Meta, BDC partner to support around 1,000 Jordanian SMBs

AMMAN – Meta, in partnership with the Jordan-based Business Development Centre (BDC), launched the second phase of “Boost with Facebook”. 

The global programme is designed to equip small-and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) with the digital marketing skills that they need to grow their presence online and compete in the digital economy. 

In its first phase, the programme supported around 1,000 SMBs. With the successful impact on ground, the partners decided to implement a second phase targeting another 1,000 SMBs across Jordan to support their economic recovery, according to a BDC statement.

“Boost with Facebook” programme aims to provide virtual training for SMBs over a period of six months across the Kingdom. 

Within the framework of the programme, Meta will provide “Training of Trainers” courses to enable trainers to effectively transfer their knowledge and expertise to participants from selected MSMEs, ensuring that the programme’s impact continues to multiply.

Public Policy Director for Middle East, North Africa and Turkey at Meta, Azzam Alameddin, commented: “The challenges that small and medium-sized businesses continue to experience as a result of COVID-19 are significant, and we remain firmly committed to supporting them in both recovering and thriving. We have an important role to play, providing the necessary digital skills for start-ups and small businesses to survive, recover and deliver results online and offline. This year, we are continuing those training efforts in partnership with BDC, helping further boost a burgeoning start-up ecosystem to positively impact socioeconomic growth in Jordan”.

Ghaleb M. Hijazi, general manager at BDC, said: “We had a successful pioneering experience last year in implementing the programme in partnership with Facebook Jordan at a time were small-and medium-sized companies were in a need to innovate new ways to enhance their presence in the market and adopt non-traditional methods to market their products utilising online tools”. 

“The programme had a clear impact in motivating companies especially with the high level of innovative skills and creativity they have if given the needed support and capacity development,” Hijazi added.

The “Boost with Facebook” curriculum presents two varying tracks. 

These modules are designed to help SMBs address business challenges caused by the pandemic. 

The “Beginner’s Track” caters to businesses with a limited online presence and who are set to embark on their digital journey. The sessions also cover developing financial statements, online sales techniques and marketing strategies including labeling and packaging.

The “Advanced Track” caters to businesses that are looking to take their online presence to the next level. 

The sessions will focus on leveraging digital platforms to promote products to regional, international, and non-traditional markets, as well as cover customer management and export strategy.