Child Development Accounts in Jordan: Towards Innovative Social Policies for Economic Development

This paper examines a prospect scenario of adopting Child Development Accounts (CDAs) as a social welfare innovation in Jordan. CDAs are considered as an asset-building policy aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and socio-economic well-being. This paper discovers the feasibility of CDAs that have proven successful in several countries, as their potential in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in Jordan, remains unexplored. The application of CDAs in the social welfare system aims to support sustainable asset accumulation and improve the living standards of diverse segments in Jordan by integrating CDAs within the efforts made by Jordan to achieve financial inclusion, alleviate poverty, and supplement household income through asset development. There are opportunities to implement the program in Jordan, including expanding the scope of microfinance, public–private partnerships, and targeted programs for women, youth, and refugees. However, several challenges may hinder its application, including limited financial literacy, high unemployment rates, income inequality, regulatory obstacles, and difficulties in implementing social reforms. The paper contributes to the debate on social welfare policies adopted in developing countries by providing solutions based on global practices in CDA execution and has implications and recommendations for decision makers to achieve economic development. Future research in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries should target pilot projects and comparative studies to refine CDA strategies.