The Launch of the “Nazaha” Platform

Press Release: The Launch of the “Nazaha” Platform

Bani Mustafa: The “Nazaha” Platform Marks a Qualitative Leap in the Journey of Empowering Civil Society Organizations
Estíbaliz López: The platform will contribute to achieving higher levels of social accountability
Tina Prihavec: The platform will provide civil society organizations with instant feedback on their internal mechanisms
Amer Bani Amer: The “Nazaha” Platform is a strategic step toward enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of civil society organizations

Under the patronage of the Minister of Social Development, Wafa Bani Mustafa, the “Nazaha” Platform was launched. The platform was developed by Al-Hayat Center – RASED within the framework of the project “Nazaha: EU Support to Social Accountability and Empowering Civil Society for Better Governance,” co-funded by the European Union and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and implemented by Al-Hayat Center – RASED and Rasheed for Transparency International.

The event was attended by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, Dr. Marwan Al-Rifai, a number of senators and members of parliament, as well as representatives of civil society, local institutions, and international organizations. The platform seeks to enable civil society organizations to comply with good governance standards and to strengthen transparency and accountability, thereby contributing to the improvement of their institutional and administrative performance and enhancing their role in local development.

Bani Mustafa stated that the launch of the platform represents a qualitative leap in the process of empowering civil society organizations and is another achievement added to the many accomplishments of Al-Hayat Center – RASED, especially as the launch of the Nazaha Platform coincides with the Kingdom’s celebrations of Flag Day, which we carry in our hearts and uphold with our hands, renewing our support for the wise Hashemite leadership and our commitment to serving our beloved الوطن in pursuit of its elevation and development.

She pointed to the importance of the intensive participatory efforts that led to the creation of the platform and its significance in strengthening governance, transparency, and compliance standards within civil society organizations, including associations. Its outputs will be reflected in the classification and evaluation of their performance according to specific and objective criteria, which is one of the goals the Ministry seeks to achieve. She added that the Nazaha Platform will also contribute to supporting the Ministry’s efforts in automating association data and facilitating procedures, as well as the importance of linking it with the Takamul Platform.

She further added that the platform’s objective intersects with some of what is stated in the updated National Social Protection Strategy, specifically in the pillar related to strengthening and empowering the associations sector. It also serves what emerged from consultations with civil society organizations regarding the need to rely on a mechanism for evaluating associations, through which active associations can be incentivized, while also helping monitor their performance and strengthen their financial and administrative governance.

For her part, Deputy Head of Mission, Ms. Estíbaliz López de Goicoechea, expressed her pride in speaking on behalf of the Embassy of Spain in Jordan on the occasion of the official launch of the “Nazaha” Platform, which she described as an innovative tool and an important milestone in the joint collective efforts to enhance transparency, integrity, and accountability within Jordan’s civil society sector. She emphasized that this platform is the result of a comprehensive and participatory process in which members of the advisory council played a central role.

López de Goicoechea noted that Spain has a long history of working with civil society organizations as a key pillar in building the rule of law and as a principal driver toward achieving more just, transparent, and participatory governance, a commitment that remains deeply rooted to this day. She concluded by affirming that the “Nazaha” Platform stands as a tangible example of how joint efforts among public institutions, international cooperation organizations, and civil society can lead to practical, sustainable, and locally relevant solutions. She also expressed confidence that the platform will be a useful and lasting tool not only for the organizations present, but for the entire ecosystem of civil society organizations in Jordan.

For her part, Tina Prihavec, Programme Manager at the European Union Delegation to Jordan, praised the partners for accomplishing the platform and for planning its long-term integration into the government’s “Takamol” system before the end of the Nazaha project, which will ensure the sustainability of this product. She added: “The platform will provide civil society organizations with instant feedback on their internal mechanisms and connect them with resources that can help them improve their level of governance.”

In turn, the Director General of Al-Hayat Center – RASED, Dr. Amer Bani Amer, emphasized that the Nazaha Platform is a strategic step toward enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of civil society organizations in Jordan. It seeks to empower these institutions to adhere to good governance standards and raise the level of transparency and accountability in their performance, thereby contributing to the realization of their developmental and social role in a more effective manner. He added: “We believe that building institutional capacities is the cornerstone of any genuine reform.”

Bani Amer explained that the training program offered under the Nazaha Project is not limited to theoretical content, but rather provides practical tools applicable in multiple areas, including institutional governance, financial management, strategic planning, risk management, and administrative oversight. He concluded by inviting all civil society organizations to visit the platform and benefit from its free content, which represents a real opportunity to build capacities and strengthen commitment to governance and transparency.