Jordan has some of the lowest indicators in the world on labor force participation, productivity, and gender equality due to chronically low female labor force participation rates, which represent a high cost to the Jordanian economy and a missed opportunity cost that negatively impacts the gross domestic product and results in a loss of return on public spending on education.
USAID/Jordan recognizes that when women and girls have equal rights and access to resources and services, societies thrive. USAID aims in all of its programming in Jordan to reduce gender disparities and empower women and girls to realize their rights, determine their own life goals, and help strengthen their communities.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is seeking applications for a cooperative agreement from qualified entities to implement the Promoting the Voice and Leadership of Women Activity. Subject to funding availability and at the discretion of the Agency, USAID intends to provide up to US $27,000,000 in total USAID funding over a five (5) year period.
The development hypothesis of the Promoting the Voice and Leadership of Women Activity is: by removing barriers to women’s participation and leadership through strengthening legislative frameworks, enforcement of those legislations and the enhancement of the institutional capacity of stakeholders, and by increasing the adoption of inclusive social norms and stimulating the engagement of women in decision-making and leadership roles, the voice and agency of women will be enhanced.
The desired end state of this Activity requires thoughtful national and local level interventions to advance the three objectives of this Activity and address the intertwining relationships between laws, institutional barriers, and gender norms, power relations, and roles.
Objective 1 – Legislative Framework Enforcement and Institutional Capacities Strengthened
Objective 2 - Adoption of Inclusive Social Norms Increased
Objective 3 - Women's Skills and Opportunities for Voice and Leadership Enhanced