Improving Employment Opportunities (IEO)

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Jordan hosts the second highest share of refugees (per capita) in the world. Therefore, SPARK promotes job creation in Jordan for Syrian, Palestinian, as well as Jordanian youth by breaking down barriers to SME growth. SPARK strengthens entrepreneurship, innovation and management skills, develops new markets and facilitates access to finance for entrepreneurs through a €1.24m Loan Guarantee Fund.

SPARK offers scholarships (2-year vocational degree and short training courses), and technically prepares hundreds of young Syrians for an active role in the future reconstruction of Syria through Conflict-Sensitive Business Skills training. With the introduction and improvement of entrepreneurship education at 7 higher education institutions, as well as providing internships for graduates in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), the employability of Syrian, Palestinian and Jordanian youth is improving.

Existing SMEs are individually coached by experienced business coaches to grow and create new jobs. We now work with 8 local implementing partner organisations and 5 business support centers and incubators across Jordan.

Download the mid-term programme evaluation report.