With an economy operating below its potential, Jordan’s productive sector is not creating enough job opportunities to absorb more than 60,000 young citizens [as per UNIDO own data/link to the project document] who enter the labor market annually, nor is it able to offer increased economic opportunities to women. LevelUP Advancing Jordanian Industries offers concrete measures to foster inclusion through active participation in the economy. That involves increasing access to opportunities for greater numbers of workers, entrepreneurs, and consumers in ways that generate additional economic growth. Successful inclusion unlocks the potential of more and more individuals and communities and empowers them to improve their circumstances and status.
Other beneficiaries include institutions and associations, such as development agencies, youth and women’s business associations, chambers of commerce and industry, national, public and private organizations, as well as national consultants and firms, which will be responsible for supporting the project’s implementation.
YOUTH
- Achieving inclusion of youth into the economic dialogue
- Equipping young entrepreneurs with knowledge and tools
- Opening access to market and finance
- Providing direct coaching to Youth
- Providing insights to the business environment
- Paving the way for innovative start-ups
- Fostering creativity and collaboration
WOMEN
- Identifying and alleviating the challenges for female entrepreneurs
- Promoting the image of female entrepreneurs in Jordan and across the region
- Opening access to market and finance
- Providing direct coaching to women entrepreneurs and associations
- Fostering networking by bringing closer women-led businesses
INSTITUTIONS
- Supporting evidence-based policymaking tailored to the needs of the region Capacity building
- Attracting investment opportunities
- Building and sustaining partnerships
YOUTH
- Achieving inclusion of youth into the economic dialogue
Equipping young entrepreneurs with knowledge and tools
- Providing insights to the business environment
- Paving the way for innovative start-ups
- Foster creativity and collaboration
WOMEN
- Identifying and alleviating the challenges for female entrepreneurs
- Promoting the image of female entrepreneurs in Jordan and across the region
- Opening access to market and finance
- Providing direct coaching to women entrepreneurs and associations
- Fostering networking by bringing closer women-led businesses
INSTITUTIONS
- Supporting evidence-based policymaking tailored to the needs of the region Capacity building
- Attracting investment opportunities
- Building and sustaining partnerships
- Achieving inclusion of youth into the economic dialogue
- Equipping young entrepreneurs with knowledge and tools
- Providing insights to the business environment
- Paving the way for innovative start-ups
- Foster creativity and collaboration
- Identifying and alleviating the challenges for female entrepreneurs
- Promoting the image of female entrepreneurs in Jordan and across the region
- Opening access to market and finance
- Providing direct coaching to women entrepreneurs and associations
- Fostering networking by bringing closer women-led businesses
Supporting evidence-based policymaking tailored to the needs of the region Capacity building Attracting investment opportunities Building and sustaining partnerships
The selection of value chains offering potential for women and youth economic participation was a key stepping-stone of the project’s inception phase. The following criteria were considered paramount in the selection:
After a rigorous selection process conducted in coordination with national counterparts, the following value chains were identified as promising in terms of opportunities for women and youth economic inclusion:
Fashion and Garments
More than 60 fashion companies have signed “The Fashion Pact” launched by Kering’s CEO last year, creating a large industry cross-section that’s committed to seven new targets to reduce the sector’s environmental impact. The industry is working to reduce the environmental foot- print of its products. Ethically minded fashion brands are rising their competitive influence on the market. While consumers may be willing to pay more for something that is environmentally friendly, the ultimate goal should be for sustainability to be accessible.
Food Supplements
Worldwide, the lifestyles of some 6.3 billion people rely on the cultivation of plants. Demand for herbal drugs, cosmetics, food supplements and other products in this already vast market continues to grow. There is an expanding interest worldwide in medicinal and aromatic plants - MAPs, due to their use as raw materials in the production of food supplements, medicinal and cosmetic products. Moreover, sustainable plant use contributes to global wellbeing and healthy lives.
Natural Cosmetics
Beauty products are applied directly on the skin so a broad interest in holistic health has triggered a new consumer interest on ingredients and processes. Consumers want to know where ingredients or materials for products are sourced. The organic and natural sector is the fastest growing sector of the global beauty industry with $160 billion spent worldwide each year on organic cosmetics, skincare and treatments. The global market value for natural cosmetics and personal care expects a positive increase from 54.5 billion dollars by the year 2027.
LevelUP is committed to achieving concrete results and assisting the Jordanian government and MSMEs in addressing key development priorities. Combining specialized technical and development competence, we support five core areas
Creating an Industrial Observatory
By improving business environment and SMEs competitiveness we can create more jobs for women and youth. But first we need solid data. As part of the LevelUP project, UNIDO together with the government of Jordan are developing an information system on the industrial sector that supports the production of evidence-based industrial and market intelligence analysis
Strengthening the capacities of MITS Industrial Intelligence Unit
An Industrial Intelligence Unit will be established by the Ministry of Industry, Tarde and Supply with the support of UNIDO. The Unit will be equipped with methodological tools to assess the performance, capabilities and market opportunities
Strengthening the capacities of Business Development Services providers to support the development of selected Value Chains
Focusing on three manufacturing value chains, fashion, natural cosmetics and food supplements, LevelUP provides women- and youth-led leading high-potential businesses with the tools to expand their ambitions and cultivate their businesses globally
Accelerating innovative businesses in the selected value chains
We designed our the LevelUP Accelerator, a tailored program to help existing as well as aspiring entrepreneurs and digital innovators achieving their business goals. Are you one of them?
Establishing Export Consortia in the selected VC
Export consortia is UNIDO's very own know-how. By helping SMEs facilitate entry to foreign markets through establishing voluntary alliances of firms producing complementary types of products, they could promote their goods and services in foreign markets and export these products through joint action. All together UNIDO has successfully implemented almost 20 national and regional export consortia development projects since the late 1990s worldwide, from least developed to middle-income countries
- Achieving inclusion of youth into the economic dialogue
- Equipping young entrepreneurs with knowledge and tools
- Providing insights to the business environment
- Paving the way for innovative start-ups
- Foster creativity and collaboration
Skills development and trainings based on market and business needs in the following areas: management, entrepreneurship, business creation, financial literacy, cleaner production, standards, on the importance of a systematic quality approach, and the benefits of integrating a cluster/business network etc.
Incubation and acceleration services aims at building up the capacities of the beneficiaries. Incubations will be physical and virtual with the delivery of training modules through apps (IDEA App), online learning material etc. Physical incubators (IDEA Centers) will also allow offering a place of networking and business development emulation.