The Training of Facilitators provides select local professionals with skills to boost entrepreneurship and drive economic growth amid regional challenges.
AMMAN (ILO News) – The ILO conducted a 12-day “Start and Improve Your Business” (SIYB) Training of Facilitators in Amman, coaching 24 participants from the public and private sectors in Jordan and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Three trainers from Gaza, who are in the final stages of their coaching to become ILO master trainers, led the sessions.
Under the PROSPECTS programme, the SIYB initiative in Jordan focuses on building entrepreneurial skills to support economic stability. Emphasizing participatory techniques, business planning, and financial management, certified trainers will eventually deliver SIYB courses to local entrepreneurs, promoting sustainable economic growth in alignment with national goals.
The core concept of the SIYB training is to help entrepreneurs successfully launch their businesses. The ‘Start’ phase focuses on business initiation, while the ‘Improve’ phase covers six key modules—marketing, costing, purchasing and stock control, record keeping, business planning, and people and productivity—addressing all critical needs of entrepreneurs. Once a business becomes stable, the final phase is expansion, where the entrepreneur can focus on growth.
Through the SOLIFEM project—an ILO initiative funded by the European Commission’s DG-NEAR—and in collaboration with PROSPECTS, 12 trainers from the West Bank Chambers of Commerce joined their colleagues in Amman to receive coaching in the SIYB-globally recognized entrepreneurship principles. They will eventually support economic development, job creation, and resilience across the Palestinian economy.
Najjar explained that the training aimed to equip trainees to support entrepreneurs in developing their projects. “In both Jordan and Palestine, the entrepreneurial ecosystem lacks coordination, with the private and public sectors working independently,” she said. “Building connections between these sectors is crucial for business growth.”
The three master trainers from Gaza—representing the public sector, private sector, and a nonprofit—are ensuring a cohesive approach to delivering training, thus enhancing its impact for entrepreneurs.
“This exchange has enriched our understanding of the entrepreneurial challenges unique to Jordan, the West Bank, and Gaza. It has also fostered connections among participants, encouraging them to deliver training collectively, drawing on insights from each sector represented,” Najjar added.
Mohammed Ghussain, another master trainer from Gaza, agreed.
“During this training, we are collaborating with trainers from the Chamber of Commerce in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and various financial organizations in Jordan, aiming to build a strong partnership and synergy between the two countries, both now and in the future,” he said.
Ghussain explained that despite the geopolitical challenges, particularly the impact of the war in Gaza, the SIYB training was helping create new entrepreneurs and address current business challenges. “We are helping overcome regional disruptions and create solutions for businesses affected by the political climate,” he said.
Abeer Obwah**,** a Jordanian trainee from Jordan Microfinance Network (Tanmeyah) a local microfinance network representing 9 microfinance institutions, said that the topics covered in this training were crucial for SMEs, especially microenterprises, which make up around 90percent of businesses in Jordan.
“The training helps us understand the key needs of entrepreneurs and business owners, with the ultimate goal of enabling them to stand on their feet and grow,” she said.
She explained that, as future trainers who will work closely with entrepreneurs and provide them with financing, it will be essential to grasp their basic needs and find ways to support them effectively.
“We are thrilled to share this training experience with our Palestinian colleagues, which deepens our understanding of both the Palestinian and Jordanian entrepreneurial ecosystems. Learning from each other’s experiences enhances our perspective and strengthens our approach,” Obwah added.
Majed Abu Sharekh, a trainee from the Chamber of Commerce in South Hebron, Occupied Palestinian Territory, said they learned about the difficulties that SMEs face in different entrepreneurial environments. “We found that entrepreneurs in Jordan and Palestine face similar issues. We gained a lot from the exchange of expertise between the two countries, especially the importance of engaging with entrepreneurs directly to understand their challenges and needs.”
Tamara Janho from the Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) said her role in the organization focused on supporting SMEs by providing both financial and technical assistance to help improve their businesses.
“Through this training, we have learned how to better guide entrepreneurs in developing innovative and improved ideas for their businesses,” she said. “What makes this training particularly valuable is the collaboration between people from diverse sectors, including both the private and public sectors from Jordan, as well as our Palestinian colleagues from the Chamber of Commerce. Ultimately, our shared goal remains the same: to help SMEs thrive in their endeavours.”
PROSPECTS is a global partnership that aims to improve the access of host communities and forcibly displaced people to education, social protection and decent work.
Spearheaded by the Government of the Netherlands, it brings together the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank to help transform the way in which governments and other stakeholders, including the private sector, respond to forced displacement crises.