Women In Parties: Towards Effective Leadership

In cooperation with the We Rise Centre for Sustainable Development and the Princess Basma Centre for Jordanian Women’s Studies at Yarmouk University

 

The KAS Jordan Office, in cooperation with the We Rise Centre for Sustainable Development and the Princess Basma Centre for Jordanian Women’s Studies at Yarmouk University in Irbid, concluded the “Women in Parties: Towards Effective Leadership” project at Yarmouk University in November. The launch of The Best Practices Guide for Women’s Political Empowerment was the main focus of the event, which was held under the patronage of Senator Asia Yaghi, a strong advocate of women and persons with disabilities. In their introductory speeches, Dr. Ruba Bataineh, the Vice President of Yarmouk University, Senator Asia Yaghi and the We Rise Centre General Director, Amer Abudalo, emphasized the importance of empowering women to strengthen their role within the political arena, thus enabling them to shape the future. Amer Abudalo noted that the Best Practices Guide is the first of its kind in Jordan, based on data, analysis and real experiences and has established a roadmap for the entire path of women’s participation in political parties—from recruitment and training to full political empowerment.

 

Veronika Ertl, Resident Representative of KAS in Jordan, expressed pride in the results of the project, which she said aimed to enhance women’s participation and influence in political parties. She welcomed the new legislation that expanded opportunities for women’s engagement and stressed the importance of allowing enough time for the political modernization project to produce visible and meaningful results.

 

The Women in Parties project is an initiative aimed at enhancing the active role of women in Jordanian political life and strengthening their presence in leadership and decision-making positions within political parties. It specifically targeted 25 women leaders and aspiring political actors from diverse political affiliations, social backgrounds and age groups, ensuring inclusivity and broad representation.

 

The components of the project included an intensive 6-day training course covering leadership skills, political identity, negotiation, communication, campaign management and coalition-building;  a Best Practices Guide for Women’s Political Empowerment informed by participants’ inputs during the workshops, as well as expert reviews; and political dialogue sessions to create opportunities for participants to connect with policymakers, party leaders, civil society actors and academics, thereby strengthening their political networks and visibility. By combining training, advocacy and knowledge-sharing, the project lays the groundwork for sustainable impact, empowering participants to take on leadership roles and to serve as multipliers within their parties and communities.