This working paper addresses the role of the private sector in contributing to humanitarian action in Jordan. It examines the on-going Syrian refugee crisis, which has created opportunities as well as constraints for humanitarian–private sector collaboration over the course of the past two years. The paper outlines the models of humanitarian–private sector engagement that have emerged in Jordan, identifies good practice and lessons learnt, explores the factors likely to drive or impede engagement or collaboration between humanitarian actors and the business community and sets out some of the opportunities for strengthening humanitarian action by pursuing specific forms of humanitarian–private sector engagement.

Case studies of Kenya, Haiti and Indonesia also feature within this research project.