Promoting Gender Equality in Jordan: A Gender Review of the National Entrepreneurship and SME Growth Strategy 2015-2017

Abstract

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is an upper –middle income country with very low participation of women in the formal economy. Through the promotion of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), there is an opportunity to promote greater gender equality in an important sector of the economy. Unfortunately, national policies are rarely developed with a systematic gender analysis. Using Jordan’s National Entrepreneurship and SME Growth Strategy 2015-2017 (the SME Strategy) as a case study, this article assesses the extent to which entrepreneurship policy in Jordan is inclusive of gender. Overall, the assessment concludes that the SME Strategy does not adequately address gender inequalities or the needs of women in business. It lacks a gender analysis and consequently gender is not integrated into the Strategy’s objectives, activities, budgeting or indicators. The assessment provides recommendations for greater gender sensitivity in national policies. They include ensuring stakeholder engagement to support women entrepreneurs, conducting a systematic gender analysis and implementing further actions based on the analysis.