Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

Edmaaj designed and delivered a Training of Trainers (ToT) program in Amman to strengthen the leadership and climate resilience skills of women in the Basra Marshlands of southern Iraq. Implemented in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the project aimed to increase women’s participation in local climate adaptation through a cascade training model.

The three-day ToT workshop equipped 12 women leaders with the knowledge and tools to train an additional 75 women in their communities. Edmaaj developed a bilingual training curriculum and a tailored Training Toolkit that included facilitator guides, participatory exercises, localized case studies, and M&E templates adapted to the cultural and environmental context of Basra.

To measure impact, Edmaaj conducted pre- and post-training assessments to evaluate learning outcomes and tracked participant progress. Ongoing mentoring and virtual support were provided to ensure quality and consistency during the community-level rollout of the training.

Edmaaj conducted participatory and gender-responsive assessment under the HERitage: Women, Culture, and Development in Madaba project, aimed at advancing gender-inclusive participation in the cultural heritage and tourism sectors. The assignment focused on identifying women’s roles, challenges, and leadership opportunities within Madaba’s heritage ecosystem, generating evidence-based recommendations to inform local policy and programming.

Using a mixed-methods approach, Edmaaj conducted a desk review of strategies and legal frameworks; KIIs with government, civil society, and tourism stakeholders; and a stratified phone survey targeting women, youth, and other community members in Madaba. Additionally, three participatory workshops were held with local NGOs, women workers, youth, and officials of local government’s offices, and a participatory mapping exercise and GIS-based map were also developed to highlight tourism assets and demographic data. A final assessment report was produced to guide project activities and shape the stakeholder engagement approach.

Based on findings, Edmaaj designed a gender-sensitive media campaign showcasing women’s contributions, focusing on entrepreneurs, artisans, educators, informal workers, and youth across Madaba, which was initiated and launched by Madaba Municipality in partnership with the CA

Edmaaj developed a Gender-Sensitive Communication Strategy for Jordan’s Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs as part of the USAID Takamol Gender Program, implemented in partnership with Al-Hayat Center. The assignment aimed to enhance the Ministry’s ability to communicate more effectively and inclusively with diverse constituencies by integrating gender considerations into its messaging and public engagement.

Edmaaj applied qualitative methods to assess the Ministry’s existing communication practices and identify areas for improvement. This included key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with a wide range of stakeholders, including civil society organizations, youth groups, media professionals, charitable associations, political parties, government employees, and political activists.

Insights from the consultation process informed the development of a practical and contextually grounded communication strategy that promotes inclusive political dialogue and advances gender equality in public discourse.

Edmaaj conducted a Rapid Care Analysis for Oxfam’s “WE CAN!” Programme in Ma’an Governorate, targeting Jordanian and Syrian refugee communities. The analysis aimed to measure the time women invest in unpaid care work and assess how care responsibilities affect their ability to participate in economic life. The activity contributed to Oxfam’s broader Women’s Economic Empowerment initiative focused on addressing structural barriers to women’s livelihood opportunities.

Using Oxfam’s care analysis framework, Edmaaj applied qualitative tools to capture gendered household dynamics and daily care responsibilities. The process included community engagement with women, men, and dependents from both host and refugee groups, generating detailed insights into how unpaid care work is distributed and perceived at the household level.

The findings highlighted the scale and impact of unpaid care work on women’s time and mobility, revealing critical links between caregiving burdens and limited economic participation. Results informed the programme’s advocacy and policy efforts, supporting the development of gender-responsive strategies to redistribute care work and improve women’s access to livelihoods.

Edmaaj conducted research for Al Hayat Center and the Forum of Federations to assess Jordanian women’s priorities and expectations of the 19th Parliament. The study aimed to capture women's views on parliamentary performance and legislative priorities, with a focus on economic and political empowerment. The findings supported the development of a policy paper used to inform national dialogue and gender-responsive policy advocacy.

Edmaaj applied a quantitative methodology, developing and implementing a survey with approximately 500 women across Jordan. The research was grounded in a comprehensive literature review on women's empowerment and designed to identify gaps in representation, key themes, and expectations for legislative action. To deepen the analysis, the team conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) with current and former women Members of Parliament and leaders from women-focused civil society organizations.

Edmaaj also organized focus group discussions (FGDs) with women leaders, municipal council members, and businesswomen to validate and contextualize the data. The final analysis highlighted specific policy demands and institutional reforms that women across Jordan view as essential for achieving meaningful political and economic inclusion.

Edmaaj produced a study titled “Enhancing the Economic Perspectives of Refugees in Jordan” for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF), examining the economic contributions of refugees and the challenges they face in achieving sustainable livelihoods. The study aimed to shift the narrative from burden to opportunity by highlighting the skills, knowledge, and capital that refugees bring to Jordan’s economy.

The research combined an extensive desk review with primary qualitative data collection. Edmaaj conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with civil society leaders, economic experts, and Syrian refugees to capture a range of perspectives on refugee economic integration. The analysis identified key trends, barriers, and opportunities for enhancing refugees' participation in the labor market and local development.

The final study offered evidence-based findings and recommendations to support inclusive economic policies and programs that benefit both refugee and host communities.

Edmaaj produced an in-depth article titled “The Impacts and Challenges of Migration and Refugees on Jordan” for the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF). The article examined the multifaceted effects of refugee migration on Jordan’s economic, social, political, and environmental systems, aiming to inform public discourse and provide actionable recommendations for national policy and refugee integration strategies.

The research combined a comprehensive desk review of national and international literature with primary qualitative data collection. Edmaaj conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with subject-matter experts, civil society leaders, and frontline practitioners to gather context-specific insights. A stakeholder roundtable, involving government officials, NGO representatives, and community leaders, was held to validate findings and enrich the analysis with diverse perspectives.

The final article synthesized the evidence and stakeholder input into a clear, accessible format and presented policy-oriented recommendations to support inclusive refugee response planning and sustainable governance in Jordan.

Edmaaj conducted a Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) for the Equal Opportunity Unit (EOU) at the Cities and Villages Development Bank (CVDB) as part of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) support to Jordanian public institutions. The audit aimed to assess CVDB’s institutional performance on gender sensitivity and to establish a sustainable mechanism for integrating gender considerations into policies, procedures, and project implementation.

The audit focused on four key dimensions: political will, technical capacity, accountability, and organizational culture. Edmaaj employed a range of data collection tools, including document analysis, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and self-assessment questionnaires (SAQs). The findings were used to develop a comprehensive policy and procedures compliance report that identified good practices and key areas for improvement.

Edmaaj also provided training to the EOU team to build their capacity in conducting future gender audits, helping institutionalize the process within CVDB and ensuring long-term alignment with gender equity goals.

Edmaaj conducted a two-phased Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) for the Jordan Municipal Support Project (JMSP), implemented by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA). The audit focused on the Solid Waste Management Unit (SWMU) and aimed to strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to institutionalize gender-sensitive practices across its policies, programs, and operations.

The audit promoted organizational learning on gender mainstreaming and assessed how effectively gender equality principles were embedded within MoLA’s structures and strategies. Edmaaj conducted a comprehensive review of internal policies and documents, developed a tailored gender policy for the SWMU, and ensured that gender considerations were integrated into all aspects of the unit’s planning and implementation processes.

Edmaaj also facilitated capacity-building workshops and refresher sessions for SWMU staff, focusing on PGA tools, gender mainstreaming strategies, and practical implementation approaches. The audit contributed to aligning MoLA’s operations with national and international gender equality commitments and building a foundation for long-term institutional change.

Edmaaj supported the Business and Professional Women Association (BPWA) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF) to define and draft Jordan’s National Action Plan for the Closing the Gender Gap Accelerator (CGGA) 2022, an ambitious national initiative aimed at increasing women’s economic participation. The accelerator is a public-private partnership model that engages government institutions, private sector leaders, and civil society to identify economic gender gaps and commit to targeted actions over a three-year plan.

Jordan was among the first ten countries globally—and the second in the MENA region—to adopt the WEF’s CGGA model. The initiative was officially launched with the Jordanian Government, represented by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and supported by the Crown Prince Foundation along with private sector partners including BAE, Hikma, and Oasis 500.

Edmaaj’s assignment involved conducting a baseline assessment to identify priority gender gaps in the economy. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, the team facilitated consultations with key stakeholders across the public and private sectors, civil society, and international partners. Based on these findings, Edmaaj developed a comprehensive National Action Plan, detailing specific interventions, performance indicators, timelines, and the roles of responsible institutions.

To strengthen implementation and accountability, Edmaaj also developed a Governance Charter for the CGGA Steering Committee. The charter clearly defined its mandate, institutional responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms to ensure sustained national ownership and cross-sectoral collaboration throughout the plan’s implementation.