Between 2013 and 2015 FSVC completed a highly-successful program funded by the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to improve the business registration and licensing process in Jordan. Over the course of 24 months, FSVC implemented 19 technical assistance activities in Jordan. FSVC, by partnering with key reformers in Jordan, was able to achieve significant impact to improve the registration process in Jordan. On the public sector side, FSVC provided technical assistance to institutions that register companies in Jordan (e.g., the Companies Control Department, or CCD). FSVC helped the CCD launch their new business registration website; improve their IT infrastructure to better serve potential small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) registrants and registered companies; transition to a more effective company classification system (ISIC 4.0); and design an outreach program to encourage informal SMEs to register.
On the private sector side, FSVC strengthened the capacity of private sector small business associations to participate in reforming the business registration process. With the Jordan Chamber of Industry (JCI), FSVC helped improve its services to incentivize more industrial companies to register to gain access to the services. FSVC also helped improve the JCI’s advocacy strategies by developing a new operational framework to institutionalize lobbying and policy advocacy as the main mission of the JCI. With FSVC’s assistance, the JCI was able to strengthen the capacity of its staff to develop policy suggestions, to represent SME members effectively when engaging with policy-makers. Outside Amman, FSVC worked with the Irbid Chamber of Industry (ICI) on how to improve its organizational structure, develop new services and promote them to industrial companies in Irbid. FSVC also worked with more than 30 small business associations in Jordan to increase dialogue between SMEs and policy-makers about facilitating the registration of more SMEs to support their growth in Jordan.
Program Impact
- 10 legal, regulatory, or institutional actions taken to facilitate the development and expansion of SMEs
- 32 target private sector organizations engaged government to advocate for improved environment
- 5 partner institutions trained in business registration best practices
- 51% increase of SME registered at targeted “one-stop-shops” (OSSs)
- 2 technologies adopted by partner institutions to facilitate SME registration
- 80 government officials trained in best practices in creating a national business registry
- 6 new or reformed policies or procedures adopted by OSSs contributing to improved SME registration and licensing
- 93 SME representatives contributing to reforms to SME registration and licensing procedures
- 9 new policies or procedures adopted to streamline SME registration and licensing
- 6 civil society organizations trained in best practices in advocacy for SME registration and licensing procedures
- 10 legal, regulatory, or institutional actions taken to facilitate the development and expansion of SMEs
- 32 target private sector organizations that engage government to advocate for improved business environment
- 18 representatives from business incubators trained to facilitate SME registration
- 30 SMEs benefitting from services provided by partner institutions to promote SME registration
- 3 new policies or procedures adopted to encourage SME registration
- 12 “coaches” certified to assist with business start-ups
- 20 start-ups have been assisted by “coaches”