The report aims to understand the outlook of Jordanians;; the key determinants of behavioral change in search for “drivers” that can be used in programs promoting conservation of water or energy and reduction of solid waste. This research was conducted as part of the Public Action for Water;; Energy and Environment Project (PAP);; which aims to encourage water and energy conservation and to support behavior change towards more conservation and efficient practices both at the household level and in the commercial;; industrial and civil society arenas using social marketing behavioral methods. It is based on the qualitative research that focuses on identifying people’s motivations;; needs and desires to help formulating social marketing programs and developing adaptive capacity in individuals and groups. Some of the key questions of the qualitative research include “What are the current coping behaviors and attitudes (psychological;; social;; etc …) of the Jordanian public (disaggregated by gender;; age;; geography and income) in the face of limited water availability and high prices for energy?;; What anticipated consequences may the Government face if stricter scenarios were imposed on water and energy? The report recommends the Ministry of Education to cooperate and introduce regular classes that focus on showing youth the direct impact of water;; energy and environment on their lives and raise awareness and consciousness of children regarding their role in the environment and influence it in a positive way.

The study aims to evaluate the concepts of water;; energy and solid waste that exists in the curriculum and the manner in which they are tackled by mapping the current textbooks based the three themes of the study – water;; energy and solid waste. The report is based on a comprehensive study of 104 school textbooks from grades 1 – 10 in fourteen subjects. The survey finds that the environmental education concepts were vastly covered in all subjects of he study in a total of 1777 concepts;; and most of them focused on scientific facts and information with repetitive energy concepts and lack of sequential flow. This research was conducted as part of the Public Action for Water;; Energy and Environment Project (PAP);; which aims to encourage water and energy conservation and to support behavior change towards more conservation and efficient practices both at the household level and in the commercial;; industrial and civil society arenas using social marketing behavioral methods. Based on the finding that there is little space allocated to the synthesis and application of information and knowledge and therefore the concepts remain superficially tackled;; the report recommends that support material should be prepared for the different grade levels and training programs should be developed for the teachers as real agent of change and role models.

يستند مضمون هذا التقرير المتعلق بالأردن إلى حد كبير إلى زيارة بحثية قامت بها منظمة العفو الدولية إلى البلاد في يونيو/حزيران 2013. وقد التقى وفد المنظمة بممثلي السلطات الأردنية ووكالات الأمم المتحدة والوكالات الإنسانية الدولية والمنظمات غير الحكومية والجمعيات الخيرية;; فضلاً عن أكثر من 150 لاجئاً من سوريا في مجتمعات اللجوء والمجتمعات المضيفة. ونشرت منظمة العفو الدولية هذا التقرير بهدف لفت الانتباه إلى الصعوبات التي يواجهها الفارون من سوريا طلباً للسلامة. وفي الوقت الذي يركز فيه التقرير بشكل رئييس على الأوضاع في الأردن;; فإنه يتضمن تحديثا للمعلومات التي كانت المنظمة قد نشرتها في السابق بشأن التحديات التي يواجهها اللالجئون من سوريا في البلدان المجاورة. وقد أمعنت منظمة العفو الدولية النظر في التحديات التي يواجهها اللاجئون في الأردن;; ولا سيما أولئك الذين يقطنون في مخيم الزعتري;; وهو أضخم مخيمات اللاجئين من سوريا في الأردن. وأجرت المنظمة تحقيقاً حول معاناة اللاجئين;; ليس من ظروف المعيشة القاسية في الصحراء فحسب;; وإنما أيضاً من ارتفاع معدلات الجريمة وغيرها من المخاوف الأمنية.

This report examines social development in Jordan with respect to childhood education and literacy. The survey presented examines the status of children’s literature and encouraging reading in Jordan. The report assesses the promotion of children’s literature in Jordan through various axes;; including the quality and prevalence of libraries;; the effectiveness of policies;; and the existence of civil institutions active in the field of children’s literature. The report also identifies various trends with respect to children’s literature through concentrated discussion groups with families;; teachers;; children;; and writers of children’s literature.

This research study aims to investigate child labor in Irbid to provide a deep understanding of and knowledge about the socio-economic and cultural context of working children in Irbid. It also aims to propose intervention programs that maximize the effectiveness of the Family and Childhood Protection Society (FCPS);; an NGO in Irbid that works on issues related to children. Various study results have shown that children often work in dangerous and hazardous conditions where they are exposed to physical and psychological abuse;; in addition to exploitation in terms of minimal pay and long working hours. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were used to conduct the research presented in this report. In-depth interviews and questionnaires were used to collect data from all organizations working on child-related issues and from working children and their family members.

This report presents a compelling argument as to why realising the full potential of Arab women is an indispensable prerequisite for development in all Arab states. It argues persuasively that the long hoped-for Arab “renaissance” cannot and will not be accomplished unless the obstacles preventing women from enjoying their human rights and contributing more fully to development are eliminated and replaced with greater access to the “tools” of development;; including education and healthcare. By placing Arab women firmly in the centre of social;; cultural;; economic and political development in the entire region;; the Report goes beyond arguing that half the population deserves half the participation. In fact;; it asserts that irrespective of the numbers;; Arab women have already accomplished great strides that are transforming the region’s political economy and social demography. While lauding these achievements and making a strong case for facilitating this strong current of positive social transformation;; the Report also analyses the remaining impediments;; and suggests concrete steps towards their elimination.

Jordan is one of the 88+ countries which carried out national consultations worldwide. 10 countries from the Arab region were selected to run the post-2015 national consultations: Jordan;; Djibouti;; Egypt;; Morocco;; Sudan;; Algeria;; Yemen;; Iraq;; Saudi Arabia;; and Lebanon. The Jordanian national consultations have been a lead contributor to the first preliminary report of the UN Development Group (UNDG) issued in March 2013 and entitled “The Global Conversation Begins – Emerging Views For a New Development Agenda”;; and also to the UNDG Global report “A million voices: The World We Want”;; launched by the UN Secretary-General and UNDG Chair on 9 September 2013. The Global Report constitutes a milestone in the dialogues to shape the post-2015 development agenda. Its findings have contributed to the UN Secretary-General’s report to the 68th session of the General Assembly in September 2013.

This first Jordanian National Human Development Report focuses on the condition and role of young people in the country;; arguing that the capacity of young Jordanians to contribute to national development and to compete in the global economy will determine whether Jordan remains a low middle income country or joins the ranks of the world's advanced economies. The Report looks at young people's lives and aspirations in the three key areas of education;; employment and social integration;; finding for example that 60% of all unemployed people are below that age of 25. The Report concludes that although Jordan has made significant advances in building people's capabilities;; there is room for improvement in aspects of gender-equality;; employment;; income and quality and relevance of education;; and ends with a substantial section on policy recommendations suggesting strategies for addressing this shortfall