Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

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 partnered with Social Development Direct (SDD) to provide strategic and operational support to the Safeguarding Resource and Support Hub (RSH) in the MENA region. Funded by UKAid through the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the RSH global programme aims to strengthen safeguarding policy and practice across the international aid sector, with a particular focus in this phase on Yemen, Syria, and Jordan.

The project led multiple streams of work to support civil society organizations (CSOs) in adopting and applying safeguarding policies to prevent and respond to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment (SEAH). Key activities included organizational capacity assessments, risk and baseline assessments, and the development of context-appropriate safeguarding tools and resources—made accessible via an open-source online platform in both Arabic and English.

The team also designed blended learning programs tailored to stakeholder needs, conducted targeted training workshops, orientation webinars, and implemented mentorship initiatives to help CSOs integrate safeguarding measures into their operations and governance. This approach combined technical rigor with regional relevance to create a responsive and sustainable safeguarding ecosystem.

Edmaaj conducted a comprehensive Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) stocktaking exercise for the UAE Network, commissioned by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). The assignment aimed to map current GESI efforts across the network, identify gaps and priorities, and build internal capacity to advance GESI mainstreaming in future programming and operations.

The process included a participatory workshop with UAE Network members to assess ongoing GESI initiatives, available resources, and institutional capacity. Edmaaj also conducted key informant interviews (KIIs) with UAE Network staff and partners, delivered a tailored training session on GESI principles, and developed terms of reference (ToR) for a follow-on GESI analysis.

The stocktaking emphasized the inclusion of socially excluded groups—particularly women, girls, and persons with disabilities—and provided practical insights and recommendations to support stronger, more inclusive practices across the UAE Network.

Edmaaj conducted research to examine the barriers preventing survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) in Jordan from accessing essential response services. The study aimed to understand the socio-economic, cultural, and systemic factors that shape survivors’ help-seeking behaviours across healthcare, legal, and psychosocial sectors.

Using a mixed-methods approach, Edmaaj conducted a desk review of national frameworks and global best practices, followed by key informant interviews (KIIs) with representatives from NGOs, UN agencies, and government institutions. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with women from diverse backgrounds—including refugees, GBV survivors, and women with disabilities. In addition, structured surveys were administered to gather quantitative data from survivors and service users.

The research identified key barriers such as stigma, limited awareness, institutional inefficiencies, and gaps in service coverage. Edmaaj provided practical, evidence-based recommendations to improve survivor-centred services and strengthen GBV response systems. The study was conducted in adherence to strict ethical protocols, ensuring informed consent, safeguarding, and gender-sensitive engagement throughout.

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.

Over a two-year engagement, Edmaaj team led the institutionalization of the newly established Women Empowerment Directorate (WED) within Jordan’s Ministry of Social Development (MoSD). The initiative aimed to formally embed the WED into the Ministry’s organizational structure to advance gender mainstreaming across all MoSD policies, programs, and service delivery systems. It also focused on empowering women within the Ministry and improving services for female beneficiaries nationwide.

The first phase focused on institutional analysis and design. Edmaaj conducted a comprehensive desk review of national frameworks and international best practices, alongside key informant interviews (KIIs) with MoSD department heads and focus group discussions (FGDs) with senior female staff. Based on the findings, Edmaaj developed the WED’s full organizational structure—defining its mandate, reporting lines, alignment with the Ministry’s strategy, required staffing, and individual job descriptions. A strategic work plan was also created, including a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework and a tailored capacity development plan, ensuring clarity of purpose and measurable outcomes.

In the second phase, Edmaaj supported the Ministry in appointing core staff to the central WED and facilitated the ToR deployment of focal points across 42 directorates throughout Jordan. This included technical guidance, tools, and ongoing mentorship to ensure operational readiness and strategic alignment.

The third phase involved a capacity needs assessment using a Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey targeting staff in both central and regional offices. Based on the results, Edmaaj designed and delivered a series of targeted capacity-building programs, supported by a Gender Skills Manual and customized training materials. The training addressed key areas such as gender equality and inclusion foundations, applying gender-sensitive approaches in development projects, M&E with gender-disaggregated indicators, applied research, and stakeholder engagement. In total, 75 MoSD employees benefited from the training.

The final phase focused on operational support and strategic coaching. Edmaaj provided advisory services to the WED during its first 18 months of implementation, including the development of a Gender-Integrated Performance Dashboard to track high-level KPIs and stakeholder mapping. The team also conducted a Ministry-wide stakeholder assessment to support the adoption of a safeguarding policy. To further strengthen leadership and implementation capacity, Edmaaj designed coaching and mentoring guide cards and provided one-on-one and group mentoring sessions aligned with the WED’s action plan for 2024.

This comprehensive, multi-phase engagement positioned the WED as a functional and strategic unit within MoSD—empowered to lead gender mainstreaming across the Ministry and deliver more equitable and responsive social services throughout Jordan.

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 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.

Edmaaj conducted a Participatory Gender Audit (PGA) for Jordan’s Ministry of Local Administration (MoLA), with support from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM). Using the ILO’s internationally recognized PGA methodology, the audit aimed to strengthen gender equality within the Ministry’s institutional structures, strategies, and service delivery.

The process included an in-depth review of MoLA’s policies, HR systems, and programs, alongside staff surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs) with senior leadership, site visits, and gender-sensitive facility checklists. Interactive workshops engaged decision-makers to reflect on organizational culture and performance.

A key project component was the capacity-building of a MoLA audit team through a 12-day training program covering gender equality principles, audit procedures, data analysis, and reporting. The audit concluded with a comprehensive report, endorsed by the Minister, that included an actionable gender mainstreaming plan and a formal Gender Equality Policy for the Ministry.