Human and Economic Development Program

The economic and human development situation of most of the Arab states is worrying. Growth rates and job creation stand at relatively low levels; public debts are unsustainable, generating a dependence on capital inflows; education systems fail to respond to the needs of the economy in terms of technical and soft skills; inequalities and poverty are on the rise, threatening social cohesion; economic participation (especially amongst women) is stagnant and below world average; the informal economy remains predominant despite numerous formalization policies; unemployment levels are the highest in the world. 

Through its Human and Economic Development Strategy (HEDS), Al-Nahda Center intends to contribute to the ongoing debate concerning the enhancement of economic and human development in Jordan and other Arab countries by promoting systems of government committed to the elimination of poverty, inequality, and discrimination, and to the promotion of inclusiveness, as well as the empowerment of civil institutions and decent work conditions.

The Human and Economic Development Program (HEDP) involves three components of human and economic development: education reform, economic transformation – including toward a green economy – and labor market reform. The fourth component, of a more methodological nature, pertains to the comparative relevance of analytical, planning, and action approaches to socioeconomic issues, including human security, vulnerability assessments, and human development