Jordan Midterm Review 2021-2025

In December 2021, Jordan submitted a four-year action plan to the Open Government Partnership (OGP). At the midpoint, Jordan took stock of the action plan’s progress and context after two years of implementation. Based on this reflection, Jordan submitted a refreshed action plan in August 2024.[1] This IRM document reviews the refreshed action plan, the status of implementation at the midpoint, and alignment with the minimum requirements under the OGP Participation & Co-Creation Standards.[2]

The refresh process for Jordan’s fifth NAP was participatory and inclusive. The Open Government Unit (OGU) in the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC) launched the process in April 2024 with an open call for public submissions to the refresh process. Joint working groups reviewed and finalized submissions. OGU published outputs of the refresh process on the Jordan OGP website.[3] In the future, the IRM recommends that OGU publish the timeline for the entire process with information on opportunities to participate at least two weeks before it commences. This will enable Jordan to meet all the minimum requirementsAll OGP participating countries are expected to adhere to the Participation and Co-Creation Standards. Each Standard includes clear and measurable minimum requirements that all OGP participating count... under the OGP Participation and Co-Creation StandardsCollaboration between government, civil society and other stakeholders is at the heart of the OGP process. The Participation and Co-Creation Standards are intended to support this collaboration throug....

No commitments were added or significantly amended. The OGP Point of Contact noted that this was in part due to the fact that development of the sixth action plan was expected to begin within a year of the refresh.[4] However, new milestones were added to Commitments 1, 2, 4 and 5 on e-participation, integrity standards, and youth policy. The amendments build on existing milestones and align with IRM recommendations in the Action Plan Review to ensure implementation is participatory and endorsed by civil society organizations.[5]

Government ministries, civil society, and independent public institutions met during the first two years to discuss implementation progress and the refresh.[6] Jordan’s OGP multi-stakeholder forum (MSF) met annually in 2023 and 2024. OGU explained that the forum did not meet in 2022 as the search for funding opportunities was ongoing and no substantive progress had been made.[7] However, annual meetings with a wider group of government and civil society actors were held to review the plan. Additionally, smaller groups periodically convened to discuss specific commitments. The IRM recommends the MSF to meet at least every six months to collectively strategize around implementation challenges and resource mobilization.

Jordan’s fifth national action plan (NAP) is on track to be completed by June 2025.[8] All six commitments are progressing with the majority of original milestones completed.

• In July 2024, Jordan was removed off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list after almost three years on it since October 2021.[9] The government has planned measures to stay off the list, including new milestones in CommitmentOGP commitments are promises for reform co-created by governments and civil society and submitted as part of an action plan. Commitments typically include a description of the problem, concrete action... 1. As recommended in the IRM Action PlanAction plans are at the core of a government’s participation in OGP. They are the product of a co-creation process in which government and civil society jointly develop commitments to open governmen... Review, several activities are being implemented in collaboration with civil society organizations (CSOs).
• Implementation of Commitment 3 on mainstreaming genderOGP participating governments are bringing gender perspectives to popular policy areas, ensuring diversity in participatory processes, and specifically targeting gender gaps in policies to address gov... in public service has advanced beyond the initial milestones.
• Commitments 4 and 5 faced a lack of funding for their foreseen online platforms. Funding was secured for Commitment 4 but was still pending for Commitment 5 at the time of midterm review.
• In the Action Plan Review, the IRM evaluated Commitment 6 on public participation in capital investment projects to have the greatest level of ambition. Progress has been made towards creating channels for local civic participation. However, no projects had been piloted by December 2024.[10] The IRM recommends that, at minimum, one project is piloted by June 2025 for the commitment to fulfill its potential.

[1] “Jordan Fifth OGP NAP (2021–2025) Refresh Outcomes Report,” Jordan Open Government Partnership, accessed 1 November 2024: https://ogp.gov.jo/EBV4.0/Root_Storage/AR/1_plan_5/Fifth_OGP_NAP_2021-2025_REFRESH_Outcome_Report_(1)_(1).pdf.
[2] “OGP National Handbook – Rules and Guidance for Participants (2024),” Open Government Partnership, 11 April 2024, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/ogp-national-handbook-rules-and-guidance-for-participants-2024; “OGP Participation and Co-Creation Standards,” Open Government Partnership, 24 November 2021, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/ogp-participation-co-creation-standards.
[3] “(2021–2025) وزارة التخطيط والتعاون الدولي تنشر نتائج تحديث الخطة الوطنية الخامسة لمبادرة شراكة الحكومات الشفافة,” [Ministry of Planning publishes outcomes of the Open Government Partnership 5th National Action Plan refresh process,” Jordan Open Government Partnership, 25 August 2024, https://ogp.gov.jo/Ar/NewsDetails/وزارة__التخطيط_والتعاون_الدولي_تنشر_نتائج_تحديث_الخطة_الوطنية_الخامسة_مبادرة_شراكة_الحكومات_الشفافة_2021202.
[4] Suhair Alkayed (Open Government Unit, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation), correspondence with IRM Researcher, 10 December 2024.
[5] “IRM Action Plan Review: Jordan 2021–2025,” Open Government Partnership, 18 January 2023, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/jordan-action-plan-review-2021-2025.
[6] “منتدى أصحاب المصلحة المتعددين,” [Multi-Stakeholder Forum], Jordan Open Government Partnership, accessed 7 December 2024, https://ogp.gov.jo/Ar/List/منتدى_أصحاب_المصلحة_المتعددين.
[7] Suhair Alkayed (Open Government Unit, Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation), interview by IRM Researcher, 13 November 2024.
[8] “The Fifth National Action Plan 2021–2025 under the Open Government,” Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, December 2021, https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/jordan-action-plan-2021-2025.
[9] Rayya Al Muheisen, “Jordan taken off grey list, triumphs in fight against financial crimes,” Jordan Times, 17 November 2023, https://jordantimes.com/news/local/jordan-taken-grey-list-triumphs-fight-against-financial-crimes.
[10] “Detailed Executive Plan for Commitment 6,” Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation Open Government Unit, unpublished document shared with the IRM.