USAID Makanati, Business and Professional Women Association Ink Agreement to close gender gap

In order to assist the Business and Professional Women Association's (BPWA) role in managing the national implementation of the World Economic Forum's Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator (CCGA), the USAID Makanati Women's Economic Empowerment and Leadership Activity and BPWA inked an agreement.

According to a USAID statement, the CGGA is based on a contract signed by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the World Economic Forum (WEF) that allowed Jordan to join a global network of states that shared experiences and actively paved the way for collaboration between the public and private sectors in order to increase women's economic participation.

The purpose of the one-year agreement between USAID Makanati and BPWA is to assist in fostering a climate in the private sector that is more welcoming and supportive of women, supporting national initiatives to raise women's economic participation throughout the Kingdom.

The National Strategy for Women in Jordan Executive Plan and the CCGA initiative's action plan for Jordan are both linked within EMV's activities for women's emancipation. By 2033, the EMV has set the particular goals of doubling the economic involvement of women from 14% to 28% and producing one million new employment.

By fostering partnerships, promoting diversity and inclusion, building the capacity of private sector partners, implementing policy reform in selected companies, and working with national organisations, such as the Jordan National Commission for Women (JNCW), USAID Makanati and BPWA will work to support a more inclusive, sustainable environment for women's economic participation.

Thana'a Al Khasawneh, CEO of BPWA, stated, "We're truly excited about beginning this partnership with USAID Makanati, a step that propels us closer to bridging the national gender gap."

She said, "BPWA will use its strong ties with key eco-system players as the local coordinator of the World Economic Forum's Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator to move the corporate sector towards a more inclusive environment for women.

"Our partnership is taking another strategic step towards changing the narrative around women's status and role as an individual, partner, and leader at the workplace," said Nermeen Murad Garlick, Chief of Party at USAID Makanati. “In exchange, we anticipate that women will start to view the private sector as an appealing place to work. Our goal is to establish a workspace that acknowledges and magnifies the vital contributions women make to the economy.”

The US-Jordanian Memorandum of Understanding, which funds economic development initiatives across the Kingdom, provides funding for the USAID Makanati activity.