Ajloun \u2013 Jordan | August 10, 2026<\/p>\n\n
The Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, in partnership with Radio Sawt Ajloun, as part of the activities of the \u201cRural Space\u201d Safe Youth Political Space Project, and in cooperation with the German Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, organized a national roundtable titled \u201cNo Room for Backtracking: Equitable Development Policies and Pathways for Thriving and Livable Rural Areas.\u201d \n \nThe roundtable brought together representatives from government, legislative, educational, vocational training, development, and financing institutions, as well as civil society organizations, political parties, and representatives of youth and women.<\/p>\n\n
The roundtable came as a continuation of a series of meetings and dialogues conducted by the \u201cRural Space\u201d Safe Youth Political Space Project over the past period, bringing together young men and women with stakeholders and decision-makers to discuss issues related to education, vocational training, employment, economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, local development, tourism, agriculture, the green economy, and civic participation.<\/p>\n\n
The Executive Director of the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, Suhaib Ahmad Rababa\u2019a, emphasized that organizing the roundtable represents a transition from identifying issues and developing recommendations to follow-up, implementation, and impact measurement. He noted that the challenges facing rural communities are interconnected, and that addressing unemployment, employment, and economic empowerment requires integration among education, training, financing, and local development. \n \nHe explained that the \u201cRural Space\u201d Youth Project has worked over the past period to provide a safe space for young men and women to express their concerns and priorities and engage in direct dialogue with institutions, stakeholders, and decision-makers. He stressed that youth and women are not merely beneficiaries of programs and policies, but rather partners in setting priorities, developing solutions, and following up on implementation.<\/p>\n\n
During the roundtable, participating entities presented their programs, experiences, key challenges, and available opportunities. Discussions also addressed the recommendations developed through previous meetings and explored opportunities to build on them during the next phase.<\/p>\n\n
Former Member of Parliament Dr. Safaa Al-Momani highlighted the importance of women\u2019s experiences in parliamentary work and the role of women\u2019s political participation in advancing development and social issues and representing the needs of women and youth. She emphasized the importance of empowering women and young women in governorates and rural communities, improving their access to education, training, financing, and employment opportunities, and strengthening their participation in public life and decision-making.<\/p>\n\n
The Director General of the Investors\u2019 Commission in Free and Development Zones, Mr. Ezz Al-Din Al-Momani, highlighted the investment landscape in Ajloun Governorate, along with the key opportunities and challenges facing investors and business owners. He emphasized the importance of encouraging local investment, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting investment in the tourism, agriculture, and green economy sectors, in ways that contribute to creating new employment opportunities for youth and women.<\/p>\n\n
The Chairman of the Kufranjah Al-Jadida Municipality Committee, Pasha Ismail Al-Aroudh, highlighted the municipality\u2019s role in developing services and development projects, supporting youth and women, and enhancing employment opportunities and small-scale enterprises in the Kufranjah District. He emphasized the importance of the role of women\u2019s and youth units in building capacities, encouraging local initiatives, strengthening citizens\u2019 participation in planning and development, and identifying opportunities for collaboration that support the local economy.<\/p>\n\n
The Chairman of the Ajloun Governorate Council Committee, Eng. Muawiyah Annab, highlighted the role of the Governorate Council in identifying development priorities, approving projects, and enhancing community participation in local planning. He emphasized the importance of supporting projects related to education, employment, tourism, agriculture, and infrastructure, while strengthening the participation of youth and women in identifying needs and monitoring project implementation.<\/p>\n\n
Rashed Al-Zyoud, Project Coordinator at the Jordan River Foundation, highlighted the programs and initiatives implemented by the Foundation in the areas of community empowerment, supporting youth and women, and promoting entrepreneurship and local economic development. He emphasized the importance of expanding access to training, capacity building, technical support, and marketing, as well as developing sustainable economic opportunities for youth and women in Ajloun Governorate.<\/p>\n\n
Sireen Al-Syouf, Projects Manager at Plan International, highlighted the programs and initiatives related to empowering youth and women, promoting community participation, building skills, and supporting opportunities in education, employment, and leadership. She emphasized the importance of developing initiatives that respond to the priorities of youth in the governorates and strengthen their participation in designing solutions, implementing programs, and monitoring their impact. She also highlighted the implementation of training programs in artificial intelligence and efforts to develop new youth-led community initiatives during the upcoming phase.<\/p>\n\n
The Director of the Ajloun Tourism Directorate, Firas Al-Khatatbeh, highlighted the role of tourism projects, particularly the Ajloun Cable Car, in opening new horizons and employment opportunities for youth. He also referred to efforts to facilitate procedures and licensing for tourism projects in the governorate, alongside work to implement specialized training programs for tourist guides. \n \nAl-Khatatbeh emphasized the importance of developing rural, ecotourism, cultural, and adventure tourism, sustainably utilizing natural and heritage resources, and strengthening the role of local communities in benefiting from tourism growth and transforming it into economic and employment opportunities for youth and women.<\/p>\n\n
Eng. Khaldoun Khudair from the Vocational Training Corporation \u2013 Ajloun Branch highlighted the vocational and technical training programs available to young men and women and their alignment with the needs of the labor market and local economic sectors. He emphasized the importance of developing practical and hands-on training, strengthening partnerships with the private sector, and expanding training specializations related to tourism, agriculture, food industries, handicrafts, and the digital economy.<\/p>\n\n
Rania Frihat from the Development and Employment Fund highlighted financing programs, support for small and medium-sized enterprises, and opportunities available to youth, women, and entrepreneurs in Ajloun Governorate. She explained the Fund\u2019s capacity-building, mentoring, follow-up, and marketing services, emphasizing the importance of developing more flexible financing tools to support rural and green enterprises, enhance their sustainability, and strengthen their ability to create employment opportunities. She also introduced the interest-free loan programs, including the eligibility requirements and application procedures.<\/p>\n\n
Eng. Omar Qawqana from the Ajloun Directorate of Agriculture highlighted the Directorate\u2019s role in supporting youth and farmers, developing agricultural extension services, promoting sustainable and smart agriculture, and improving the efficiency of water and natural resource use. He outlined programs related to agricultural training, modern technologies, and climate change adaptation, in addition to farmer field schools and programs and training related to hydroponics. He also highlighted support for agricultural and productive projects that contribute to creating employment opportunities and strengthening food security.<\/p>\n\n
The Director of the Ajloun Youth Directorate, Aref Al-Qat\u2019an, highlighted the key programs and activities implemented by the Directorate across the governorate and its role in supporting youth, developing their capacities, and enhancing their participation in public life. He emphasized the importance of technology and digital skills in empowering youth and opening new opportunities for them, alongside supporting youth and entrepreneurial initiatives and providing spaces that contribute to building their capacities.<\/p>\n\n
The President of the Ajloun Charitable Societies Federation, Malaki Bani Ata, highlighted the Federation\u2019s role in supporting local communities through charitable societies and strengthening their capacity to implement productive and development projects and initiatives, particularly in the agricultural and tourism sectors. He also emphasized supporting families, youth, and women, and encouraging small-scale enterprises and local initiatives that contribute to improving incomes and promoting community development.<\/p>\n\n
Sawsan Anizat from the Ajloun Directorate of Environment highlighted the environmental situation and the key environmental challenges facing the governorate, as well as the Directorate\u2019s role in protecting natural resources and preserving biodiversity. She emphasized the importance of supporting the green economy and environmental projects, raising awareness of climate change, and encouraging youth to participate in developing sustainable environmental and economic solutions.<\/p>\n\n
The Director of the Ajloun Directorate of Awqaf, Dr. Safwan Al-Qudah, highlighted the role of religious institutions in promoting the values of solidarity, social responsibility, work, and productivity, while supporting youth and women and fostering a culture of initiative and volunteerism. He emphasized the importance of implementing community awareness programs, supporting development and volunteer initiatives, and promoting environmental conservation and the protection of natural resources in ways that serve rural communities.<\/p>\n\n
The President of the Al-Junaid Cultural Forum<\/strong>, Mr. Yousef Al-Momani, highlighted the importance of the role of cultural institutions and local forums in providing spaces for dialogue and interaction for youth, enhancing their participation in public life, and supporting cultural and youth initiatives while linking them to local development issues. He noted that this contributes to building youth capacities and encouraging community engagement, creativity, and initiative.<\/p> Kawthar Dweikat, Director of the Environmental Education Unit at the Ajloun Forest Reserve<\/strong>, highlighted the importance of environmental education and awareness in increasing the awareness of youth and local communities about the importance of protecting natural resources and biodiversity. She noted the Reserve\u2019s role in providing opportunities for learning, training, and engagement with the environment, while encouraging youth to participate in sustainable environmental and tourism initiatives. She also emphasized the importance of linking environmental education with employment opportunities and the green economy, and leveraging Ajloun Governorate\u2019s natural assets to develop youth-led initiatives and projects that support sustainable local development.<\/p><\/p>\n\n The participating institutions and associations also discussed the importance of strengthening cooperation and coordination among the various stakeholders operating in Ajloun Governorate and ensuring complementary roles in supporting local communities and empowering youth and women. Discussions also focused on developing productive and development-oriented initiatives and projects, improving access to training, financing, services, and employment opportunities, and leveraging local resources and potential to develop sustainable projects that contribute to strengthening the local economy and improving living standards in rural communities.<\/p>\n\n Ahmed Abdelqader, Director of the \u201cRural Space\u201d Safe Youth Political Space Project, highlighted the project\u2019s role over the past period in bringing young men and women together with various institutions, stakeholders, and decision-makers, and providing a space for direct dialogue on issues affecting their lives and future. He noted that the roundtable represents a new step in the process of following up on the recommendations developed during previous meetings.<\/p>\n\n He emphasized that the next phase will focus on strengthening communication between youth and institutions and translating ideas and recommendations into practical, actionable initiatives and measures that can be followed up. He stressed that the success of dialogue is measured not only by the number of contributions, but by the ability to reach practical steps and sustainable partnerships that respond to the priorities of rural communities.<\/p>\n\n At the conclusion of the roundtable, youth leaders emphasized the importance of adopting the recommendations and outcomes reached through the dialogue sessions and translating them into implementable programs, initiatives, and action plans, with clear responsibilities for follow-up and defined timelines. They also called for strengthening partnerships among government institutions, civil society organizations, political parties, and youth to ensure the continuity of dialogue and achieve tangible and sustainable impact in rural communities.<\/p>\n\n The roundtable featured extensive discussions on the challenges and opportunities related to education, training, employment, financing, entrepreneurship, and local development, as well as the role of tourism, agriculture, the green economy, and technology in creating new opportunities for youth and women. Discussions also highlighted the importance of ensuring greater equity in access to programs and services for rural communities.<\/p>\n\n This roundtable was held as part of the \u201cRural Space\u201d Safe Youth Political Space Project, implemented by the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development in partnership with Radio Sawt Ajloun and in cooperation with the German Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The project aims to provide a safe civic and political space for young men and women to express their concerns and priorities, strengthen dialogue with stakeholders and decision-makers, and contribute to developing and following up on recommendations related to priority development issues.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Ajloun \u2013 Jordan | August 10, 2026 The Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, in partnership with Radio Sawt Ajloun, as part of the activities of the \u201cRural Space\u201d Safe Youth Political Space Project, and in cooperation with the German Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, organized a national roundtable titled \u201cNo Room for Backtracking: Equitable Development…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":11994,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[94,93,95],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-intermediaries-of-change-center","category-news","category-sawt-ajloun-radio","single-item"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12011","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12011"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12011\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12012,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12011\/revisions\/12012"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11994"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iccjo.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}