Speech of HRH Princess Basma bint Talal at the launch of Jordan's
Second National Human Development Report 2004
27 June, 2004

I am very proud and honoured to be here today to help launch this, the second National Human Development Report for Jordan. I had the memorable experience, three years ago of launching the first NHDR for Jordan - the topic of which was “youth”. The report advocated that young people should be given the space to have more voice and choice concerning their lives, and should be encouraged to play a more active role in development processes. I think we all recognize how effective the first report was and how much has been achieved in the last three years to harness the energies of young people. The second National report builds on the achievements of its predecessor. It reaffirms the rights and responsibilities of all citizens to participate fully in development initiatives, and focuses particularly on the interests of the poor in Jordan.

The production of a Human Development Report is a collaborative experience, and requires co-ordinated effort from a wide range of people and institutions. I would like to extend my deep appreciation to both the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation and the UNDP for their role in this truly commendable effort. The report focuses on “Sustainable Livelihoods for Poverty Alleviation” and we all recognise the value of the work that these two important organisations play in development and poverty alleviation in Jordan. I am particularly glad to be able to thank His Excellency Bassem Awadallah and Ms Christine McNab, as fellow members of the Advisory Board that helped steer this report through to today's launch. I thank you both for the personal interest you have shown. May I also take the opportunity to express appreciation for the time and effort contributed towards the report by the technical advisory committee, representing government, civil society and academia. The Department of Statistics must be especially commended for their patience and generous support, in providing and validating the invaluable data contained in the document. As for the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) the implementing agency entrusted with compiling the report, I trust that the journey, though long and challenging, was a worthwhile one. I would like to thank all the members of the JOHUD team for the tireless efforts and deep commitment that they put into this endeavour.

I would also like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to all the individuals and organizations represented here today. Their contribution and commitment to Jordan's development process has been the reason behind some of the true progress that is being made, and the real and tangible outcomes that we are seeing throughout the country. We are all well aware of the many challenges and obstacles that exist, but I feel certain that together we can overcome much. The presence of so many people here today, some familiar faces and some new ones, is a clear indication of how seriously Jordan regards the challenges of poverty alleviation. It is our responsibility to act.

NHDRs are “nationally owned”, and this report, I believe, can truly be said to capture many of the characteristics of our nation. When we say that a report is “nationally owned” then it should be broad enough in perspective to incorporate the views, analysis and aspirations of a wide range of stakeholders from government, civil society, the private sector, academia and local community based organizations (CBOs). The report clearly reflects this diversity of opinion and interests. To be truly “nationally owned” it should also reflect the people of Jordan themselves: the citizens who are this nation's greatest asset. I am therefore especially pleased to see that the report is truly “people-centred” and reflects the voice, the views and the aspirations of the heart of our communities.

The 2003 Global Human Development Report, launched here last year, tells us that ‘ Growth can be ruthless or it can be poverty reducing - depending on its pattern, on structural aspects of the economy and on public policies….. All countries - especially those doing well on average but with entrenched pockets of poverty - should implement policies that strengthen the links between economic growth and poverty reduction .' In Jordan, where poverty remains a persistent and troubling phenomenon, we are trying to ensure that the economic gains that we have made translate into social gains. Our aim is that all Jordanians are healthy, well-educated, lead fulfilled lives and have a decent standard of living. It is our obligation to ensure that the poor in Jordan achieve these goals too.

Our country faces many challenges in its struggle to alleviate poverty. We are all aware of the limitations of Jordan's natural resource base, especially the diminishing supply of renewable water and the increased demands of a growing and youthful population. Our experience in promoting development has taught us that there are no simple solutions. However, as the report notes: Jordan can be proud of the achievements it has made in human development. The indicators for education and health are very positive and ensure that the overall human development index value continues to make steady progress. Jordan now ranks ninth out of 19 regional countries, many of which have revenues from oil and therefore achieve far higher scores on the economic component of the Human Development Index. The relatively strong position for Jordan can be attributed largely to the significant investment that has been made in human capital: our people are, and will remain our greatest asset.

In spite of these overall achievements, there remain disparities. The poorest ten percent of the population still experience an unacceptably low standard of living. We need to identify such “pockets of poverty” where the poor are disproportionately clustered and then provide targeted investment. We need to find ways of understanding the particular situation of poor communities, in order to tailor interventions to their specific needs. In development thinking globally there is an increased recognition that: "one-size-does not fit all". Policies and programmes should be flexible enough to respond to local and specific needs, and still maintain their efficiency and effectiveness. This requires that we make more of an effort to understand the complexities of the lives of the poor and vulnerable.

The report aims to ensure the most effective method of consultation possible: by going out and listening to the poor themselves. It takes literally the key tenet of human development: of “putting people at the centre”. As you will hear today and will read in the report, over 800 individuals and organisations took part in an extended process of research and consultation in seven communities across Jordan, ranging from the badia, the Jordan Valley, the central highlands, and the main urban centers. The locations are diverse and often the problems that the poor face are unique to their particular location. But across the seven locations and the 800+ voices, there emerge a set of common issues. The findings of the consultation process was the starting point for the analysis in the report and for a reassessment of the policies, institutions and processes that are meant to address the needs of the poor.

A major strength of the report is that it makes clear the important linkages between theory, policy and practice. The connection is the process of research, analysis and reflection. As development professionals we owe it to ourselves, and more importantly to people living in poverty, to set time aside to reflect on our situation and to ask ourselves whether we are on the right track. Only by going out to the field and looking at the daily lives of poor communities can we understand whether our ideas about poverty alleviation actually make a difference. Policy on paper must translate into improved livelihoods on the ground and it is poor people themselves who will judge whether our efforts have been worthwhile. This report will be widely distributed and will be read by those with an interest in development in Jordan and the region. I believe that this report provides a strong example of the ways that research can feed into policy and practice and make a difference.

The report combines qualitative and quantitative research approaches and shows how they complement each other and broaden our understanding of the complex nature of poverty. In Jordan we have access to high quality statistical data on many aspects of poverty - and with the new Household Expenditure and Income Survey we can reliably analyse poverty down to the “liwa” or district level. This will help us target “pockets of poverty” where the poor need particular support. But we also need other forms of analysis that help us understand the causes of poverty, the strategies that the poor adopt to cope with hard times, the shocks that they suffer at individual, household and community level and how they respond. It is here that the qualitative analysis presented in this report is so valuable. It allows us to enter people's homes and lives and to capture the complex and dynamic nature of poverty as they experienced it themselves.

I want to highlight some of the main messages of the report, since I believe that they are useful for us all, whatever our role in development. One key message is that we should focus more on the poor themselves and make an effort to understand their lives. The report urges us to create the space in which the poor can voice their concerns. This requires that the poor see a value in their participation … which means that when they speak, we will have to commit to becoming excellent listeners.

T his report talks in detail about the views of poor people concerning education, the quality of teaching and the relevance of the curriculum for their needs. In many cases, members of the poor communities are critical of the quality of education and the fact that their children leave school ill-equipped for work. When we read their comments, we should not be defensive. We should be glad that they care about their children's education and that they identify where changes could be made. The same is true for health care and other services. Poor people are no different from the rich and the better off. Everyone wants what is best for their children. We should channel all our energies and work together to find local solutions to local problems. If poor people work together collectively, they can pool their talents and resources and make a genuine difference. One of the main messages of the report is that much can be achieved simply by amending existing poverty alleviation programmes to enhance the positive outcomes for the poorest citizens. And the key lies in mobilising poor communities and helping them to act collectively and responsibly.

An attentive and responsive government is vital to the success of development efforts, but it is not just about creating space. The poor themselves need to gain the knowledge and skills to speak out responsibly and effectively. In this respect, the report recognises the vital role that civil society organisations can play. NGOs can act as catalysts to mobilise citizens. In the past efforts concentrated on community mobilisation in the implementation of community projects. But, as the report notes, there is a growing need for the poor to act collectively to improve essential services, through advocacy and voice. NGOs and CBOs that operate at the local level have the legitimacy, experience and the outreach to stimulate local action in support of the poor. There are many simple ways they can act in this respect…

What we are talking about is democracy and governance in action. We all welcome the strengthening of the democratic culture in Jordan, exemplified by the efforts of His Majesty King Abdullah. Here, it is important to remember that democracy is not just about elections and political parties, or quotas and parliament. True democracy is also about all citizens having a voice and being able to influence decisions that affect their lives. It's about exercising rights, and also about meeting responsibilities to work together to improve the quality of life for all Jordanians. This is a vision to which His Majesty is committed, and one which is integral to the future of our country.

And, as the report notes, this can often be most easily and effectively achieved at the local level. Citizens can help local planners identify what services would best meet their needs, they can provide feedback on what works (and what doesn't). They can tell local service providers when resources are being wasted. Local level planning is a win-win relationship: citizens (and especially the poor) can get better access to services that meet their needs and service providers can use their resources more efficiently and effectively.

My own experience with the Hashemite Fund for Human Development has shown me that local communities are a fertile ground to produce strong and democratic local leaders, especially from among the rural leaders, women's committees and the representatives of CBOs. Such local community activists learn the skills of local representation, accountability and the necessity to balance rights and responsibilities. They live among their own electorate, they have an interest in seeing improvements in the lives of their neighbours. They are models of responsible democracy in action. A constant theme throughout this report is that we all have much to learn if we return to grassroots realities. We should be encouraged by what we see - across Jordan the poor are actively engaging in development.

I also have to admit a personal interest in seeing this report finally launched. As the Chairwoman of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, the implementing agency for this report, I have observed the process of production of this report rather more closely than others. At times it seemed that an endless stream of drafts, redrafts and amendments appeared on my desk for review. The struggle to find the right form, the appropriate style, and the choice of chapters seemed interminable. I am sure that all those involved with writing, reading reviewing, providing feedback, checking the data and then getting the final document off to the press, at times felt very frustrated. But, a Human Development Report is like all other development initiatives. It takes time, and it is a process. The document itself is important, but the dialogue, thought and action it creates is more important.

The second Arab Human Development Report noted the challenges faced by those wishing to generate and disseminate knowledge in the Arab region. It is indeed a struggle. But, after this lengthy period of research, analysis, reflection, argument and compromise, I believe that this latest Jordanian National Human Development Report, and the knowledge it contains, is one we can be proud of. I hope that you will all use it to inform your own work, to help you plan new ways to alleviate poverty in Jordan, and also to continue to generate knowledge to better understand the challenges ahead.