The Atlantic Council’s Women Innovators (WIn) Fellowship will host the launch event for the Jordan Cohort on Monday, November 18th at 10:00 a.m. (ET); 6:00 p.m. Amman time.

This event will explore the current entrepreneurial landscape in Jordan, highlighting the country’s initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs and tackle the challenges they face. We’ll also discuss whether adopting a new investment model could be key to driving equitable growth in the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Jordan’s business ecosystem has transformed in the past decade. In recent years, the country’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship (MoDEE) has catalyzed digital transformation in the country, with a significant focus on using technology to scale businesses and social enterprises. Working with the private sector and other government institutions, the Ministry has supported startups, SMEs, and larger businesses in overcoming challenges related to access to markets, funding, and talent.

Despite these gains in the entrepreneurial space in Jordan, however, significant challenges remain for women to be equal players. Across the country, women have launched small and medium-sized enterprises in several fields—from design to healthcare to technology and sustainability. However, women’s total entrepreneurial activity (TEA) is only 3.3 percent in Jordan, compared to a global average of 10.2 percent, according to the World Bank Jordan Economic Monitor.