Jordan’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play a critical role in generating employment, sustaining local economic activity and providing livelihoods for Jordanian and refugee communities. However, MSMEs are operating in an increasingly challenging economic and regional environment, with developments in neighboring countries and the wider Middle East affecting market demand, supply chains, trade, operating costs, access to finance and business investment. These pressures can directly affect enterprises’ ability to remain competitive, grow, recruit and retain workers, while changing market conditions are also creating new skills and workforce requirements.
At the same time, these challenges create opportunities for MSMEs to strengthen resilience through market and customer diversification, improved sales and marketing, better financial management, workforce skills development, green practices, stronger management, operational efficiency and improved internal quality practices. Since the nature and impact of these challenges differ significantly between enterprises, a standardized support package would not adequately address their needs.
Against this backdrop, Skills4Work II will provide customized and demand-driven technical assistance to 40 selected MSMEs. Each enterprise will first undergo an individual diagnostic assessment covering its business performance, market and financial position, exposure to economic and regional risks, workforce and skills needs, employment practices and growth opportunities. Based on the findings, an Individualized Technical Assistance Plan will determine the specific support required by each MSME.
Customized support may cover one or more areas, including sales and marketing, financial management and planning, market development, export readiness, workforce and skills planning, green sustainability and green growth, management, operational efficiency and internal quality improvement. Workforce and employment considerations will be integrated into the support provided to MSMEs, with attention to workforce planning, skills gaps, recruitment, employee development and retention where relevant to the enterprise’s needs.
The assignment will focus on practical support that can be delivered directly to each MSME and implemented within the enterprise, without making the achievement of core results dependent on third-party service providers, financial institutions, buyers, certifying bodies, training providers, government institutions or other external actors.
Through this approach, the intervention aims to strengthen MSME resilience, competitiveness and growth while supporting sustainable employment creation and retention.
