CSO meeting, expo lay groundwork for Jordanian ‘Local Voices Advocacy Network’

AMMAN — The USAID Strengthening Civil Society and Media System (Sawt) Activity — implemented by Internews, Mercy Corps and ICNL — hosted a meeting and expo to build networking and collaboration channels among 15 Jordanian civil society organisations (CSOs). 

In attendance were USAID/Jordan’s Mission Director Sherry F. Carlin; Sawt’s Chief of Party Dima Jweihan; and Mercy Corps Country Director for Jordan Darius Radcliffe, according to a Mercy Corps statement.

The selected CSOs, from the governorates of Zarqa, Madaba, Ramtha (Irbid), Maan and Tafileh, will receive technical and capacity building support from Sawt in the coming years.

The event was an opportunity for organisations and attendees to network, find opportunities for cooperation, discuss community challenges, and explore how Sawt can support and address  those challenges.

CSO representatives spent the first half of the event discussing their programmes and finalising action points, and then signed memoranda of understanding with the Sawt activity. 

“The event was great, and very exciting,” Jamila Mardi Al Jazi, president of the Al Jawhara Association, said. “I was particularly happy about the new organisations that I was introduced to and loved learning more about the Sawt program. The issues raised are really important for me to know and focus on in the areas where I work.”

The second half of the event was an expo, where each organisation was stationed at booths and presented their missions, experiences, and upcoming plans for their Sawt partnership. 

The event was a first step in launching Sawt’s Local Advocacy Voices Network – an initiative that will enable Jordanian civil society actors to engage cooperatively at the local, governorate and national levels to ensure a more robust civic engagement process. 

“CSOs help advance policies and reforms that safeguard the rights and interests of the entire Jordanian population and foster an open climate for peaceful and constructive debate and advocacy. By facilitating this network and encouraging CSO collaboration, Sawt is building the foundation for a strong and unified CSO presence in Jordan,” Jweihan said.

With funding from the US government, via USAID, the Sawt activity will continue to work with a network of CSOs to enhance their legitimacy and enable pathways for citizen participation, dialogue, and advocacy across Jordan, the statement said.