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 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

The fifth volume in the series of Arab Human Development Reports sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme and independently authored by intellectuals and scholars from Arab countries. The report argues that human security is a prerequisite for human development;; and that the widespread absence of human security in Arab countries undermines people's options.

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 report adopts a rights-based approach to map the access of persons with physical disabilities to social services in Jordan and assess the extent to which they enjoy equal opportunities and are socially integrated. The rights-based approach calls for a thorough assessment of the “4 A’s”;; i.e. the availability;; accessibility;; adaptability and acceptability of social services for all members of society. It thus puts special emphasis on the environmental factors and policy gaps constraining the “4 A’s” and preventing the social integration of vulnerable groups. Accordingly;; the objectives of this study are (a) to set forth the social;; legal and institutional barriers preventing persons with physical disabilities in Jordan from fully enjoying their right to education;; health;; employment and social protection and (b) to gauge the ability of social policies to lift these barriers and facilitate the overcoming of inequity for this group.

Many reports talk about poverty and the poor;; but few actually provide the space for the poor themselves to take centre stage and to talk about their lives. Jordan’s second National Human Development Report redresses this imbalance. It places the poor at the centre of analysis and attempts to capture the diverse and dynamic characteristics of poverty through the eyes of the poor themselves. A major theme of the report is that the considerable human development gains that have been achieved at the macro-level in Jordan have yet to trickle down to many sub-groups among the poor. The report provides detailed recommendations to accelerate this process and to enhance positive outcomes for the poor.

The Government of Jordan adopted its first Poverty Alleviation Strategy in 2002 recognizing poverty as a key development problem requiring a comprehensive policy for improving the lives of the poor and socially excluded;; increasing their human capabilities;; providing them with economic opportunities and fully integrating them in the society. Considerable progress in poverty reduction has been achieved. The Government has put in place a series of social programs aimed at increasing employment opportunities;; curbing unemployment;; combating poverty and offering in-kind and cash assistance for the poor and marginalized groups within Jordanian society