The Human Development Fund and the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization have launched Arzaq 2026, a vocational training and enterprise-support initiative for 180 women in Jordan.
The organizations signed a memorandum of understanding and project cooperation agreement in Amman on January 21, 2026. According to the Petra report distributed by the Federation of Arab News Agencies, the program is designed to combine practical training, production equipment, and access to a place where participants can market their work.
This is a program commitment, not yet a completed impact result. The 180 women are the planned participant group, and HDF should report enrollment, completion, toolkit distribution, and enterprise outcomes as implementation advances.
What Arzaq 2026 is designed to provide
The partnership announcement identifies three vocational areas:
- Sewing
- Cooking
- Handicrafts
The training is intended to build practical production skills and create income-generating opportunities. Upon completing the program, each participant is expected to receive a production toolkit suited to her training area.
The partners have not publicly listed the training duration, curriculum, eligibility rules, provider locations, toolkit contents, or value of each package. Those details should be added when final implementation plans are approved.
From training to production
Training alone does not guarantee a viable enterprise. Participants may also need equipment, materials, product development, pricing knowledge, business registration guidance, financial literacy, and continuing mentorship.
Arzaq 2026 addresses part of this transition by pairing training with production toolkits. The project announcement says these toolkits are intended to help participants establish small, home-based enterprises and begin independent economic activity.
HDF and JHCO should explain whether toolkits will be standardized or adapted to each trade, whether participants will own the equipment, and what technical support will be available after distribution.
A route to customers through the Dhai Showroom
The partnership also includes planned access to the Dhai Showroom, where participants can display and market products. This market-linkage component is important because producing an item and selling it consistently are different stages of enterprise development.
The public announcement does not yet explain how products will be selected, priced, promoted, stocked, or sold, or whether the showroom will charge fees or commissions. Publishing those terms will help participants and donors understand how the sales channel works.
How progress should be measured
Arzaq 2026 should be assessed at several stages rather than by enrollment alone. Future updates should report:
- Applications received, participants selected, and selection criteria
- Enrollment and completion totals by training area and location
- Training hours, curriculum, instructors, and competency assessments
- Toolkits distributed, their contents, and their value
- Participants receiving mentorship or business-development support
- Products accepted by the Dhai Showroom and sales generated
- Enterprises started, still operating, and earning income after six and twelve months
- Participant feedback, barriers, and safeguarding or complaints mechanisms
These measures would show whether the project moved from signed agreement to completed training, productive activity, market access, and sustained income.
Support opportunity and livelihoods programs in Jordan
Arzaq 2026 brings HDF and JHCO together around a defined pathway: train participants, equip them for production, and connect eligible products with a market platform.
Support HDF’s work in Jordan or explore HDF’s Education and Opportunity programs.
