Exploring Ways to Develop Youth Social Capital in Jordan
This policy brief addresses the role of social capital in Jordan and its impact on community engagement, political participation, and societal development. In particular, it explores the complex dynamics of youth social capital development and socio-cultural barriers to better understand its impact on young generations and enhance social justice among different societal segments. The brief […]
Militarization, Climate Change, and Gendered Injustice: The Case of Gaza
Militarization remains a major but often overlooked driver of environmental collapse. While civilian sectors are increasingly held accountable for carbon emissions, military operations, despite their immense environmental footprint, remain largely exempt from international climate agreements. This exemption allows cycles of resource extraction, violence, and ecological destruction to persist unchecked. Nowhere is this intersection more visible […]
Social Norms and Political Processes: Pathways to Enhance Civic and Political Participation
The brief addresses the role of social and gender norms in shaping youth participation, with a focus on equitable access and political inclusion. Acknowledging barriers and opportunities, the brief provides recommendations for government institutions, civil society organizations, and political parties to foster more inclusive spaces for youth engagement by addressing both structural and cultural barriers […]
Women’s Leadership in Jordan: Where Does the Gap Lie?
This policy brief addresses the barriers to women’s political participation and leadership, particularly in addressing gender inequality in leadership roles. It provides recommendations for government institutions, civil society organizations, and political parties to reduce the gender gap and promote women’s active engagement in political leadership at local and national levels. The brief is an outcome […]
Western Aid Cooperation in Meltdown Radical Change Required- After Critical Self-Reflection
The international aid sector is in shock. The suspension of all, and subsequent cancellation of many, USAID contracts, and the dismissal of most of its staff, has an immediate impact on millions of people and thousands of aid-funded organisations, UN and international and local/national NGOs, but also government institutions running programmes with US funding. The […]
A Shared Vision Activating Arts and Culture to Enhance Community Engagement and Ownership of Civic Spaces
This policy brief explores the integration of civic engagement and culture into urban planning in Jordan, using Jabal Amman as a case study to examine how art and cultural initiatives can reshape public spaces and foster inclusive urban development. It highlights the unique potential of youth as agents of change, advocating for participatory urban planning […]
Changes in the US Policies and their Impact on Women’s Rights and Women Organizations in Jordan
President Trump’s administration’s decision to globally freeze US foreign development assistance for 90 days, pending reassessment, and to halt all initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) sent shockwaves through the humanitarian and development sectors worldwide. In Jordan -home to one of the largest refugee populations and heavily reliant on foreign aid to support […]
Global Impacts of Shifting US Gender Policies
President Trump administration’s rollback of gender-focused policies and foreign aid cuts—totaling over $8 billion—poses significant challenges for civil society organizations advancing gender equality, reproductive rights, and Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) initiatives. The defunding of these programs deprioritizes gender-inclusive security policies and weakens peacebuilding networks, disproportionately impacting grassroots movements in the Global South. As U.S. […]
The Role of Monitoring and Advocacy in Ending the Retention of Personal Identification Documents by Jordanian Hospitals – Legal Analysis Series Volume 3
Since 2020, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) has monitored the illegal practice of retaining personal identification documents by Jordanian hospitals as collateral for unpaid medical fees. This practice disproportionately has impacted refugees and low-income Jordanians, denying them access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and employment. Through extensive fieldwork, ARDD documented […]
ANATOMY OF POWER:INTERNATIONAL AID AGENCIES & NATIONAL CRISIS RESPONDERS – PAPER (4)
International aid agencies, particularly those involved in crisis-response who handle larger budgets, have power over national crisis responders. The primary source of that power is money. It is not just the money that is currently available for a particular crisis response, but many years of good resourcing that has allowed international organisations to attract and […]