Qatar provides $10 million to businesses in Turkey and Jordan affected by COVID-19

December 2019: SPARK Director, Yannick du Pont with His Excellency Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari during the Doha Forum
Four year programme will create 4,000 new jobs for Syrians, Turks and Jordanians
His Excellency Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) recently signed a new, four year partnership with SPARK that provides support to the most vulnerable Syrian refugees, Turkish and Jordanian nationals, and will create 4,000 new jobs.
The COVID-19 crisis disproportionately affects those from more vulnerable backgrounds, such as refugees. Both Turkey and Jordan face enormous challenges to reduce the poverty faced by Syrian refugees and vulnerable members of their societies in light of an impending economic recession because of COVID-19 and the decade-long Syrian conflict next door.
Thirty percent of the new $10 million programme is a dedicated COVID-19 response, in which existing jobs and investments are safeguarded and new jobs created through Micro- Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) support for companies directly relevant to the fight against COVID-19.
“SPARK creates more job opportunities by boosting entrepreneurship development and supporting the growth of existing businesses by providing training, coaching and access to finance. We aim to support young people in becoming skilled, future leaders to rebuild their conflict-affected countries”, said Yannick du Pont, Director of SPARK.
QFFD’s generous support comes at a crucial point, when many other international donors are reviewing and withdrawing financial support for valuable causes in the Middle East as a result of the pandemic.
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