Amman, February 16 (Petra) – Speaker of the Lower House Mazen Qadi said that empowering younger Jordanians and expanding their participation in decision-making positions is a national priority as part of political and administrative modernisation.
Speaking during a dialogue session held on Monday by the Parliamentary Youth, Sports and Culture Committee under the title "Youth Experience in Governorate and Municipal Councils," Qadi said the House of Representatives places support for youth leadership at the forefront of its agenda.
This commitment, he added, stems from a firm belief in young people's ability to contribute effectively to local development and to strengthen the principles of partnership and social responsibility.
Qadi said that youth and women receive the direct support and attention of His Majesty King Abdullah II and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II.
He added that the Crown Prince closely follows youth-related initiatives, listens to their perspectives and regards them as essential partners in the national development process.
He said that engaging youth in shaping local development plans and participating in decision-making reflects the state's confidence in their capabilities. Such engagement, he added, promotes stronger coordination between national institutions and local communities, enhances the efficiency of public sector performance and reinforces participatory governance.
Head of the Parliamentary Youth Committee MP Mohammad Maharmeh said the meeting is the first of its kind in the Kingdom, bringing together youth representatives from municipal and governorate councils nationwide, as well as heads of student unions from Jordanian universities.
The initiative, he added, aims to strengthen communication between elected youth leaders at both local and university levels.
Maharmeh said that the next phase requires enhancing youth representation in elected councils and local bodies to improve institutional performance.
He added that organising the meeting aligns with the House of Representatives' commitment to supporting youth participation in public life by providing an institutional platform for dialogue.
The forum enables participants to share experiences and challenges, exchange expertise and contribute to improving local governance and public services.
He added that the meeting sought to develop a practical framework for youth empowerment within the local governance system, enhancing their meaningful presence in local councils and advancing a more efficient, transparent and responsive model of governance.
Sultan Khalaileh, President of the Sanad Association for Youth Thought and Action, said the association working in partnership with the Parliamentary Youth Committee and the Parliamentary Alliance for Youth is implementing a comprehensive national vision to promote youth political and social empowerment.
The initiative seeks to strengthen youth representation in positions of influence, particularly within local governance structures.
Khalaileh said that investing in local youth leadership is a strategic investment in the nation's future. He called for capacity-building, expanding opportunities for structured dialogue and creating a supportive legislative and administrative environment to facilitate active youth participation.
Bahaa Qudah, General Coordinator of the National Youth Dialogue Project on Local Governance, presented key findings from a national policy paper on enhancing youth participation.
The paper was developed through field dialogues, national surveys and discussion sessions conducted across the Kingdom's governorates.
Participants shared their experiences in governorate councils and discussed the challenges facing young leaders, including the need to expand council powers, strengthen oversight mechanisms, provide specialised training programmes to enhance performance and broaden youth influence in local decision-making processes.
//Petra// AK
