Localization in Practice Beyond Delivery: Mapping Power and Gaps in Livelihoods in Jordan
Livelihoods are central to strengthening resilience, reducing vulnerability, and expanding economic opportunities for refugees and host communities in Jordan. Yet sustainable impact depends not only on what programs deliver, but also on who sets priorities, controls resources, and participates in decision-making. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Jordan’s livelihoods landscape through the lens of localization of humanitarian action. Drawing on a mapping of 108 livelihood and economic empowerment initiatives across Jordan’s 12 governorates between 2020 and 2030, it examines who is being reached, where investments are concentrated, which forms of support are prioritized, and how partnerships between international, national, and local actors are structured. RDPP Localization of Livelihood… The findings reveal persistent gaps in geographic coverage, inclusion, access to direct funding, and local participation in strategic decision-making. They also show that local and national organizations are too often positioned primarily as implementers rather than as equal partners in program design, financing, and governance. The report therefore calls for a shift from localization in principle to localization in practice. Its recommendations emphasize stronger local leadership, greater access to direct and flexible funding, meaningful participation in decision-making, more equitable partnerships, and longer-term approaches to capacity strengthening and sustainability. These measures are essential to making livelihood programmes more inclusive, locally grounded, and capable of contributing to lasting resilience and development in Jordan. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Regional Development and Protection Programme for Jordan and Lebanon (RDPP III), a joint European initiative supported by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The content is the sole responsibility of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of RDPP III or its donors.
From Activism to Governance Rethinking State-Building in the Age of Fragmentation
What happens when state authority weakens or fragments, yet communities cannot wait for peace agreements or political settlements to rebuild their lives? Across societies affected by conflict, political transition, and state fragility, schools reopen, health services resume, disputes are resolved, and new systems of public authority emerge, often long before formal state institutions recover. The report From Activism to Governance: Rethinking State-Building in the Age of Fragmentation examines how civic movements and local institutions evolve from protest, resistance, and emergency response into actors responsible for services, justice, security, and public decision-making. Drawing on three comparative seminars convened by the Renaissance Strategic Centre at ARDD in partnership with ODI Global, it brings together the experiences and insights of activists, researchers, and governance practitioners from Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Authored by Charles Petrie, the report challenges conventional state-building approaches that focus primarily on restoring authority from the center. It argues that governance does not always wait for government and that legitimacy is often earned before it is formally recognized, through accountability, meaningful participation, fair treatment, reliable services, and public trust. Through comparative experiences from Myanmar, Lebanon, Syria, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, and other contexts, the report considers the opportunities and risks involved in locally emerging governance. It also examines questions of sustainable financing, diaspora engagement, transitional justice, and the danger of romanticizing local authority. Ultimately, the report calls on international actors to identify, strengthen, and connect legitimate forms of authority already taking root within societies, recognizing them as potential foundations for rebuilding more accountable, inclusive, and sustainable states.
Caught in the Cycle: Aid Fluctuations and the Struggle for Sustainability ARDD AS a Case Study
International aid is increasingly shaped by shifting political priorities, competing global crises, and growing pressure on donor budgets. Funding can expand rapidly when a crisis attracts international attention, enabling humanitarian and development organizations to scale up their operations, recruit staff, and extend essential services. Yet when attention moves elsewhere, resources often decline abruptly, even though the needs of affected communities remain. Local organizations are frequently left to manage the consequences, maintaining their responsibilities to communities with fewer resources and limited institutional support. This study, published by the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC), the think tank arm of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), examines how these fluctuations affect the sustainability of local organizations in contexts of protracted crisis. Focusing on Jordan and drawing on ARDD’s institutional journey, it traces the cycle from rapid expansion during the Syrian refugee crisis to consolidation, funding contraction, and strategic adaptation. The analysis is informed by humanitarian financing trends, sector reports, and interviews with representatives of local NGOs, international organizations, donor agencies, and ARDD staff. ARDD’s experience demonstrates the important role that strong internal systems, diversified funding, staff capacity, and long-term community relationships can play in sustaining a local organization through periods of uncertainty. At the same time, it shows that resilience should not be romanticized. Funding cuts have tangible consequences, including reduced services, staff losses, office closures, weakened institutional memory, and growing pressure on the teams that remain. The study argues that aid volatility is not only a question of declining resources, but also of how risk is distributed across the humanitarian system. While international actors may scale down, redirect resources, or leave, local organizations remain rooted in the communities they serve. Meaningful localization must therefore extend beyond transferring implementation responsibilities. It requires direct and flexible financing, multi-year institutional support, responsible transition planning, and more equitable partnerships that recognize local organizations as strategic actors and decision-makers. Drawing lessons from ARDD’s experience, the study offers recommendations for donors, international organizations, and local NGOs to strengthen institutional sustainability and build a more responsible and equitable aid system.
Who has the legitimacy to shape political futures in societies affected by conflict, fragmentation, and transition?
On 07th July 2026, the Renaissance Strategic Centre at ARDD, in collaboration with ODI Global, convened the third session of the Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminars. The series consists of four seminars that collectively explore the evolution from activism to governance, culminating in a policy brief. The third seminar built upon themes that had emerged throughout the previous discussions. Having explored the mobilization of activist movements and their transition towards local governance, participants turned to two cross-cutting issues that repeatedly surfaced across different country experiences: the role of diaspora communities and the challenge of transitional justice. Although often examined separately, both ultimately revolved around the same underlying question: who possesses the legitimacy to shape political futures in societies experiencing conflict, fragmentation and political transition? Rather than seeking universal answers, participants explored how legitimacy is continually negotiated between those who remain, those who leave, and those attempting to rebuild institutions amidst ongoing conflict. In doing so, the discussion challenged conventional assumptions about exile and return, justice and reconciliation, and the relationship between activism, governance, and political transformation.
From Recognition to Policy Influence: Ethics in Business Award 2025
The Ethics in Business Award 2025, held under the theme “Future Forward: Celebrating Champions of Localized and Sustainable Growth,” as part of the Future Forward: Unlocking Sustainable Local Opportunities project, positions ethical business leadership as a strategic contributor to Jordan’s economic resilience and sustainable development. The report, “From Recognition to Policy Influence,” examines how the Award can evolve beyond recognition to encourage responsible business practices and contribute to wider institutional and policy change. It highlights the links between good governance, decent work, local value chains, ethical finance, and business competitiveness, while identifying the structural barriers that continue to limit MSMEs’ ability to adopt these practices. Looking ahead, the report calls for stronger incentives, targeted support for MSMEs, structured monitoring, and sustained dialogue among the private sector, civil society, financial institutions, and policymakers—moving ethical leadership from voluntary commitment toward a more embedded feature of Jordan’s economic development.
Intersecting Risks and Rights: Child Protection and Legal Protection Needs in Jordan
Needs Assessment Report | 2026 This needs assessment, published by ARDD’s Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC) and Terre des Hommes Italy (TdH Italy), examines child protection and legal protection concerns affecting vulnerable refugee and host community populations in Amman, Ma’an, Mafraq, and Zarqa. Grounded in a mixed-methods research approach, the assessment draws on household surveys, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and analysis of data generated through ongoing interventions. It provides an evidence-based understanding of intersecting protection risks and legal barriers to inform programming, policy development, and advocacy. The findings reveal persistent and interconnected protection challenges driven by economic hardship, limited access to civil documentation, psychosocial distress, and the adoption of negative coping mechanisms. Children face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, neglect, and barriers to education and essential services, particularly in households with limited legal awareness or lacking valid civil documentation. Legal protection gaps further exacerbate vulnerabilities by restricting access to rights, justice, and essential services. The assessment underscores the need for integrated child protection and legal assistance interventions that strengthen prevention, case management, and community-based protection mechanisms while reinforcing coordination with national systems and service providers. By highlighting the intersection of child protection and legal protection needs, the report seeks to support more coordinated, inclusive, and sustainable responses that place the rights and well-being of children and vulnerable populations at the center of humanitarian and development efforts in Jordan.
Local Governance Comparative Approaches Series Seminar Two: Current Transformations in Governance
Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminar 2 – Current Transformations On 13 May 2026, the Renaissance Strategic Centre at ARDD, in collaboration with ODI Global, convened the second session of the Local Governance Comparative Approaches Seminar Series. The second seminar discussed the nature of current transformations in governance, examining case studies of new governance models: (with)in the state; alongside the state; and (with)out the state. The examples of Lebanon, Myanmar and Georgia were used to investigate how activists create change when working within existing state systems, or when building new systems of local governance away from the central state. The requirements of these contexts differ greatly, but participants identified common themes, including the need for capacity building, generational differences, and the question of legitimacy. RSC is pleased to share the Summary Report of Seminar 2, “Comparing Forms of Local Governance in the Presence, or Absence, of the State”. This report brings together the key contributions and findings from the seminar, summarising participant discussions from Lebanon, Myanmar and Georgia. Read the full Summary: From Mobilization to Governance Local Governance – Renaissance Strategic Center.com Seminar 3 will be held at the beginning of July, concluding the initial phase of this seminar series and will examine the broader themes that have emerged throughout the series, including the role of the international state system, diaspora communities, and the need for transitional justice. Please also find below the link to the Summary Report for Seminar 1 “From Mobilization to Governance”.
Harvesting Opportunity: Impact and Sustainability of Season’s Markets in Jordan From Local Markets to Sustainable Livelihoods
The Season’s Market initiative demonstrates how inclusive, low-barrier local markets can become practical pathways for sustainable livelihoods, economic inclusion, and stronger market access for refugees, women, informal workers, and home-based entrepreneurs in Jordan. Implemented by the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) in collaboration with the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC), under the project Future Forward: Unlocking Sustainable Local Opportunities, with support from the Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP), the initiative provides evidence that locally driven economic models can turn skills, creativity, and community knowledge into income-generating opportunities. About the Report This report assesses the impact of ARDD’s Season’s Market initiative across six seasonal bazaars held in Amman between 2024 and 2025. Drawing on vendor surveys and focus group discussions, it examines how organized local markets contribute to income generation, business development, market access, and social and professional networking. While the findings are based on a pilot sample, they offer important insights into the potential of seasonal markets as scalable and sustainable livelihood platforms. Key Findings The report shows that Season’s Markets created tangible economic and social outcomes for participating vendors: 92% reported the bazaar as a primary source of income during participation. 100% reported increased sales during the bazaars. 92% gained access to new customers or markets. 100% established valuable business contacts. 92% reported improvements in products, sales methods, or customer engagement. 58% experienced a significant increase in sales. These findings highlight the value of local markets not only as spaces for trade, but as platforms for confidence-building, business growth, and inclusive economic participation. Why It Matters In Jordan, many refugees, women, informal workers, and home-based entrepreneurs face barriers to entering the formal labor market. These barriers are often not linked to a lack of skills, but to limited access to regulated, affordable, and supportive economic platforms. Season’s Markets help bridge this gap by providing accessible spaces where vendors can sell, test products, build customer relationships, improve business practices, and connect with wider networks. From Pilot to Policy The report argues that local markets should be recognized as more than temporary livelihood interventions. With supportive policies, flexible licensing, simplified procedures, and institutional investment, seasonal markets can become sustainable economic tools that contribute to inclusive local development. The findings call for greater investment in community-based livelihood models that are rooted in local realities and capable of being expanded across Jordan. Recommendations The report offers recommendations for policymakers, donors, civil society, and the private sector, including: Integrating local markets into livelihood and economic inclusion strategies. Supporting flexible regulatory and licensing frameworks. Investing in market infrastructure and vendor capacity-building. Expanding seasonal market models beyond Amman. Strengthening partnerships between vendors, civil society, donors, and the private sector. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP III) for Jordan and Lebanon, which is supported by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of ARDD and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the RDPP or its donors.
What Future for Localization in Jordan? Reflections and Strategic Directions (2019–2028)
Localization has become one of the defining debates shaping the future of development and humanitarian action worldwide. In Jordan, years of policy commitments, dialogue, and partnership-building have contributed to growing recognition of the role of local and national actors in responding to humanitarian needs and advancing sustainable development. Yet important questions remain regarding leadership, decision-making, financing, and the extent to which localization has translated from aspiration into practice. This publication examines the state of localization in Jordan between 2019 and 2028, reflecting on progress achieved, persistent challenges, and emerging opportunities in a rapidly changing aid landscape. Drawing on a national baseline survey, stakeholder consultations, interviews, and a review of key initiatives and experiences, the report explores how localization is understood, implemented, and experienced by different actors across Jordan. Beyond assessing the current situation, the publication adopts a forward-looking perspective. It considers possible future scenarios for localization in the context of shifting donor priorities, evolving humanitarian needs, growing pressures on civil society, and increasing calls for locally led development. The analysis highlights the importance of equitable partnerships, quality funding, local leadership, and enabling policy environments as critical foundations for a more sustainable and effective ecosystem. Developed as part of ARDD’s localization agenda by the Renaissance Strategic Center (RSC) in collaboration with the Jordan National NGOs Forum (JONAF) and the Global Mentoring Initiative (GMI), this publication forms part of the Future Forward: Unlocking Sustainable Local Opportunities project, implemented with support from the Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP). The report seeks to contribute to ongoing dialogue among policymakers, donors, civil society organizations, international actors, researchers, and practitioners on the future of localization in Jordan and the pathways toward a more locally led, equitable, and resilient development and humanitarian system. This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP III) for Jordan and Lebanon, which is supported by Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the European Union, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The content of this document is the sole responsibility of ARDD and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the RDPP or its donors.
Education: Shaping Character and Identity Unlocking Girls’ Leadership Potential
Jordan has made significant progress in girls’ education. Girls consistently outperform boys in literacy, school completion, and academic achievement, and the country has achieved near-universal enrollment in basic education. Yet these educational gains have not translated into equal participation in public life. Women remain underrepresented in politics, leadership positions, and the labor market, where female participation has remained between 13–15% in recent years. This raises a critical question: why does educational success not translate into leadership, agency, and participation for girls and young women? This report examines how teachers, school environments, curricula, extracurricular activities, and family engagement shape leadership opportunities for girls and young women in Jordan. Drawing on mixed-methods research conducted in public schools in Amman and Mafraq, the study explores both the role teachers play in encouraging leadership and the broader structural barriers that limit these efforts. The findings show that teachers play a significant role in fostering confidence, participation, responsibility, and public speaking skills among students, particularly girls. Many teachers use active learning methods and classroom responsibilities, such as the “little teacher” approach, to encourage leadership and participation. However, these efforts are constrained by overcrowded classrooms, administrative burdens, limited resources, and the pressure of the Tawjihi examination system, which prioritizes memorization and curriculum completion over creativity, participation, and skill development. The research also demonstrates that gendered expectations continue to shape classroom interactions and perceptions of leadership. Girls are often associated with modesty, obedience, and emotional sensitivity, while boys are linked to assertiveness and authority. Although many teachers actively encourage girls’ participation, these broader stereotypes continue to influence how leadership is understood and practiced within schools. The curriculum itself remains limited in its ability to cultivate leadership skills. Teachers and students alike described the curriculum as overly exam-oriented and lacking strong, culturally relevant female role models. Leadership development therefore depends largely on individual teachers rather than systematic educational approaches. At the same time, important disparities exist between schools and regions. Students in underserved areas, particularly in Mafraq, face limited access to libraries, theaters, extracurricular activities, and psychosocial support services, restricting opportunities for participation and self-development. The report further highlights the importance of family engagement. Previous and current findings show weak and inconsistent communication between schools and families, particularly beyond the early years of schooling. In many cases, teachers are left to negotiate individually with parents to secure girls’ participation in activities and leadership opportunities. The report argues that strengthening girls’ leadership requires moving beyond narrow understandings of academic achievement toward a broader vision of education as a space for shaping character, confidence, participation, and social responsibility. Supporting girls’ leadership cannot depend on teachers alone. It requires investment in the wider educational environment, including curriculum reform, psychosocial support services, extracurricular activities, equitable resource distribution, and stronger parent-school partnerships. Key recommendations include reducing administrative burdens on teachers, reforming aspects of the Tawjihi system, expanding gender-responsive teacher training, increasing the representation of women in school curricula, investing in extracurricular and leadership programs, strengthening psychosocial support services, and improving communication between schools and families. Ultimately, the gap between girls’ academic success and their underrepresentation in public life is not merely an educational issue, but a broader societal challenge. Without addressing the structural conditions that limit girls’ opportunities to develop confidence and leadership, the education system risks losing the potential of an entire generation of young women.