregiving responsibilities.

The share of children enrolled in nurseries rose to 3.9% as of July, approaching the project’s target of 4% by June 2028 following the implementation of regulations governing nursery licensing.

The report highlighted Jordan’s launch of a national child care policy aimed at providing affordable, quality nursery services, as well as training and qualifying child care workers to promote children’s safety and healthy development.

More than 256 Jordanian companies and institutions have adopted women’s empowerment and gender-balance principles in the workplace, including through the involvement of chambers of industry and commerce, the report said.

Disbursements under the $226 million project reached about 37.8% of total financing, reflecting faster implementation of reforms at the legislative and practical levels.

On transportation safety, the report noted the adoption and implementation of a national guide for safety and security standards at bus stops, along with regulatory frameworks to protect women, recognizing safe and reliable transportation as essential to women’s participation in the labor market.

The project supports the Economic Modernization Vision’s goal of increasing the economic participation rate of Jordanian women to 28% by 2033.

The project is managed and monitored by the Project Management Unit at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, in cooperation with the ministries of Labor, Social Development, and Transport, the Central Bank of Jordan, and the Jordanian National Commission for Women.

//Petra// AJ