Revitalising the contribution of international investment to sustainable development in Jordan is more imperative than ever. While the economy is recovering from a 1.6% GDP contraction in 2020, the COVID-19 crisis has amplified existing socio-economic vulnerabilities. Foreign direct investment (FDI) – an important source of external financing, with the FDI stock-to-GDP ratio exceeding 80% – can help unlock the country’s export potential and drive economic growth. However, the lack of a vibrant private sector, combined with global shocks and regional instability, have gradually eroded Jordan’s performance in attracting foreign investors. At the same time, FDI held up during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Jordan’s FDI inflows growing by 4% in 2020 compared to a drop of 18% across the Middle East and North Africa region – Jordan’s FDI inflows strongly fell in 2021. Furthermore, the proportion of foreign firms in Jordan that permanently closed their doors during 2020 was six times lower than for domestic firms.