Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminars – Concept Note
Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminars Organized by the Renaissance Strategic Center at ARDD, in collaboration with the Overseas Development Institute March – August 2026 Concept Note Governance Is Fragmenting – But It Is Also Being Rebuilt Nearly half of those living in fragile and conflict-affected states now reside in areas where central authority has collapsed, receded, or is contested (Chatham House–NYU CIC, 2023). Structural weakness (DRC, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan), state implosion (CAR, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, parts of Syria), political miscalculation (Myanmar), and hybrid fragmentation are no longer exceptional; they are increasingly the norm. In these contexts, national institutions struggle to deliver security, services, or legitimacy. Public trust erodes. International systems remain largely configured to engage central governments, even where those governments no longer meaningfully govern. Yet governance has not disappeared. It has relocated. Across fragile environments, communities – often led by youth – are constructing practical, participatory governance from below: delivering health care, education, civil protection, dispute resolution, and accountability mechanisms under conditions of extreme constraint. The policy question is no longer whether this shift is occurring. It is whether international actors will adapt to it. A New Generation of Governance Actors Across diverse contexts, emerging local governance actors share consistent characteristics: Locally legitimate: authority grounded in community trust, not elite patronage. Service-oriented: prioritizing delivery over ideology. Participatory: favoring horizontal leadership and civic inclusion. Transnationally connected: learning across borders through activist networks. The systems emerging differ in form but converge around a core reality: communities are rebuilding governance capacity faster than international frameworks are adapting to support them. The Initiative The Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminars propose four closed, sequential virtual sessions bringing together activists and governance practitioners from Madagascar, Nepal, Sudan, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and Iran. Objectives Generate comparative insight into post-Arab Spring activism and its evolution. Document practical governance models emerging under fragmentation. Inform international policy adaptation to decentralized realities. Session Themes Three virtual and closed seminars will be organized under the leadership of the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC), a Jordan-based think tank of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD). A period of one and a half months will be allocated between seminars in order to have sufficient time to prepare policy-type briefs that will not only summarize the issues discussed but also develop those that were insufficiently addressed. The London-based think-tank Overseas Development Institute (ODI) will take the lead in preparing a paper after the third session, bringing together ideas in preparation for the final seminar. The time period allocated for the preparation of the papers will allow the participants in the different sessions to contribute to their preparation. The plan is to share the outcomes with government policy makers as well as give them wide circulation. The themes of the different sessions will be the following: Session 1 – From Mobilization to Governance Why transitions stalled after the Arab Spring; lessons from Myanmar and Syria’s Local Councils; the “Now What?” dilemma when protest delegitimizes authority, but governance alternatives remain underdeveloped. Session 2 – Current Transformations Karenni’s participatory governance model; Morocco’s earthquake mobilization; Sudan’s emergency civic response networks. Session 3 – Service Delivery Under State Collapse Health, education, and community safety in fragmented environments. Session 4 – Rebuilding Central Governance The role of local governance activists in rebuilding central state systems, based on the conclusions of the first three sessions, with a target audience of government policy makers. Expected Policy Value Comparative mapping of emergent governance models. Identification of common principles: legitimacy, youth leadership, participation, and proximity. Practical recommendations for donors, UN agencies, and INGOs operating in decentralized contexts. Strengthened cross-border networks among reform-minded civic actors. A concise policy paper translating field experience into strategic guidance. Why This Matters Now International engagement remains anchored to a state-centric architecture designed for a different era. Yet in many fragile contexts, the state is no longer the primary provider of governance functions. Supporting only central authorities risks irrelevance or worse, reinforcing systems that lack legitimacy. Community-driven governance models demonstrate that even amid collapse, authority can be rebuilt through trust, participation, and service delivery. They offer neither romanticized revolution nor institutional nostalgia, but pragmatic adaptation. The seminars aim to bridge a widening gap: between those improvising governance on the ground and those financing and shaping international policy. If governance in the 21st century is increasingly local, participatory, and people-driven, international systems must evolve accordingly. Charles Petrie March 2026
Your Hotline Call Echoes in Our Hearts Exploring the Impact, Opportunities, and Challenges of Emergency Hotlines in Jordan
An emergency hotline is reserved for handling extensive incoming calls, particularly during emergencies and crises, to ensure uninterrupted service to people in need. Emergency hotlines have several characteristics. In essence, they rely on trained and qualified staff members to provide service and assistance 24 hours a day, either directly or by referring the caller to the concerned authorities who can assist him. Each call in this context is taken as a call in which the caller suffers from an emergency that affects his physical or psychological well-being. This brief outlines the context, operational aspects, and impact of Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) hotline, highlighting its critical role during crises such as refugee and the COVID-19 pandemic and its broad accessibility to both refugees and local citizens. The Legal Aid Unit at ARDD provides free legal aid services to all individuals in need, covering both prevention and response services. Prevention services include legal awareness, outreach, and community education, while response services encompass legal consultations, mediation, court representation, and assistance in navigating official departments. These services are further strengthened by a dedicated hotline, available 24/7, ensuring immediate legal support and guidance in urgent situations. Established in 2006 during the Iraqi refugee crisis, ARDD’s Hotline provides access to vital legal aid services to refugees and continues to serve as a critical resource today. Operating 24/7, the hotline addresses various urgent needs, from legal assistance to connecting callers with essential services, while ensuring that every call is treated with the same seriousness, regardless of complexity. ARDD’s Hotline is part of the larger Jordanian social support system, offering a critical lifeline to individuals facing legal and personal crises. Its ongoing adaptation and responsive service continue to enhance its impact, making it an indispensable tool for emergency response in Jordan.
The Right to Access Information in Jordan
Legislative Analysis of Amendments
In March 2024, the parliament passed the amendments to Law No. 47 of 2007, known as the Law on Guarantee of Access to Information, to ensure the right to access information. Prior amendments were made to this law in 2012 and 2019 but were later postponed. During its sessions in December 2023 and January 2024, the Parliament concluded the discussions which consisted of revision to the existing 20 articles and inclusion of 7 new articles. The effectiveness of the existing 2007 Access to Information law in fostering a culture of transparency and the right to access information has been heavily criticized by national and international actors. While authorities have emphasized that the recent amendments align with international standards and seek to bolster transparency, integrity, and anti-corruption efforts, a legal examination of the amendments highlights fundamental deficiencies in the law and its procedural mechanisms. On February 5th, ARDD organized a session featuring a panel of experts aimed at fostering a public discussion on the law and its amendments. Dr. Sawsan Al Majali led the panel, which also included Khaled Khalifat, a lawyer specializing in media and cybercrime, and Member of Parliament, Omar Al-Ayasrah.
Comments on the Draft Social Development Law of 2023
Position Paper
Social development is a multidimensional and interdisciplinary concept that considers the interplay between various factors influencing the quality of life. Governments, non-governmental organizations, and international agencies worldwide often collaborate to implement policies and programs aimed at fostering social development. Key elements of social development include social safety nets, poverty alleviation, access to healthcare services, education and training, housing assistance, employment support policies, and policies for social Inclusion, in particular those that address systemic barriers and discrimination that may contribute to social disparities. Social work, social care, and social development are related concepts, but they have distinct focuses and roles. They share the common goal of improving well-being, but each concept operates at different levels and addresses distinct aspects of social services. In contrast to the more systemic efforts of social development to create a more equitable and just society through the different policies, strategies, and tools, social work involves professional intervention to empower individuals and communities, and social care provides direct assistance to those in need of support for daily living.
Forced Displacement in Gaza and the Right of Return
This background paper provides a basis and framework for understanding the forced displacement occurring in Gaza as a result of the current assault. In addition to the devastating death toll (current Israeli assault over 9,000 fatalities in Gaza), the destruction of infrastructure, the denial of access to basic necessities, and the displacement of over one million people – over half of the population of Gaza, equivalent to half the population of Namibia – the evacuation orders issued by the Israeli army, coupled with rhetoric around a “second Nakba” constitute forced displacement and may amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes. The term “Nakba” refers to the destruction of Palestine and the permanent forced displacement and dispossession of Palestinians from the 1940s until today. The majority of the inhabitants of Gaza (approximately 80%) are Palestinian refugees forced to flee as a result of the 1948 Arab-Israeli War – the original Nakba – and have been prevented from returning, in violation of international law. The displacement and denial did not end in 1948, rather Israel has continued to displace Palestinians, both internally and externally through military attacks, deportation, and destruction of homes, among other means. In the context of the current forced displacement imposed on the people of Gaza, Israel must allow access to safety inside Israel and the rest of occupied Palestine.
English for Beginners Booklet
This training booklet was developed as part of the Investing in the Future Project: Improved Educational, Social, and Economic Integration of Somali, Sudanese, and Yemeni minorities In Jordan, implemented by the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) in partnership with Vision Hope International e.V. (VHI) and through the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. This booklet is designed by educator Rama Mustafa to help beginners acquire the needed everyday English vocabulary and phrases. Every lesson includes writing and speaking exercises to improve their educational opportunities. It also supports children’s abilities to express themselves in an innovative way to increase their self confidence, then integrate them into society
Psychological support sessions
Investing in the Future project – Training Manuals
In partnership with Vision Hope International e.V. (VHI) and through the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) launched the Investing in the Future project that addresses the educational needs of the minority of refugees and vulnerable host communities. Investing in the Future is integral to ARDD’s education strategy. ARDD’s approach is founded on pursuing a holistic approach to education that considers ensuring access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all as a central pillar to alleviating poverty, strengthening protection, and enabling lasting positive social transformation and cohesion. Centered on inclusive, integrated, and equal education for all that is consolidated in protection, the Project´s protection component will focus on providing various legal services and improved educational opportunities to increase the protection for the Sudanese, Somali and Yemeni communities, and the Jordanian host population through education. These manuals were designed as part of the project’s following activities: · Increasing legal awareness and providing legal assistance services such as mitigation and litigation services to refugee minorities and thus increase their resilience. · Supporting parents through focused sessions to enhance their children’s well-being and secure a better future . Psychosocial support sessions. These materials are in Arabic only
Parental skills
Investing in the Future project – Training Manuals
In partnership with Vision Hope International e.V. (VHI) and through the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) launched the Investing in the Future project that addresses the educational needs of the minority of refugees and vulnerable host communities. Investing in the Future is integral to ARDD’s education strategy. ARDD’s approach is founded on pursuing a holistic approach to education that considers ensuring access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all as a central pillar to alleviating poverty, strengthening protection, and enabling lasting positive social transformation and cohesion. Centered on inclusive, integrated, and equal education for all that is consolidated in protection, the Project´s protection component will focus on providing various legal services and improved educational opportunities to increase the protection for the Sudanese, Somali and Yemeni communities, and the Jordanian host population through education. These manuals were designed as part of the project’s following activities: · Increasing legal awareness and providing legal assistance services such as mitigation and litigation services to refugee minorities and thus increase their resilience. · Supporting parents through focused sessions to enhance their children’s well-being and secure a better future These materials are in Arabic only
Legal workshops
Investing in the Future project – Training Manuals
In partnership with Vision Hope International e.V. (VHI) and through the financial support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) launched the Investing in the Future project that addresses the educational needs of the minority of refugees and vulnerable host communities. Investing in the Future is integral to ARDD’s education strategy. ARDD’s approach is founded on pursuing a holistic approach to education that considers ensuring access to quality education and lifelong learning opportunities for all as a central pillar to alleviating poverty, strengthening protection, and enabling lasting positive social transformation and cohesion. Centered on inclusive, integrated, and equal education for all that is consolidated in protection, the Project´s protection component will focus on providing various legal services and improved educational opportunities to increase the protection for the Sudanese, Somali and Yemeni communities, and the Jordanian host population through education. Th es manuals were designed as part of the project’s following activities: · Increasing legal awareness and providing legal assistance services such as mitigation and litigation services to refugee minorities and thus increase their resilience. · Supporting parents through focused sessions to enhance their children’s well-being and secure a better future These materials are in Arabic only
Goodwill Declaration – “Towards a Common Goal: Strengthening Equitable Economic Growth in Jordan”
The Kingdom of Jordan is a regional and international reference for its commitment to international law and sustainable development. The Kingdom has embraced this commitment through its economic and political modernization programs. While Jordan’s Economic Modernisation Vision revolves around two pillars that place “quality of life” at its forefront[1], its political vision strives to create a political and legislative environment conducive to the active engagement of its citizenry. In the post-pandemic era, a pressing need exists to enhance a more innovative, resilient, and sustainable society. This challenge requires supporting efficient economic growth through fostering new partnerships and alliances with shared values and achievable goals. This is a critical opportunity to improve good governance, job creation, and living standards while increasing economic productivity and responsible investments in Jordan. Jordan’s business sector plays a critical role as its economic growth engine. While leadership and resilience are fundamental pillars of the business sector, to thrive in the current environment, the sector necessitates improvements in areas such as ease of doing business, infrastructure, the availability of specific skills, and high productivity levels. The voluntary Goodwill declaration “Towards a Common Goal” aims to build a new partnership between state institutions, the business sector, and civil society to promote social dialogue and actions that contribute to sustainable socio-economic development in Jordan. To frame this cooperation, the document is structured in a set of key principles and an agenda of action to achieve concrete goals. [1] Economic Modernisation Vision: Unleashing potential to build the future, 2022. Available at https://www.jordanvision.jo/en