Transforming a Jordanian daycare into a greener business

Ilham Abu Zaid is a dedicated entrepreneur and a single mother of six children. While balancing the demands of family life and running a successful business, Ilham recognized a growing need in her community: a lack of reliable daycare services for working parents. Driven by this insight, she launched a daycare centre, which today serves an average of 50 children annually. With a small team of seven staff members, the daycare operates on weekdays from 7 AM to 4 PM, providing a vital service to local families.

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted economies and businesses worldwide, Ilham, like many others, faced financial challenges. Searching for ways to ensure her business’s financial growth and stability, she reached out for support from the Microfund for Women. The daycare had been operating with a Substantial electricity bill of US$ 395  per month, a significant expense that ate into the business profits. She made a decisive move and invested in seven new energy-efficient air conditioning units, seeking financing of US$ 4,935 .

The upgrade paid off immediately. Her monthly electricity bill dropped from US$ 395 to US$ 155, saving US$ 240 per month. The new units also reduced energy use by 4.965 GJ per year and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 0.366 tonnes annually

In addition to these savings, Ilham received a 10 percent cashback on her investment, funded by the European Union, amounting to US$ 493 , which covered the cost of one of the air conditioning units. This benefit motivated her to continue investing in the future of her daycare. Encouraged by the success of this green upgrade, Ilham is now planning to seek further financing for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system, aiming to further reduce her operational costs and contribute to a greener future.

The Green Economy Financing Facility programme in Jordan is funded by the European Union and the Green Climate Fund.