Increased Success for Women in Jordanian Elections

With assistance from NDI’s “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Elections” program, Jordanian women achieved unprecedented levels of participation and success in the September 20, 2016, parliamentary elections. More than 250 women nationwide ran for office, and 20 won seats to serve as Members of Parliament. Five of those women won competitive seats, rather than one of the 15 quota seats, demonstrating women’s increasing levels of political activism and influence throughout the country.

Zainab Zubied, a participant in NDI’s program, won a seat in the Northern Badiya district, making her the youngest woman parliamentarian in the history of Jordan at age 30. Involvement in community and civil society activities, starting in her teens, helped Zubied gain support in her region, but working with NDI helped her be successful in getting elected.

NDI’s presence and efforts in the area of women’s empowerment are quite important. The knowledge and skills I gained through the program encouraged me to run, and enhanced my opportunities to win.

- Zainab Zubied, newly elected MP

Jordanian societal traditions and conservative tribal communities prevented many women from participating in past elections, either as candidates or as campaign managers and political activists. However, more women - of all generations and in all parts of the country - have been emboldened by new opportunities to take part in Jordan’s democratic development process.

Recognizing these changes, NDI began its election-related program in the spring of 2016, building on its existing programs to increase women’s participation in civil society and politics in non-election periods. The elections program emphasized ways to inform more women of political and electoral processes, diverse ways they could get involved in the elections (whether as candidates or volunteers), and techniques and skills they could use to raise their profiles within the parties and as active members of their communities.

In the six months prior to the parliamentary elections, NDI worked with more than 300 women in all parts of the country, encompassing all 12 governorates as well as Bedouin districts, to increase their campaign and political outreach skills and to assist them in developing campaign strategies. Of the more than 250 women who stood as candidates, almost 200 had been trained by or received individual consultative assistance from NDI. As a result of NDI’s assistance, the number of women candidates increased by more than 30 percent - from 191 to 252. Eleven of the 20 newly elected women MPs were NDI participants throughout the course of the program, including one of the women who won a competitive, non-quota seat.

NDI’s work also has a broader impact on politics in Jordan outside of election campaigns. Dr. Salma Nims, the Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Committee for Women’s Affairs, highlights that the Institute’s work contributes to Jordan’s National Strategy for Women. NDI’s program “works to provide better and more equitable opportunities.”

Through these types of partnerships, we hope to soon bring women’s percentage of representation to no less than 30 percent in all policy and decision-making and in various elected and appointed councils.

- Dr. Salma Nims, Secretary General of Jordanian National Committee for Women’s Affairs