On 28 April 2025, SPARK participated in the second Green Forward regional event in Amman, Jordan, marking a key milestone in the EU-funded programme. Led by Expertise France, with the participation of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and SPARK, the event aimed to advance policy reform and strategic dialogue around the green and circular economy (GCE) in the Southern Mediterranean.

The event opened with a high-level ceremony featuring H.E. Yarub Qudah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Supply of Jordan; H.E. Muawieh Radaideh, Minister of Environment of Jordan; H.E. Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas, European Union Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; H.E. Alexis Le Cour Grandmaison, Ambassador of France to Jordan; Mr. Jérémie Pellet, Director General of Expertise France; Mr. Mourad Hentati, SPARK Regional Program Director North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa; and Mr. Jerome Stucki, the Chief of the UNIDO Circular Resource Efficiency Unit.

While the event focused on advancing Green and Circular Economy (GCE) at the policy level, it also reflected the multi-level intervention approach of the Green Forward initiative. Green Forward consortium partners shared their progress and achievements across the macro, meso, and micro levels in which they intervene. At the macro level, Expertise France advances policy reform and regulatory frameworks; at the meso level, SPARK strengthens local actors, business support organisations (BSOs), and entrepreneurial ecosystems; and at the micro level, UNIDO supports green enterprises in adopting circular practices and sustainable production models.

Key insights from SPARK’s contribution:
SPARK’s engagement in the Green Forward regional event was marked by three key insights shared by its leadership.

In a written statement, Mrs. Christel Bultman, Chief Executive Officer at SPARK, underlined the importance of empowering business support organisations (BSOs) as ecosystem enablers in the green transition: “Through the Green Forward programme, SPARK and its seven regional partners are working to strengthen the role of BSOs in bridging the gap between policy and practice,” she stated.

Building on SPARK’s proven expertise in growing MSMEs across key sectors, such as agri-business and green business, we are enhancing the capacity of business support organisations (BSOs) to provide more inclusive and tailored support to green MSMEs through targeted training and regional networking opportunities. This, in turn, will help drive forward a greener and more circular economy across the Southern Mediterranean.

Drawing on findings from the SPARK’s Green Forward baseline research, Mourad Hentati, SPARK Regional Programme Director for North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, explained:

In countries like Tunisia and Libya, there is strong interest in green entrepreneurship; however, significant gaps remain in strategy development, access to green finance, and policy support. No high-performing business support organisations (BSOs) were identified, underlining an urgent need for capacity-building.

In contrast, in places like Palestine and Egypt, while leading BSOs are spearheading advocacy and ecosystem-building, many organisations continue to face challenges in securing green finance, establishing robust formal strategies, and forging partnerships with green technology providers.

Afef Ajengui, Green Forward’s Regional Programme Manager at SPARK, further emphasised the regional dimension, noting that in Jordan and across the MENA region, business support organisations (BSOs) are essential bridges between policy and practice, particularly in the areas of climate adaptation and sustainable economic growth. In Jordan, where 98% of businesses are MSMEs, which are key drivers of employment and innovation, there is a clear need for structured support to adopt green practices.

Through Green Forward, we are working hand in hand with partners across seven countries where SPARK operates, to strengthen the capacities of local BSOs, enhance their services, and position them as enablers of green and sustainable ecosystems.

As SPARK prepares to host the next regional event in 2026, the Green Forward consortium will continue to pursue systemic change at all levels: advancing policy to create enabling environments, strengthening ecosystem enablers with expertise and resources, and supporting SMEs to adopt greener production models.