UP‑LOAD South is transforming the ecosystem of Jordan’s southern governorates — Karak, Tafileh, Ma’an, and Aqaba. The project tackles youth unemployment by driving digital skills, entrepreneurship, and MSME growth.
Innovety designed and implemented selection frameworks for entrepreneurs and MSMEs, coordinated training and outreach for 1,900 youth, and developed digital transformation roadmaps and sustainability strategies for local businesses—in line with our Socioeconomic Development Strategy services.
This created a pipeline of skilled talent, digitally‑enabled MSMEs, and 230+ new job placements, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive digital economy in the South.
Jordan’s southern governorates — Karak, Tafileh, Ma’an, and Aqaba — faced some of the country’s highest unemployment rates, with youth joblessness nearing 50% after COVID‑19.
While national strategies sought to boost economic participation, women (50.7% unemployment), refugees (84% of young Syrian refugees unemployed), and persons with disabilities (82% economically inactive) remained disproportionately excluded from formal employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Despite the establishment of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone and other regional development initiatives, the South’s economy remained heavily dependent on tourism — a sector severely hit by the pandemic. Meanwhile, Jordan’s ICT and digital sectors offered untapped opportunities for youth employment and MSME growth, yet deep structural barriers persisted.
Key pain points:
Mapping demand for digital skills:
Conducted secondary market research to understand the demand for digital skills among Jordanian employers and aspiring entrepreneurs in the southern governorates.
Our team analyzed research outputs to extract actionable insights on digital trends, sector‑specific opportunities, and sustainable community development challenges that could be addressed through digital employment and freelancing.
Designing and delivering capacity building workshops:
Building on these insights, we co‑designed five rounds of capacity‑building workshops for 50 academic and business institutions, including universities, incubators, and chambers of commerce.
These workshops focused on digital technology trends, opportunities for ICT adoption across industries, and best‑practice models for fostering youth employment through digital transformation.
Coaching employers for digital adaptation:
Innovety prepared and delivered two rounds of group coaching sessions for 50 employers (10 per batch).
The sessions introduced digital marketing tools, growth strategies, and business model adaptations, helping employers modernize their operations and attract digital talent.
Adapting training for youth:
We supported curriculum adaptation for EFE‑Jordan’s youth training programs, aligning content with market needs identified through our research.
This ensured that the 1,900 youth trained under the project — across freelancing, MSME digital development, and job‑linked technical tracks — gained market‑relevant digital and entrepreneurial skills.
Shaping sustainability pathways:
To ensure long-term impact, Innovety delivered capacity building to help MSMEs and ecosystem actors develop their own digital transformation roadmaps and sustainability strategies, equipping them with the tools and frameworks needed to continue leveraging digital solutions beyond the project lifecycle.
UP-LOAD South strengthened the capacity of Jordan’s institutions to better serve youth and entrepreneurs. Innovety led the research and strategy-building that clarified where the ecosystem must evolve, and designed capacity-building modules that equipped universities, incubators, and chambers of commerce with roadmaps for action.
Thanks to this support, 1,900 youth were trained in digital freelancing and MSME development, 50 institutions and employers were upskilled, and 10 public–private partnerships were established — creating a stronger, more sustainable foundation for youth employment and digital growth in the South.
