MEPI in Jordan
Completed MEPI Programs
The following provides descriptions of completed programs in Jordan, as well as a list of completed Regional Programs in which Jordanian organizations or individuals participated.
Jordan Programs
Examining Public Attitudes toward Parliament and Elections - As Jordan prepared for its Parliamentary election, the Center for Strategic Studies-University of Jordan (CSS) implemented two opinion polls (one of the public, and one of Parliament) to assess their views of Parliament; determined which national issues are of greatest concern to voters; and identifed the key determinants of voting decisions in the upcoming Parliamentary election. To encourage maximum public consideration and examination of these questions and their implications for Jordan’s democratic development, CSS publicized the survey and its content both before and after the polling was conducted. 100 interviewers including students from the University of Jordan were involved and trained in the polling process.
Understanding and Exercising Political Rights: Pre-election Outreach to the Women of Zarqa - A new election provides a new opportunity for change. As Jordan prepared for its parliamentary election, efforts were made to narrow the “impact gap” that existed between the impact the election had on poor women and their more affluent, better educated counterparts. This project helped ensure that the election had a significant and positive impact on the democratic knowledge, perspectives, and participation of women in the poor region of Zarqa.
Poor women are the group in Jordan whose political participation is most constrained by cultural restrictions. Through this project, the Zarqa Family Guidance Center (FGC) delivered democracy and civic education workshops for women community leaders in Zarqa, and trained them to conduct a door-to-door get-out-the-vote outreach campaign targeting the potential women voters of their communities. The project commenced with a Jordan-based, international expert who conducted a train-the-trainers session for staff of the FGC. The trained FGC trainers then trained members of FGC-affiliate women centers in the eight municipalities of Zarqa. Each of those women in turn undertook a door-to-door GOTV effort in their respective communities, using a basic informative leaflet prepared by the FGC.
Land and Human to Advocate Progress (LHAP)
Human Rights and Democracy in Action in Northern Jordan Valley Schools - LHAP expanded and made sustainable a previous-year MEPI local grant to create student Parliaments in schools in the Jordan Valley; trained the elected students on democracy issues and guided their operation; and trained teachers to incorporate democracy, human rights, and civic engagement principles into their classroom instruction. Three youth centers were tapped to participate fully in expanding the project to more schools, and their participating staff members were trained as trainers.
Arab Region Learning Center Portal - WLAR educated and trained school teachers in the Arab world on integrating the use of computers and the internet into classroom curricula and instruction. The project also created an online portal in Arabic that enabled schoolteachers from throughout the region to communicate and collaborate with one another on lessons, projects, and teaching methods.
Sharhabeel Ben Hasna Association (SBHA)
Rights Advocacy Campaign for Those with Special Needs - The project advocated for the rights of disabled persons living in the Jordan Valley area, heightening public awareness of the issues concerning disabled individuals, and leading a community campaign to lobby public officials to better accommodate the rights and needs of this neglected sector of society. The program examined the issue from a social, cultural and legal perspective.
Empowering Women's Community-Based Organizations - The program enabled women's community organizations to participate effectively in women's empowerment, political dialogue and democratic reform through capacity building and training. In order to convert training into action, a local grants program provided funding for projects organized by the participants.
Enhancing Corporate Governance - CIPE funded the strengthening of corporate governance efforts to promote transparency, rule of law, and protection of shareholders' rights in Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, and Egypt in addition to organizing a series of conferences and workshops on corporate governance in the region.
CEPPS
Elections Assistance - CEPPS Program worked toward free, fair and open parliamentary elections scheduled for summer 2003 in Jordan, which had regional significance, through the funding of training for campaigns, candidates, journalists, voters and NGOs.
Community Development Center
Mother's Advocates: A Women's Empowerment Project - The project goal was to create a framework where mothers will learn how to advocate for their children, enabling them to advocate for themselves and help others to do the same. This project worked in conjunction with mothers to provide information and develop the skills necessary in order to negotiate effectively with school administrations and other educational institutions.
JUSTDEED Program - The program helped Jordan's Ministry of Education equip students with skills sought by the Jordanian private sector. This unique pilot program in Aqaba established linkages and partnerships between Aqaba schools and businesses and U.S. schools and Jordanian diaspora in the Chicago area. The project increased the technical capacity and physical resource base of Aqaba schools while building relationships that provided ongoing support, exchanges, and activities.
Financial Markets Internatioanl Increasing Business Competitiveness - This grant set up the Jordan Financial and Operational Restructuring Project to increase the competitiveness of Jordanian small- and medium-sized enterprises and to improve their access to credit.
The Jordan Financial and Operational Restructuring project (FOR-Jordan) - increased the competitiveness and access to credit of Jordanian SMEs and improve the ability of Jordanian banks to safely lend to SMEs. This project increased productivity and profitability for the firms served, created new jobs and preserved existing jobs, and provided a higher level of credit to SMEs. FOR-Jordan provided businesses with tools, training, and advisory services with which to develop, implement, and measure financial and operational restructuring strategies.
Family Protection - The program built the capacity of public and voluntary institutions in Jordan to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to prevent domestic violence, sexual abuse, and honor killings. It supported the expansion of the Jordanian government's awareness raising program to promote a human rights-based approach within the judicial system. The project also supported efforts by Jordanian organizations to develop innovative and exceptional media programming and use new media approaches to expand popular support for women's rights.
Land and Human to Advocate Progress (LHAP)
Democracy in Action in North Badia - LHAP added 3 additional schools to a human rights and democracy project in the Northern Badia of Jordan in Mafraq Governorate. The project was comprised of forming a school parliament for each semester in each school, training both teachers and elected school parliamentarians, furnishing school libraries each with 50 books about human rights and democracy, convening as one school parliament, visiting the Jordanian parliament in Amman, and issuing a human rights newsletter after electing an editorial committee twice per academic year. The activities were designed to foster students' awareness of democratic issues and enhance critical thinking.
National Democratic Institute (NDI) Political Party Strengthening - NDI worked with Jordanian parties and parliamentary blocs on outreach; articulation of policy positions and platforms; message development and media relations; and policy research and development. IRI worked with political parties to develop issue-based platforms and to encourage greater responsiveness to constituent concerns, particularly among women and youth.
The Landmine Survivors Network Development of a Middle East Regional Employment Training and Disability Advocacy Program - The Landmine Survivors Network created a private-public partnership to improve existing vocational training programs by reforming current curricula and incorporating people with disabilities and other underemployed, marginalized groups into training programs.
Building Working Women’s Political and Social Participation in Jordan - Solidarity Center prepared 100 Jordanian trade union women to be dedicated, versatile trainers for their trade union organizations who can provide programs for working women seeking larger political and leadership roles in their unions and communities. The longer-term objective was to build a sustainable network of trained, activist women throughout Jordan who can achieve their goals of shaping union and public policies that incorporate their interests.
Regional Programs
Jordanian individuals or groups participated in the following completed programs, which took place in two or more countries in the region (Click Here to see descriptions of regional programs). MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.
Bahrain
Jordan
