Our Work in Jordan

The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) engages in extensive activities across the entire MENA region. In Jordan, FES opened its office in 1986 and is accredited through a long-standing partnership with the Royal Scientific Society (RSS). The work of FES in Jordan and Iraq is financed by the German Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Additionally, FES Amman receives project-specific funding from the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs (AA) and from other third-party donors.

History

Prior to the opening of Jordan office, FES was engaged in several projects in Jordan in the early 70s and 80s, which were mostly related to the development of trade unions, to the promotion of labor rights and to capacity-building in the media sector. With a permanent presence in Amman from 1986 onwards, FES was able to expand the spectrum of its activities to cover various issues related to the promotion of democracy and social justice. Since 2004, the Amman Office also coordinates the activities of FES in Iraq. At the origin of the Iraq projects were the support for the constitutional process and assistance in the development of new media outlets as well as an extensive engagement in the training of Iraqi election monitors. Over the years, FES has extended its network of local partners and has broadened the scope of its activities in Iraq.

Objectives

The activities of FES Amman aim at promoting democracy and political participation, supporting progress towards social justice and gender equality as well as at contributing to ecological sustainability and peace and security in the region. FES Amman supports the building and strengthening of civil society and public institutions in Jordan and Iraq.

Activities

FES Amman cooperates with a wide range of local partner institutions from civil society and the political sphere to establish platforms for democratic dialogue, organize conferences, hold workshops and publish policy papers on current political questions.

The Focus of Our Work

• Promoting political participation and improving democratic processes.
• Strengthening public institutions, civil society and the independent media.
• Providing a platform for political, economic and civil society actors to engage in a constructive dialogue furthering the exchange between the parliament and civil society.
• Providing information and assistance to decision-makers through consultation and knowledge-transfer.
• Promoting public debate on current issues and challenges affecting Jordan and the region.
• Providing information to the public on political and social developments and democratic reform.
• Increasing political participation and involvement of youth promoting social justice and gender equality.
• Developing and discussing socially just alternatives to neoliberal economic policies as well as modern labor market and social policies, which aim at improving living conditions for broader parts of society. 
• Building the capacities of democratically organized trade unions, which represent the interests of employees to employers and political decision-makers.
• Supporting the development and implementation of sustainable energy policies.

FES Amman and the Royal Scientific Society (RSS) have an ongoing partnership since 1985 and reconfirmed in 2025. FES and RSS cooperate in various projects related to the fields of energy and climate policy as well as to the labor market and economic policy.

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FES Amman and the General Trade Union of Workers in Textile Garment & Clothing Industries are cooperating in educating Jordanian and migrant workers in the Qualified Industrial Zones (QIZ) on labor rights.

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