WOMEN-LED CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS EMPOWERED VULNERABLE WOMEN DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE INDEBTEDNESS OF WOMEN IN JORDAN

Indebtedness is one of the main factors that impacts women’s economic empowerment in Jordan. Women in Jordan have one of the lowest labor participation rates in the world, double digit unemployment rates reaching over 30%, and since they hold lower financial inclusion rates than men, they are more likely to be indebted. The COVID-19 crisis has only exacerbated this situation.

The brief aims to evidence the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has had on women and to include the women’s specific needs. Women-led civil society organizations (CSOs) provided aid to women who have the opportunity to borrow money for small businesses, and have specific regulations for loan types, grace periods and loan repayment. Moreover, some CSOs provide legal counselling and aid, free of charge, to “Gharimat” through their organizations. However, women still face challenges related to loan repayment, which the policy brief addresses with a set of recommendations.