USAID Makanati Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership Activity (Makanati)

Project dates: 2021-2026

Client type: U.S. Government

Key topics: Economic Growth, Youth

Related Country(ies): Jordan

Region: Middle East and North Africa


USAID Makanati | Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership Activity (Makanati) will use EnCompass’ Champions of Change approach to work with private sector firms, the government, community-based organizations (CBOs), and other high-level stakeholders to create an enabling environment for women to undertake waged employment in Jordan. Makanati will identify, convene, and strengthen private sector, government, community, and individual champions to create pathways to waged employment by designing positive campaigning and messaging that encourage women to consider career choices in high-growth, priority sectors and promote the recruitment, retention, and advancement of women in Jordan’s labor force.

Using a targeted sector and regional focus, Makanati seeks to contribute to increasing women’s access to waged employment and leadership opportunities by improving access to the job market and demand-driven job skills and leadership training that responds to market needs. Makanati will identify and address inequalities and prohibitive social norms and traditions and offer solutions that support an equitable and inclusive workforce enabling environment. Makanati interventions will transform socio-cultural norms at the household and community level by breaking down barriers and negative perceptions that impede women’s labor force participation and advancement. The Activity will aim to improve workplace and employment policies by establishing a workforce policy lab that supports research and advocacy for women’s inclusion in the labor market; providing key workplace and leadership skills; and creating a conducive female-friendly work environment within champion firms.

The goal is to establish pathways through which social change and economic opportunities lead to a systemic shift from women’s exclusion to inclusion in market systems, and increase women’s economic participation in the private sector by exploring childcare alternatives and identifying safe transportation solutions for women to get to work. This holistic approach will bridge the gap between women’s and men’s inclusion in the workforce and, overall, will contribute to inclusive economic growth in Jordan.

EnCompass developed a fact sheet about our work on this activity.

Opportunities

The USAID Makanati Women’s Economic Empowerment and Leadership Activity is currently seeking offers for the following:

EnCompass LLC, in partnership with USAID, invites applications for the Makanati Women’s Economic and Leadership Activity grants. These grants aim to foster an inclusive workforce, supporting women’s access to employment and leadership in private and public sectors in line with Makanati’s core values.
Submit Applications in English or Arabic by December 8, 2024, at 5 PM (Amman Time)

Photo: Woman’s Day by USAID Jordan on Flickr

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