Amman, Dec. 18 (Petra) – The Citi Foundation announced that the International Rescue Committee has been selected as one of 50 community-based organizations worldwide to receive a $500,000 grant under its 2025 Global Innovation Challenge.

In a statement issued Thursday, the foundation said the grant will support the implementation of the "Innovation for Economic Inclusion" program in Jordan, aimed at advancing financial inclusion and expanding economic opportunities for urban youth, refugees, and women entrepreneurs aged 18–30, with a particular focus on East Amman. The initiative seeks to enhance financial inclusion and expand economic opportunities through innovative financing and skills development interventions.

The new program builds on eight years of Citi Foundation support for the International Rescue Committee’s youth-focused initiatives in Jordan. It will pilot alternative lending models in partnership with a Jordanian financial technology startup, including the introduction of a loan authenticator tool designed to expand access to credit for individuals without bank accounts and facilitate the provision of small-scale nano-loans.

In addition, the program will deliver targeted financial literacy training, develop critical twenty-first-century skills such as artificial intelligence literacy and entrepreneurship, and provide mentorship, business development support, and grants to youth-led enterprises, to promote sustainable livelihoods and long-term economic empowerment.

Citibank Jordan Chief Country Officer and Banking Head Nour Jarrar said the initiative aligns with the Citi Foundation’s commitment to empowering young people and strengthening economic resilience. Jarrar added that the program aligns with Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, which prioritizes human capital development, innovation, and digital transformation to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth.

International Rescue Committee Jordan Country Director Eka Zhvania said the continued partnership with the Citi Foundation represents a significant step toward expanding economic opportunities for young people in the Kingdom.

Zhvania noted that the program will strengthen financial literacy and inclusion while equipping youth, refugees, and women with the skills needed to engage effectively in Jordan’s evolving economy.

//Petra// AJ