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 […]
MULTI-STAKEHOLDER STEERING- AND GOVERNANCE GROUPS: RENDER FUNDEMENTAL EXPECTATIONS OF BEHAVIOUR EXPLICCIT – PAPER (3)
Over the years, I have observed multi-stakeholder ‘steering committees’ or ‘governance’ groups. These refer to, for example, the steering committee of a network of member organizations, the steering group of a particular collaborative project or program, or the governing council of an organizational entity that includes members from other organizations that have an interest in […]
Building Resilience: Strengthening CBOs for Social Cohesion in Southern Jordan
This Policy Brief is informed by an in-depth analysis led by the Al-Nahda Women’s Studies Team at ARDD, examining the role of women-led and youth-led community-based organizations (CBOs) in fostering social cohesion in Southern Jordan. The research, conducted from November 2023 to January 2024, explores how these CBOs and other stakeholders, advance social cohesion initiatives […]