Leading Change from the Ground Up: Zainab Alkhalil on Women, Justice, and Localization
By Abigail Harper, Intern at RSC This Women’s Month, we spotlight Zainab Alkhalil, Manager of the Education and Women’s Access to Justice Programs at ARDD, who recently marked 11 years of impactful humanitarian and development work with the organization. With over six years at UNESCO advancing Iraq’s National Literacy Strategy and expanding access to education […]
We Do Not Want a Seat… We Want a New Table: Rethinking Women’s Leadership in the Arab Region
By Malak Suleiman Over the past two decades, Jordan and the wider Arab region have witnessed a notable expansion in programs aimed at developing women’s leadership. Governments, donors, and civil society organizations have invested substantial resources in training, capacity-building, and promoting women’s civic and political participation. The experience of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and […]
Together… Stories of Voices towards a New Renaissance
Across communities in Jordan, change often begins in everyday spaces , through women choosing to participate, share ideas, and take active roles in shaping their communities. Through Empowering Each Other – Leading Together: Advancing Women’s Leadership Through Civic Action, implemented by the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), learning spaces evolved into platforms for […]
From Lebanon to the Region: Preventing the Next Wave of Forced Displacement
Statement by MARFA The region is running out of space and capacity to handle another displacement crisis. As violence escalates across Lebanon, the country is rapidly entering what could become one of the most significant displacement emergencies in the region in recent years. In just a matter of weeks, humanitarian and government sources estimate that […]
Women’s Day in a Burning Region No more slogans. Just one demand: stop destroying our world.
A Statement by ARDD on Women’s International Day 2026 Each year, Women’s International Day arrives with speeches, conferences, and renewed commitments to gender equality, justice, and the well-being of women. Yet for millions of women and girls in our region, this day has become a painful moment of confrontation with a reality that grows harsher year […]
Accountability on Stage: A Talk with UN Special Rapporteur oPt
Nearly 1,000 Voices Gather in Amman for a Public Dialogue on International Law, Corporate Responsibility, and Palestine Anchoring Justice, Legal Evidence, Civic Mobilization, and the Future of Accountability Discussing the Stories Behind the Reports and the Book When the World Sleeps: Lived Experience and Collective Memory The Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC) at the Arab Renaissance […]
Localizing Social Security Reform in the Arab World:Protecting the Social Contract Before Protecting the Balance Sheet
Across the Arab world, social security reform is increasingly framed as a technical inevitability. Demographic shifts, fiscal pressures, debt sustainability concerns, and labor market volatility are presented as universal challenges requiring standardized solutions. Retirement ages are raised, contribution periods are extended, replacement rates are recalibrated, investment strategies are expanded. Therefore, the language became actuarial, but […]
Why an Option to Retire at 55 May Be Reasonable for Some Women Toward a Fair Approach Based on the Life Cycle and Economic Dignity
In public debates on pension systems in the Arab region, the issue is often framed primarily in terms of financial sustainability: fund deficits, rising life expectancy, and growing pressure on public expenditure. Yet, important as this perspective may be, it often overlooks a deeper question linked to social justice between women and men: do current […]
A Talk with Francesca Albanese
The Renaissance Strategic Center at the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), in cooperation with Landmark Hotel, cordially invites you to attend A Talk with Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian Territory occupied since 1967. The discussion will feature Dr. Anis Kassim, international lawyer, Chief […]
Women in STEM in the Arab World
Blog by Paola Noguera RSC – ARDD intern In 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution encouraging equal development in technology, science, and innovation for women and girls (United Nations). This year, the International Day of Women and Girls in STEM, celebrated on February 11th, will focus on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) […]