Jun, 2026
Across Jordan, countless women possess talent, drive, and ambition to expand their small businesses.
Across Jordan, countless women possess talent, drive, and ambition to expand their small businesses. However, they often run into roadblocks, for example, not having enough funding, sufficient training, or support and guidance.
Anera took note of these gaps and tailored a women's empowerment project aiming to bridge these gaps. The Women Can project, implemented by Anera and funded by a private foundation, is helping women break through these barriers one obstacle at a time.
But What is Women Can?
This project provides female entrepreneurs with hands-on training, business skills, and mentorship to help them grow their businesses. The program focuses special attention to women who face an extra layer of challenges, such as being a refugee, a single mothers, and unemployed, to ensure they have the chance to expand by funding their businesses.
Let’s Meet Some of The Aspiring Women
Sameera - Recycling and Preserving Heritage
For women like Sameera, entrepreneurship means sustainability and creating opportunities for herself and others. Sameera lives in Baqa’a Camp, where employment opportunities are scarce, so innovation is key.
She turns old clothes and fabric scraps into handmade products such as tote bags, traditional dresses, and cushion covers. By recycling materials and preserving traditional designs, she built a small business while also creating income opportunities for other women in her community.
“I am someone who benefits personally and benefits others,” she says. “I had a lot of old clothes and fabric, so I decided to start a business recycling them into meaningful traditional items.”
“I had a lot of old clothes and fabric, so I decided to start a business recycling them into meaningful traditional items.”
Raghad Bakes With Love
For Raghad, baking is more than a hobby – it's a dream she hopes to turn into a successful business. She currently has a small business selling homemade cookies. But she aspires to expand her client list.
She recalls an incident that left her discouraged: “I once had a large order, but I could not follow through because my oven was too small.”
However, she was determined and joined the project to enable her to grow the capacity of her business.
Natural Ingredients - Manal’s Products
Meanwhile, Manal has built a small business producing natural skin care products made from ingredients such as shea butter and olive oil. Her product lines include 13 products, starting from healing ointments, lip balms, and moisturizing creams.
“I love the products I create,” Manal says. “This little project enables me to support my family.”
“I love the products I create.”
While their businesses differ, Manal, Raghad, and Sameera share a common goal: creating a better future for themselves and their families. Some of them are mothers striving to provide financial support, and others are aiming for a larger business.
Through Women Can, participants receive technical training, business coaching, and mentorship, followed by a three-month incubation phase that helps them strengthen financial planning, marketing, and business management skills. Selected businesses also receive growth funding to support expansion and long-term sustainability.
