Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and Women’s Empowerment

Edmaaj conducted a Social Impact Assessment as part of a national initiative to enhance government efficiency, transparency, accountability, and service delivery in Jordan through citizen-centred digital transformation. The project aimed to leverage digital tools to make public services more accessible, responsive, and inclusive.

In line with World Bank Group Environmental and Social (E&S) standards, Edmaaj assessed potential social risks associated with the digital reform programme. Activities included field visits, a social systems assessment, and an evaluation of grievance redress mechanisms (GRMs) and institutional capacity. Edmaaj also developed safeguard documentation and coordinated closely with relevant ministries and implementing agencies.

The assessment produced clear recommendations to strengthen social management systems and ensure alignment with global social safeguard standards. Edmaaj worked in collaboration with environmental safeguard specialists to integrate social considerations into project design and implementation tools.

Edmaaj conducted a Comprehensive Social Impact Assessment for the World Bank Group’s five-year Programme for Results (PforR) on “Women’s Economic Opportunities” in Jordan. The programme aims to expand women’s participation in the workforce by improving legal and workplace environments, enhancing financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, increasing access to safe and affordable transportation, and scaling quality childcare services.

In coordination with the Government of Jordan, Edmaaj assessed the social risks and impacts of proposed programme activities in accordance with the World Bank Group’s Environmental and Social (E&S) standards. The assessment examined the government’s capacity to manage E&S risks and recommended actions to strengthen systems related to stakeholder engagement, institutional coordination, and risk mitigation.

Edmaaj also reviewed existing legal and policy frameworks and facilitated consultations with key stakeholders, including civil society organizations, private sector actors, and public institutions. The team supported the design and evaluation of Grievance Redress Mechanisms (GRMs) and addressed sensitive issues such as Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH) to ensure safeguards were in place for inclusive and gender-responsive programme implementation.

Edmaaj supported the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW) in updating the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the National Coalition responsible for advancing Jordan’s National Action Plan (JONAP) on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. The assignment aimed to evaluate the coalition’s structure, define membership criteria, and develop an action plan to strengthen coordination and accountability across government, security, and civil society stakeholders.

The process applied a participatory approach, engaging members of the JONAP Coordinating Committee, including the Inter-Ministerial Committee for the Empowerment of Women at the Prime Ministry, the High-Level Steering Committee, and the broader National Coalition comprising government institutions, security agencies, and civil society organizations (CSOs).

Edmaaj conducted a desk review of relevant frameworks, facilitated stakeholder interviews and consultation meetings, and developed revised membership criteria and corrective planning tools. The updated ToR and strategic recommendations were submitted to the Coordinating Committee to support more effective implementation and governance of JONAP’s peace and security commitments.

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.

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 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 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 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 a Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) of Jordan Exports (JE) under the USAID Economic Reform Activity (ERA) to assess the organization’s gender mainstreaming efforts and strengthen its institutional capacity for promoting gender equality. The audit identified good practices, highlighted critical gaps, and provided targeted recommendations to improve internal systems, workplace culture, and service delivery.

Using the ILO’s PGA methodology, Edmaaj carried out a desk review of organizational documents, an anonymous e-survey targeting all JE staff, and key informant interviews with selected JE employees and external partners. The team also facilitated participatory workshops with JE staff to validate findings, discuss challenges, and co-develop solutions. Tools were tailored to fit JE’s structure, and all feedback was collected confidentially.

Edmaaj ensured full engagement throughout the process by adapting all tools to the organization's context and sharing clear schedules in advance. Data from all sources were analyzed and used to identify trends, institutional strengths, and areas for improvement.

The assignment concluded with the delivery of a comprehensive final report and a three-year Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Action Plan. These deliverables included priority actions, performance indicators, and implementation tools to guide JE in embedding gender equality across departments and functions.