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AMMAN — The National Centre for Security and Crisis Management (NCSCM) plays a central role in supporting Jordan’s national crisis governance system by providing continuous recommendations to the government across all phases of crisis management, according to Ahmad Naimat, Director of the centre’s Media Response Unit.
Naimat said that the centre operates as a strategic institution concerned with national security, adding that its role extends beyond technical advisory support to actively shaping policy directions through continuous analysis of strategic environmental shifts and risk indicators at the local, regional, and global levels.
During an interview with The Jordan Times, he said that the centre’s role varies depending on the phase of crisis management.
"In the preparedness phase, the centre issues recommendations and coordinates national preventive plans aimed at strengthening readiness. During crises, it continues to provide advisory input, but its operational role becomes more structured and integrated within the national crisis command framework once a crisis is officially declared by the Board of Directors."
“In such cases, the centre transitions, through the crisis commander, from an institution issuing recommendations to one that supports decision-making within a unified national response structure,” Naimat said.
Following the resolution of crises, the centre also submits post-crisis assessments and recommendations aimed at improving national preparedness and response capabilities, he said.
On its role in policy formulation, Naimat said that the centre continuously reads changes in the strategic environment, including regional and international developments as well as domestic indicators, and translates these into actionable policy inputs.
He stressed that the centre does not operate in isolation but works within a coordinated national framework that ensures alignment with government institutions, security agencies, and international partners.
“There is no duplication of roles. The centre believes in both horizontal and vertical coordination with all national institutions, including ministries and security agencies, led by the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF),” he said.
Naimat noted that the centre has evolved significantly since its establishment in 2015, following the issuance of its bylaw in the Official Gazette.
It initially focused on coordinating national efforts in risk management, but has since developed into an advanced institution equipped with data systems, analytical tools, and international partnerships, he said.
Naimat also said that the centre holds three ISO certifications related to crisis management, risk management, and data management, and adheres to global governance standards, including NATO strategic communication standards and European best practices in crisis exercise implementation.
Regarding data management, Naimat said the National Risk Monitoring and Assessment System relies on a hybrid data model that integrates multiple sources, including field data collected by the centre, early warning systems from ministries and public institutions, open-source intelligence at the local and international levels, and information provided by security agencies.
“This integrated system transforms data into information, information into insights, and insights into policies and actionable measures on the ground,” he said.
He added that the centre uses internally developed modelling systems and risk assessment tools, supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technologies that assist in data sorting, classification, and scenario analysis, particularly in media analysis, climate risk forecasting, and social risk assessment.
He also emphasised that AI is used as a supporting tool rather than a replacement for human expertise.
“The human element remains the core of decision-making. Artificial intelligence helps accelerate analysis and improve the quality of outputs, but it does not replace expert judgment,” Naimat said.
He also noted that the centre applies a range of analytical frameworks that cover security, social, technological, legal, environmental, and economic dimensions, in line with international best practices in risk governance.
Naimat stressed that while the system is locally tailored to Jordan’s needs, it is built on scientific methodologies and global standards, ensuring both contextual relevance and international credibility.
