Under the patronage of the Minister of Youth, a dialogue meeting was held in Ajloun with Dr. Jihad Masaadeh, Director of Policies, Planning and Studies at the Ministry of Youth, to discuss youth empowerment and the enhancement of employment and entrepreneurship opportunities in rural areas.
The Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, in partnership with Sawt Ajloun Community Radio and in cooperation with the German Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, organized an expanded national dialogue meeting in Ajloun Governorate. The meeting brought together members of the “Rural Youth Political Safe Space” with the Minister of Youth, represented by Dr. Jihad Masaadeh, Director of Policies, Planning, and Studies at the Ministry. The dialogue aimed to institutionalize dialogue processes, reduce the skills gap, and develop employment-related policies in rural areas. It also sought to strengthen communication between youth and decision-makers, and to enhance the responsiveness of policies and programs to the needs of young people in local communities.
The meeting aimed to explore ways to equip young people with the necessary skills and knowledge to enter the labor market, encourage entrepreneurial initiatives and sustainable youth-led projects, and enhance their participation in shaping public policies and public life. It also sought to contribute to building youth leadership capable of effectively engaging in national modernization and development pathways, thereby strengthening their role as active partners in driving change and sustainable growth.
Dr. Jihad Masaadeh, Director of Policies, Planning, and Studies at the Ministry of Youth, stated that the Ministry is implementing an integrated package of youth programs and initiatives across all governorates of the Kingdom, in line with the Royal vision and the national modernization roadmap. He emphasized that these efforts aim to strengthen the role of young people as active partners in development and in shaping the future, by providing them with opportunities, programs, and initiatives that enhance their skills, capabilities, and participation in national development processes
He explained that the Ministry is working to develop safe youth spaces and empower youth centers to fulfill their developmental role, in addition to establishing and upgrading Future Stations and business and innovation incubators. He added that the Ministry provides training programs focused on life, leadership, and digital skills, aimed at enhancing young people’s readiness to enter the labor market and keep pace with the rapid transformations across various sectors.
He affirmed that the Ministry of Youth places special emphasis on vocational and technical education and training as one of the main pathways that provide promising opportunities for young people and contribute to meeting labor market needs. He also highlighted the importance of promoting a culture of vocational work and encouraging young people to take advantage of available opportunities in productive and service sectors.
He added that the rapid developments in technology, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy require both institutions and young people to keep pace with these changes by acquiring new and specialized skills. He noted that the Ministry, in partnership with various national and international institutions, is working to implement qualitative programs aimed at building youth capacities in innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital transformation.
Dr. Masaadeh stressed the importance of institutionalizing dialogue with young people and involving them in designing programs and policies related to their issues, affirming that youth represent the true driving force for change and development. He noted that investing in their abilities and talents is a direct investment in Jordan’s future and the sustainability of its modernization and development process. He also pointed out that the Ministry continues to expand youth participation, strengthen volunteerism, and support community initiatives, contributing to building an aware generation capable of assuming responsibility and actively engaging in public life and community service.
The Executive Director of the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, Mr. Suhaib Ahmad Rababah, affirmed that Jordanian youth possess significant energy and potential that require a supportive environment enabling them to innovate and actively participate in the development process. He explained that the Center continues, through its programs and projects, to empower young people politically, economically, and socially, while promoting a culture of dialogue and active citizenship. He also highlighted the creation of safe spaces that allow youth to express their views and aspirations and to participate in shaping policies that affect their present and future.
Rababah added that rural areas require greater investment in vocational training and qualification programs, as well as support for entrepreneurial initiatives, in order to help reduce unemployment and create sustainable job opportunities for young people. He stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships between government institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to achieve comprehensive and balanced development across all governorates.
Participants, including investors, directors of youth centers, representatives of the Directorates of Agriculture, Labor, Environment, and Vocational Training, civil society organizations, local and media figures, as well as program presenters at Sawt Ajloun Community Radio, put forward a range of interventions and ideas. These contributions focused on the importance of building genuine partnerships between government institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations to create sustainable development opportunities for youth across the governorates. They also emphasized the need to align national programs and projects with the actual needs of young people, develop vocational and technical training systems and link them to labor market requirements, and support entrepreneurial and innovative projects while facilitating youth access to funding sources, technical support, and marketing guidance.
Participants also discussed the importance of investing in the agricultural, tourism, and environmental sectors in Ajloun Governorate, and enhancing the utilization of digital transformation, modern technologies, and artificial intelligence. They further emphasized the need to expand business incubators, accelerators, and safe youth spaces, in order to strengthen young people’s opportunities for innovation, creativity, and competitiveness in the labor market.
Youth leaders presented a set of recommendations and proposals emphasizing the need to develop vocational training and qualification programs in line with labor market needs, and to enhance employment opportunities for young people across the governorates. They also called for expanding entrepreneurial and innovative projects, providing funding and technical support for emerging youth initiatives, and increasing investment in safe youth spaces, innovation centers, and business incubators.
Members of the Rural Youth Safe Space also recommended strengthening partnerships between government institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations, and developing mechanisms for direct dialogue between youth and decision-makers. They emphasized the importance of involving young people in shaping public policies related to their issues, as well as supporting digital transformation and enhancing technological and artificial intelligence skills, enabling them to benefit from opportunities offered by modern sectors and the digital economy
The meeting featured an open dialogue between young participants and the representative of the Ministry of Youth, during which a range of issues and challenges related to employment, training, political participation, and public engagement were raised. Several youth-led initiatives and ideas aimed at enhancing local development and improving the economic and social conditions in rural areas were also presented. The interactive discussion reflected young people’s commitment to contributing to solutions and shaping a more sustainable future for their local communities.
In conclusion, participants emphasized the importance of continuing such national dialogues, which strengthen communication between decision-makers and young people and contribute to the development of more responsive policies and programs that address their needs and aspirations. They stressed that this would positively reflect on the country’s development and modernization pathways, affirming that investing in youth and empowering them with knowledge, skills, and equal opportunities is a fundamental pillar for achieving sustainable development and building a more prosperous future for the nation.
It is worth noting that the “Rural Youth Safe Space” project is implemented by the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development in partnership with Sawt Ajloun Community Radio and in cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The project aims to provide a sustainable youth space to enhance civic participation among young people in rural areas.
