Solidarity Is Global Institute-JO (SIGI) organized sessions on updating local and governorate administrations, as part of the "Vote" project to enhance the role of women and youth in political life. These sessions focus on legislation and recommendations issued by the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System, particularly in relation to the participation of women and youth.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Ali Al-Khawaldah, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs, emphasized that Jordanian women make up half of society—and indeed, are at the heart of society. He stated that no progress can be achieved without their genuine and active participation. He added that security is the fundamental entry point for safeguarding rights, and its absence leads to the loss of all other rights.

Dr. Al-Khawaldah highlighted that the Jordanian state, now over 100 years old, has made significant progress in empowering women in public life by amending legislation and adopting a comprehensive approach to women’s issues. He noted that political modernization has resulted in new laws, such as the election and political parties laws. The current electoral law ensures women's representation by placing them at the top of the first three national lists.

Mrs. Nuha Mahrez, Chair of the Administrative Board at SIGI, affirmed that women's participation in political life is a key pillar in implementing national plans aligned with international agreements and decisions to which Jordan is a signatory. She stressed that this participation is essential to achieving comprehensive political modernization.

Mrs. Inaam Al-Asha, Executive Director of SIGI, explained that the organization was established in 1998 and is one of the leading national institutions working on women's issues. It has an extensive network of active partnerships. She emphasized that the participation of women and youth in political life serves the public interest, supports the achievement of national sustainable development goals, fosters social peace, and promotes complementarity among societal roles.

Dr. Zohour Gharaibeh, Project Manager of the "Saweet" initiative, pointed out that the Jordanian state is steadily advancing toward strengthening the participation of youth and women in political life. This was evident in the constitutional amendments and the electoral and political party laws passed in 2021.
She added that this approach must continue and be reinforced, especially in light of the government’s decision to dissolve municipal and governorate councils. This necessitates the adoption of recommendations issued by the Royal Committee for the Modernization of the Political System—particularly those related to empowering women and youth and involving them effectively in decision-making positions.

Former Member of Parliament Mrs. Asma Rawahneh, speaking during the workshop, stated that the recommendations of the Royal Committee concerning women and youth’s participation, along with amendments to the Local Administration Law, serve the public good.

Rawahneh stressed the importance of women playing their role in public service within official frameworks, noting that their presence in councils enhances the quality of local governance and better reflects the priorities of communities. She emphasized the need for a clear definition of the roles of governorate council members and for mechanisms that ensure meaningful and complementary representation, including appointing additional members when necessary.

She highlighted the importance of defining governorate priorities based on local council visions and community participation. She affirmed that budgeting should be carried out in cooperation with all relevant parties and based on the actual needs of the community, not on narrow interests of individual members.

She stated that these recommendations are a significant step toward establishing effective local governance and achieving comprehensive development. They enhance the role of elected councils in making development decisions that directly affect citizens' lives and help relieve the burden on the central government while meeting citizens’ needs efficiently and fairly.

Rawahneh emphasized the need for a cultural shift in how development projects are selected, calling for the strengthening of active partnerships between local councils and both the public and private sectors to improve services and achieve real progress in local communities.

The workshop also discussed key proposed recommendations for updating legislation related to local administration. These included expanding the powers of councils, ensuring representation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities, enhancing transparency and accountability, and improving service quality. All of these measures aim to achieve fairness in the distribution of development gains and activate the developmental role of governorates.