Social Innovation Incubator

Start Date: March 2020

End Date: February 2022

Area of Intervention: Azraq Syrian Refugee Camp, Zaatari Syrian Refugee Camp

Source(s) of Funding: UNICEF, Civic

Partners: UNICEF,  UNHCR, Jordan River Foundation, Ministry of Youth, the Islamic Charitable Center Society, and Al Qantara Center for Human Resources Development

Project Description

UNICEF has a network of 15 social innovation incubators in the North, Center, and South of Jordan including host communities and refugee camps. The programme provides the most vulnerable young people aged 14-24 with the physical space, mentorship, curriculum/technical trainings, seed funding, and networking opportunities required to help them identify problems in their own communities, and come up with solutions to make them better, and turn their ideas into viable scalable and sustainable projects.

Trainings on social innovation and entrepreneurship are based on the UNICEF UPSHIFT methodology. The impact of this programme is the development of transferable, entrepreneurial, and employability skills that lead to civic and economic engagement of the most vulnerable young people in Jordan. In 2020, the programme was able to reach 9200 young people and produce 300 sustainable ventures. Technical and implementing partners include Majlisna, UNICEF Makani centers, Jordan River Foundation, Ministry of Youth, the Islamic Charitable Center Society, and Al Qantara Center for Human Resources Development.