With European Union Support, ActionAid and RASED Hold the National Forum on 'Supporting and Empowering Women in the Economy,' and its Impact on labour market

With European Union Support, ActionAid and RASED Hold the National Forum on "Supporting and Empowering Women in the Economy," and its Impact on labour market

On the occasion of International Women's Day, ActionAid Jordan and Al Hayat - RASED organised on 8 March 2026 the National Forum entitled "Supporting and Empowering Women in the Economy: The Path to Sustainable Growth", bringing together representatives from civil society organisations, the private sector, and relevant stakeholders to review progress made under the Women-Friendly Label project.

Co-funded by the European Union, the project is implemented by ActionAid Jordan and Al Hayat - RASED in partnership with a number of local companies and organisations.

The project aims to support institutions in adopting policies and practices that promote safe and equitable work environments for women, enhancing their economic participation and equal opportunities in the labour market.

During the forum, the key results achieved under the project were presented. Participating institutions and companies have begun adopting more gender-responsive internal policies and procedures, including strengthening workplace safety measures, developing equal opportunity policies, and creating more supportive work environments that promote women's participation and professional advancement.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Ms. Mary Horvers, Head of the Governance and Human Development Team at the EU Delegation to Jordan, stated that women's empowerment should not be an issue raised only on special occasions, but rather a continuous process that requires collective action to remove the barriers that still limit women's participation in the economy and public life. She affirmed that the European Union's support for this project reflects its firm commitment to gender equality and to enhancing women's economic and political participation, in partnership with civil society organisations and the private sector.

Sana Al Hyari, Head of programmesat ActionAid Jordan, said that the Women-Friendly Label project represents a practical step towards promoting safer, more equitable, and more inclusive work environments for women in Jordan. She noted that women's economic empowerment goes beyond providing job opportunities - it also requires institutional policies and practices that protect women's rights and support their active participation in the labour market. She added that the partnership with Al Hayat - RASED and supporting entities is helping to translate these principles into tangible reality within institutions, reinforcing women's role as essential partners in development.

Dr. Amer Bani Amer, Director General of Al Hayat - RASED, said that the project represents a practical model for translating concepts of workplace justice into institutional policies that are both applicable and measurable. He added that enhancing women's economic participation cannot be achieved through legislation or public discourse alone, but requires real change within institutions themselves - through the adoption of clear standards that ensure a work environment conducive to women's empowerment and professional advancement. He affirmed that the partnership between civil society, the private sector, and international supporting entities is a fundamental pillar for driving this transformation and building a more inclusive and sustainable model in the Jordanian labour market.

The Women-Friendly Label project serves as a practical model for advancing gender equality within institutions, through the development of clear standards that help organisations assess their internal policies and improve their practices to ensure safer and more equitable work environments for women.

In closing, the partners reaffirmed their commitment to continuing efforts to expand the application of the Women-Friendly Label model to a greater number of institutions in Jordan, emphasising that women's empowerment is a continuous journey that requires a genuine partnership between civil society, the private sector, and decision-makers to build a labour market that is more just, inclusive, and sustainable.