MEPI in Jordan
Ongoing MEPI Programs
The following provides descriptions of ongoing programs in Jordan, as well as a list of Regional Programs in which Bahraini organizations or individuals participate.
Jordan Programs
Examining Public Attitudes toward Parliament and Elections - As Jordan prepares for its Parliamentary election in the coming months, the Center for Strategic Studies-University of Jordan (CSS) will implement two opinion polls (one of the public, and one of Parliament) to assess their views of Parliament; determine which national issues are of greatest concern to voters; and identify 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 will make a concerted effort to publicize the survey and its content both before and after the polling is conducted. 100 interviewers including students from the University of Jordan will also be 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 prepares for its parliamentary election in the coming months, efforts should be made to narrow the “impact gap” that exists between the impact the election will have on poor women and their more affluent, better educated counterparts. This project will help ensure that the election has 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) will deliver democracy and civic education workshops for women community leaders in Zarqa, and train them to conduct a door-to-door get-out-the-vote outreach campaign targeting the potential women voters of their communities. The project will commence with a Jordan-based, international expert conducting a train-the-trainers session for staff of the FGC. The trained FGC trainers will then train members of FGC-affiliate women centers in the eight municipalities of Zarqa. Each of those women will in turn undertake a door-to-door GOTV effort in their respective communities, using a basic informative leaflet prepared by the FGC.
Jordan Education Initiative [Education] - This program develops on-line, interactive English as a foreign language (EFL) curriculum along with a professional development training program. The new curriculum is for the Jordan Education Initiative's 100 Discovery Schools, with a goal of providing a fully functional online, interactive EFL curriculum and instructor support materials for grades 7-12. The program also develops civics curriculum and teacher training.
Private Sector Partnership for Civic Activism - Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center, through its Jordan Forum for Economic Development (JFED) will teach civil society organizations (CSOs) to more effectively seek private sector partnerships, and will expand the support that the private sector lends to CSO projects and programs. Based on the results of a focus group meeting with Jordanian firms, 25 CSOS will receive training and instructional materials on how to effectively garner private sector partnerships. At least 15 participant CSOs will then, with JFED assistance, draft and present project partnership proposals to Jordanian companies. JFED will also montior the implementation of those project proposals which succeed in securing partnership and support. Finally, the best five CSO-private sector partnership projects will be highlighted at a showcase event for a broader audience.
Internationalizing American Studies Under MEPI [Education] - The University of Jordan will partner with UNC-Chapel Hill to strengthen its American Studies program by connecting UJ to a network of American Studies programs.
English in a Box [Education] - This program provides a collection of print and electronic materials, designed to make English language classes lively and productive, to Arab middle school teachers of English. These materials will help teachers reinforce independent and critical thinking, encourage participation and debate, and develop students' problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Regional Programs
Jordanian individuals or groups participate in the following programs, which take place in two or more countries in the region (Click Here to see descriptions of regional programs). MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.
ABA/CEELI - Arab Women's Legal Netwrok (AWLN) [Women]
ABA/CEELI - Middle East Legal Development Initiative [Political]
Academy for Educational Development and Sun Microsystems - G-8 BMENA Global Learning Portal [Education]
Al Urdun Al Jadid Research Center - Building a Network of Civil Society Organizations in the Arab World
Association Liaison Office - U.S.-Middle East University Partnerships [Education]
Beyster Institute - Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the U.S. (MEET U.S.) [Economic]
Booz Allen Hamilton - Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Technical Assistance [Economic]
Center for Civic Education - Arab Civitas [Education]
CEPPS - Parliamentary Assistance and Political Party Building [Political]
Chugach - Middle East Finance Corporation Due Diligence [Economic]
CLDP - Commercial, Judicial, and Legal Reform [Economic]
FSVC - Partnership for Financial Excellence Part II [Economic]
ICNL - Middle East Associative Rights Initiative [Political]
International Finance Corporation - G-8 BMENA Technical Assistance [Economic]
IREX - Middle East North Africa Development Initiative Alliance (MENA Media) [Political]
IREX - Media Sustainability Index [Political]
No Peace Without Justice - Strengthening the Democracy Assistance Dialogue [Political]
Junior Achievments - Economic Education and Job Skills Training in the Middle East [Economic]
OECD - Middle East and North Africa Investment for Development Initiative [Economic]
Scholastic, Inc. - My Arabic Library [Education]
Seeds of Peace - Building School Environments that Encourage Responsible Citizenship in Youth [Education]
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars - Enhancing the Role of Arab Women in the Legislative Process [Political]
The English ACCESS Micro-scholarships Program [Education]
UNDP - Global Democracy Barometer Project [Political]
University of Michigan - Global Democracy Barometer Project [Political]
Bahrain
Jordan
