As part of the Jordan NGOs Forum (JONAF) efforts to strengthen its advocacy capacity and enhance members' skills to better represent and respond to community needs, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) recently concluded a training program for JONAF members. This training built upon discussions from September 2024, where members identified priority community issues and committed to engaging in policy-making to drive sustainable development and social change.

The three-day training, held from February 18-20, 2025, titled "Effective Advocacy Techniques in the Livelihood Sector Coaching," focused on discussing existing policies and legislation related to startups (profit-generating productive projects) in the livelihood sector, exploring available opportunities, analyzing challenges facing the local community, and utilizing both direct and indirect methods of mobilization and advocacy. Participants also learned about best practices for defending issues aligned with the coalition's work outcomes.

The training was delivered by Dr. Sanaa Jalassi, Women and Youth Empowerment Program Advisor at ARDD, as part of the "Future Forward: Unlocking Local Sustainability Opportunities" project, funded by the European Regional Development and Protection Program for Supporting Jordan and Lebanon. It covered key topics such as media campaigns and mobilization, advocacy goals, effective advocacy techniques, SWOT analysis, problem tree analysis, tools used in advocacy campaigns, theory of change, and influence strategies.

Representatives from eight organizations within the coalition participated in the training, including Al-Amal Charitable Women's Development Society, Durra Al-Manal Company for Development and Training, The Jordanian National Women’s Committees Coalition, Child Care Charitable Organization, Step of Hope Charitable Society, Al-Rafeed Agricultural Women’s Society, Women of the Al-Disi Basin Villages, Partners for Better Society, and the Young Women’s Christian Association.

Eng. Zainab Khalil, Program Manager at ARDD and Coordinator of the JONAF Coalition, stated that the coalition was established in 2016 and currently includes about 50 organizations covering the central, northern, and southern regions of Jordan. It consists of a diverse range of civil society groups, community-based organizations, and founding partners. She explained that the coalition works on strengthening the advocacy capacities of its members by representing their common issues before official bodies and aid committees. Additionally, it focuses on policy development based on information provided by members to formulate unified positions on key issues. It also contributes to supporting legislation related to NGOs in Jordan, thereby enhancing the independence of civil society and its role in decision-making.

Regarding the “Future Forward” project, Lina Halsa, Project Manager at ARDD, emphasized that the project aims to develop a strong governance structure and unified operational procedures to institutionalize JONAF. It also seeks to enhance local ownership of the livelihood sector in Jordan through a multi-faceted approach that focuses on building the capacity of local civil society.

During the training, JONAF members engaged in discussions about various issues related to the livelihood sector, sharing experiences and coming up with practical proposals to improve the sector’s operations, identify available opportunities, and address existing challenges. Participants agreed that the coalition serves as a foundation for building improvement plans, highlighting that the key to advocacy campaigns is listening to different perspectives and understanding them broadly. They emphasized that the training fostered meaningful discussions, enhanced their capabilities, and allowed them to learn best practices for advocacy and mobilization.

As a step toward strengthening advocacy efforts, work is currently underway to develop a clear strategy focusing on the legal and policy framework for startups. In line with the recommendations of partner organizations, a roundtable discussion will be organized soon, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss startup registration processes, related challenges, and opportunities for policy reforms. Additionally, efforts will be made to expand this initiative by holding similar meetings in northern and southern Jordan, ensuring broader representation and inclusivity among key stakeholders.