“Ead B’ead”, which means “hand in hand” in English, aims to promote issue-based politics that addresses issues of concern to the community-at-large. In other words, changing the decision-making process to one where both men and women have a say in the process of identifying community priorities. “Ead B’ead” is a project that brings back women and women’s rights to the public sphere in the governorate of Karak.
Implemented in partnership with European Union & Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs in Jordan, over the course of one year (started February 2015), the project aims to activate the role of civil society organizations and local media in raising awareness on human rights and women’s rights, while concurrently producing an assessment for evidence-based interventions enhancing the concepts of women’s leadership and citizenship in the governorate of Karak.
This project specifically addresses the need for increasing women’s participation in political and social life in Karak by means of a three-fold intervention: 1) assessment of social and political barriers of women’s political participation; 2) capacity development of local institutions; and 3) advocacy. Though, the project targeted both: Jordanian men and women in the governorate of Karak.
Actions focused on creating a network of women and students working within their communities to raise awareness on women’s rights and political participation, while concurrently mobilizing the masses through large-scale advocacy work. The research component provided an in-depth analysis of the underlying causes affecting women’s political participation in Karak and will help tailor the evidence-based approach for the program as well as future policy to address local needs.