ILO-ABJ Business Clinic helps 24 private kindergartens get back on their feet

AMMAN — The International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Association of Banks in Jordan (ABJ) on Tuesday presented the outcomes of the institutions’ joint Business Clinic project, which helped 24 owners of private kindergartens run their establishments more innovatively and practically.

The Business Clinic project was established under a partnership agreement between the ABJ and the ILO, and was implemented by the Experts Bankers Association, according to an ILO statement.

The project was launched in light of the increasing challenges faced by kindergarten owners, coupled with a lack of solutions or initiatives to support these businesses, the statement said.

Over a period of nearly six months, the Business Clinic was able to renovate facilities and assist 24 kindergarten owners, who benefited from technical and financial services provided by the clinic to support the kindergartens’ sustainability, the ILO statement said.

These kindergartens employ 110 caregivers, and serve about 720 children, according to the statement.

ABJ Director General Maher Mahrouq, who spoke during the event on Tuesday, said that the banking sector in Jordan is one of the most supportive entities working to increase women's economic participation.

“The work environment in banks is also one of the most attractive environments for female workers, as women constitute about 35 per cent of the total number of employees in banks,” according to Mahrouq.

He added that this clinic is “one of three components agreed upon with the ILO to ensure support for flexibility and financial sustainability for kindergarten owners by providing them with the needed financial and technical support to raise their ability to manage their businesses”.

ILO Gender Technical Specialist Regional Office for Arab States, Reem Aslan, said that women-owned businesses face many financial challenges and barriers.

“The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the financial situation of many companies owned by women, especially in the kindergarten sector, which was the most hard hit by the pandemic,” according to Aslan.

This, Aslan maintained, made these establishments unable to face their financial obligations, and “instead they became threatened with closure”.

Aslan stated that the establishment of the Business Clinic came in partnership with the ABJ, UN Women and the governments of Norway and Sweden.

Kindergarten owner and programme participant Rawan Abu Azzam said that the clinic helped her develop her business administratively and financially by “providing us with the important knowledge to manage our kindergartens in an innovative way."

The event was attended by Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women Maha Ali, Norwegian Ambassador Espen Lindback, Swedish Ambassador Alexandra Rydmark, in addition to representatives from relevant government entities, the kindergarten industry and a number of women's associations.

During the ceremony, certificates and financial grants were distributed to kindergarten owners who received training from the Business Clinic, the ILO press release stated.

The ceremony also included a discussion between the attendees and kindergarten owners about the benefits they achieved from joining the clinic, according to the ILO statement.