Assessing Barriers to Refugee Lens Investment in Jordan

Jordan hosts the second largest proportion of refugees per capita in the world, but their ability to engage in the formal economy can be limited. The nascent field of Refugee Lens Investing is gradually decoding how global investors can better fund organisations run by or for refugees.

In 2021, we worked with the Refugee Investment Network and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct an in-depth inclusive investment market analysis in Jordan; our goal was to create a roadmap for increasing investment into refugee-related enterprises.

Over a one year period, we researched and assessed the critical barriers and enabling factors to inclusive growth in Jordan. We reviewed policy papers and interviewed over 100 individuals, including refugees, business associations, investors, government officials and entrepreneurs.

The work resulted in a suite of recommendations, including how and where to deploy catalytic capital, how to support alternative financing opportunities and how best to support refugee-lens businesses across Jordan.

Photo: Ted McGrath