This publication aims to summarize and assess the results of the United States Energy Association (USEA)’s Jordan Energy Partnership Project (JUPP);; funded by the USAID. The JUPP is part of the USEA/USAID Energy Utility Partnership Program (EUPP);; which assists developing countries with increasing environmentally sustainable energy production and use and improving the operational efficiency and increased financial viability of their utilities and related institutions. The JUPP focuses on improving the technical and operational efficiency of Jordan’s electric utilities and electric grid. Defining energy insecurity as one of the most significant problems in Jordan;; the report summarizes the program’s activities and assesses their results and impacts. It looks at multiple aspects including the utility participant training and female participation. The results of the publication are increasing system efficiency;; developing customer energy efficiency programs;; increasing corporate efficiency;; supporting capacity building;; reducing electricity losses and power outages;; improving transmission dispatch center operations;; enhancing worker productivity through safety and interconnecting renewable energy and distributed generation. The report concludes with key lessons learned from the projects.

This report addressed CEDAW Committee by providing a solid and up-to-date information set and analysis of positive policies and legislation taken for women’s advancement and weaknesses that are delaying progress and sustaining disparities. The report covers six components: 1. Jordan’s reservations on CEDAW;; 2. Harmonization of CEDAW into legislation;; 3. Political representation;; 4. Violent against women;; 5. Equal rights in the family;; 6. Conditions of vulnerable and marginalized women. It also provides an overall assessment of the six components covering 3 areas: assessment of the official efforts towards the implementation of CEDAW;; also;; assessment of the civil society efforts and strategies towards monitoring Jordan’s commitment to obligations;; and suggested recommendations for the new concluding observations.

وجه هذا التقرير إلى لجنة سيداو من أجل توفير أحد المعلومات وأكثرها دقة;; بالإضافة إلى دراسة وتحليل السياسات الإيجابية والتشريعات المتخذة في سبيل تقدم ونهوض المرأة وإيجاد مواطن الضعف التي تعمل على تأخير التطور;; وتساه مفي تعزيز التفاوت وعدم المساواة. ويتكون التقرير من ستة مكونات رئيسية: 1. تحفظات الأردن على اتفاقية سيداو;; 2. مواءمة اتفاقية سيداو مع التشريعات الوطنية;; 3. التمثيل السياسي للنساء;; 4. العنف ضد النساء;; 5. الحقوق المتساوية للنساء في العائلة;; 6. أوضاع النساء الضعيفات والمهمشات. ويوفر التقرير تقييماً شاملا للمكونات الستة وذلك من خلال تقييم الجهود الرسمية في سبيل تطبيق اتفاقية سيداو;; وتقييم جهود المجتمع المدني تجاه رصد مراقبة التزام الأردن بالمواثيق الدولية;; إلى جانب تقديم توصيات مقترحة للملاحظات الختامية الجديدة.

The report presents the findings of a desktop survey conducted to review gender studies in Jordan with an overall goal of the survey as to ensure that gender is adequately addressed throughout project research;; analysis and activities of the Public Action for Water;; Energy and Environment Project (PAP). Under the PAP mandate 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;; the report is based on a gender desktop review of existing research on gender and natural resource management in Jordan. It capitalizes on the growing body of research on gender across sectors in Jordan including natural resource management;; to apply and adapt the findings to the PAP project activities. The report concludes with recommendations for the PAP projects such as donor collaboration;; improvement of women’s knowledge of water and energy saving methods;; engagement and creation of women’s participation to promote and support opportunities for small;; women-owned business promoting water and energy saving technologies and promotion of alternative technologies.

The report presents an up-to-date analysis of gender disparities in Jordan to inform development assistance programs by the USAID for the 2013-2017 strategic plan. The assessment report is prepared by the Global Health Technical Assistance Project;; funded by USAID Jordan and therefore;; it is based on a literature review and field work of the 21 focus group discussions held in Amman;; Irbid;; Tafileh and Zarqa. The report establishes that Jordan has begun to transition to a knowledge-based economy with the national advantage as its people. It also points out that despite the investments that have helped address gender equality issues;; Jordan continues to bear low female participation in the labor markets;; gender stereotypes about the role of females and males and conservative cultural norms. The report includes a sector-by-sector analysis;; recommendations;; gender review and an illustrative implementation plan. It concludes with key recommendations on the wide breadth of the USAID Jordan portfolio with a key emphasis on gender issues.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues that are limiting the democratic perception of Jordanian university students' political engagement in university life. The paper defines this issue as being directly linked with both students' freedom and representative bodies. It offers a description of the historical and legal backgrounds associated with students' political participation in Jordanian universities;; and examines the core issues associated with students' political participation. This paper also categorizes the various problems that limit students' participation;; including intervention of security offices in student affairs;; the weakness of student clubs;; and the election mechanisms of student elections. This paper also discusses the absence of a student body that unifies various Jordanian universities;; disciplinary regulations;; university violence;; and the inability to students to express their political thoughts within the university.

This paper examines issues concerning the state's financial contribution to political parties. It argues that the weakness of parties' financial resources limits their ability to engage in political activities and elections. The purpose of this paper is thus to provide a number of options and recommendation to help decision makers form the state's system for financing political parties. It aims to provide suitable financial support for each political party;; encourage the development of political parties in Jordan;; raise the political efficiency of political parties;; develop their organizational structures;; and motivate parties to participate in political life at national and local levels. This paper analyzes the positives and negatives of four financing options and;; based on this analysis;; presents a suggested system to assist decision makers as they design the state's financing mechanism for political parties.

This report provides an assessment of the Millennium Development Goals;; laid out by the UN Millennium Declaration. The UN Millennium Declaration was adopted in September of 2000 as a commitment on the part of the world's leading nations to reduce poverty;; improve health and promote peace;; human rights;; and environmental sustainability. The Millennium Development Goals are specific;; measurable targets that aim to reduce extreme global poverty by the year 2015. This report analyzes the challenges and barriers to meeting these goals as of 2003;; examining the successes and failures of various nations and the gaps that exist between regions and countries with regards to economic growth and human development. This report then examines the successes and failures of public and private policies with regards to hunger;; health;; water and sanitation;; education;; and environmental sustainability. This report also analyzes the participation of civil society throughout the world and the mobilization of grassroots support for the various human development goals. Finally;; this report presents a number of recommendations on what countries can do to best support these goals.