Jordanian Youth Step Up for Local Sustainability and Co-Governance
Jordanian Youth Step Up for Local Sustainability and Co-Governance
As part of the PeakED Regional Youth Camp: Empowering Youth for Sustainable Mountain Futures, the second workshop, “Youth Participation & Co-Governance: Active Citizenship for Local Sustainability”, was held on 18 September 2025. The event brought together young leaders and experts from across Jordan to reimagine the role of youth—from passive beneficiaries to active co-creators—in shaping local environmental solutions.
With 26% of Jordan’s population aged 16–30, participants were recognized as a vital but underutilized force in addressing some of the country’s most urgent environmental challenges:
Water scarcity and mismanagement – Jordan ranks among the world’s most water-scarce nations, with challenges intensified by drought and over-extraction.
Deforestation and loss of natural vegetation.
Urbanization and infrastructure expansion in mountain and rural areas.
Soil erosion and land degradation.
Biodiversity loss.
Unsustainable agricultural practices.
The workshop used a participatory, hands-on approach to engage participants through:
Stakeholder Mapping using the Power–Interest Grid.
Simulation Games replicating local decision-making processes.
World Café Dialogues, where small groups co-developed practical ideas for youth-led climate action.
From these sessions, participants identified key priorities to strengthen youth involvement in local governance:
Greater transparency and communication between municipalities and youth.
Formal youth representation on local councils and advisory boards.
Micro-grants to support youth-led sustainability initiatives.
Leadership, project design, and community engagement training.
Stronger cross-sector partnerships with schools, NGOs, and local businesses.
The workshop concluded with a Civic Action Challenge, where participants designed quick-impact initiatives, including clean-up drives, climate awareness campaigns, and youth-led consultations with municipal officials.
This workshop was more than a learning experience—it was a call to action. Organizers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing youth participation in local governance and environmental planning. As Jordan continues reforming its governance structures, one message was clear:
Youth are not the leaders of tomorrow—they are leading today.
PeakED is an EU-funded initiative empowering youth to safeguard mountain ecosystems through innovative methods, including the Living Laboratories (LLs) approach, which highlights the importance of conserving these fragile landscapes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7vq921s4_I
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