Project Information:
Project Title | Enhancing Access to Information |
Donor Organization | National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a private, nonprofit foundation dedicated to the growth and strengthening of democratic institutions around the world. |
Project Owner Organization | Jordan Transparency Center (JTC), non-Government and nonprofit organization dedicated to foster transparency, and combat corruption in Jordan through monitoring and good governance. |
Project Objective | To enhance the implementation of Access to Information Law number 47 of 2007 (ATI Law), using Carter’s Center Tool (IAT), and through fostering ATI Law capabilities and competencies among the targeted Public Agencies, raising awareness among their employees, and ensuring availability of adequate guidelines. |
Project Timeframe | 16 months |
Project ID | NED Grant number 2016-655 |
Prepared by | Salim Al Armali |
Approvals | Prime Ministry Letter 20/11/2016 & MOSD Letter dated 22/11/2016 |
Nature of the Problem & Project Initiation:
In 2014, JTC, jointly with the Carter Centre, conducted an ATl readiness evaluation using the latter’s methodology i.e., the Implementation Assessment Tool (IAT) involving seven Government Agencies (the Agencies). The outcome identified obstacles to the implementation of ATI Law in Jordan. These are summarized as follows:
- Inadequate / lack of staff training
- Inadequate or inefficient operating procedures / guidelines
- Lack of ATI news / achievements in the annual reports of the Agencies.
- Limited public demand for information.
- Some government institutions have not designated liaison officers with the Information Council Commission
On May 1st. 2016, JTC, submitted a proposal to NED, that aims to capitalize on the outcome of the aforementioned evaluation. NED accepted the JTC’s proposal.
Summary of Project’s Activities:
Following are the main activities of the project:
- NGO Partners orientation / training.
- Workgroup meetings with delegates of the Agencies and NGO Partners to discuss resource mobilization and other prerequisites for project implementation.
- Workshop and Training Seminars.
- Periodic follow-up and progress monitoring visits by joint teams (JTC and NGO Partners.
- Press conference to announce project’s findings and recommendations
Project Stakeholders
Donor | National Endowment for Democracy (NED) |
Regulatory Bodies | Ministry of Social Developments and Ministry of Political & Parliamentary Affairs |
Participating Public Entities | Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Education, Health and Justice, and Departments of Customs & Statistics. |
Supporting Entities | Carter Center, and Information Council’s Commission. |
Project Owner | Ms. Hilda S. Ajeilat, JTC’s CEO |
NGO Partner 1 | IMDAD Media Center |
NGO Partner 2 | SAMA Organization for Human Rights and Political Development |
NGO Partner 3 | Global Center for Governance and Sustainable Development |
NGO Partner 4 | The Promising Leadership Association |
NGO Partner 5 | Sanad Association for Thought & Youth Activities |
NGO Partner 6 | Arab Union Center for Human Resources Development |
Project Team:
Project Coordinator | Mr. Salim Al-Armali, Management & Business Transformation Consultant |
Project Subject Matter Expert | Mr. Yousef Baker, Management Consultant |
Logistics Officer | Mr Yazan Shawaqfeh |
Transparency Knights | Hala Nemeh, Bushra Azaideh, Haya Sha’aban, Lara Obeid, Farah Jaber, Bara’a Gayadah, Sara EL Amiry, Khalid Ma’aytah, Yazan El-Edwan, Dana Lathqani, Abdalla Hamlan (Sanad), Bayan Amireh (Sanad), Dua’a Shurafa (Global Center for Governance), and Maysa’a Haddadin (Global Center for Governance). |