positive values of local culture and heritage. Princess Basma believes in fostering models of socio-economic development that increase community participation and improve the quality of people's lives, especially in needy rural and over-populated urban areas.

Princess Basma is particularly interested in the interface between local communities and NGOs, national development organizations, governmental and private sectors, as well as United Nations and other international donor agencies. Her main concern is to promote and support socio-economic efforts, which are sensitive to the various concerns of different actors in the development field.

Her Royal Highness's work reflects her belief in values that uphold human dignity: respect, integrity and co-operation are values that have underscored her work from the beginning. At a recent United Nations Conference, Princess Basma said, "Development is not just about implementing programmes and activities. It is about maintaining human dignity at all costs."

The Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD)

The strength of JOHUD's work derives from its community-based presence and capacity-building approach, which is consolidated through a network of 50 Community Development Centres spread throughout the country. Much of JOHUD's work centres on helping local communities to address specific issues that are also of national concern, such as unemployment, poverty, rural-urban migration and low participation of women in the workforce. Now managed locally by community groups, NGOs and women's committees, each CDC offers a range of educational and training programmes related to health, nutrition, illiteracy, reproductive health and family planning, rural women's leadership, as well as income-generating activities and access to soft loan schemes.

Briefing His Majesty King Abdullah on the work of JOHUD, August 1999

As JOHUD develops the management and leadership skills of its CDC staff and local partners, the main CDCs play a consultative role in the administration of satellite centres in their area. Numerous volunteers, mainly women, are also involved in planning activities, counseling and liaising with members of their communities.

One of the most successful activities carried out the at the CDCs are the rural markets, which are both communal events and opportunities for women to train in business practice. This innovative venture has helped many women to sustain small home-based enterprises by enabling them to sell their products directly to local merchants, community markets and private customers.

Under Princess Basma's leadership, JOHUD has also designed and implemented innovative projects at the national level, related to agriculture, handicrafts, and eco-tourism. Such projects are geared to help promote economic sustainability and self-reliance. Today, JOHUD is recognised as one of Jordan's leading national advocates in the field of integrated human development, working in partnership with local communities and NGOs, the Jordanian government, United Nations, as well as other international agencies and NGOs.

In response to the changing dynamics of the Jordanian economy and the growing need for services to alleviate problems of poverty and unemployment, in the early 1990s JOHUD launched an Enterprise Development Programme which today operates several credit schemes. Participants are offered loans according to certain criteria and are provided with the necessary technical and managerial training.

The Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) was established in 1996, with the aim of providing financial services, primarily credit and non-financial services such as training and consultancy to low-income entrepreneurs with a particular emphasis on women.

Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID)

In 1994, Princess Basma established the Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID) to enhance development oriented training in Jordan, as well as the region. ZENID's range of activities and programmes has steadily expanded to cater for a growing demand to increase the knowledge and skills of development practitioners and field workers.

The institute offers technical support and assistance to a variety of organizations and individuals, ranging from voluntary groups, NGOs, and governmental agencies, to women's organizations, students and youth.

Through training, awareness-raising, up-to-date information and consultations, ZEINID gives people working in the social sector the necessary tools, techniques and knowledge required to advance the development process.

As a specialized training centre, ZENID designs and carries out training programmes in different areas of social and economic development for community and social workers, development supervisors and workers, health educators, members of women committees, pre-school teachers and supervisors.

In early 2001, ZENID was assigned by the Ministry of Planning to prepare Jordan's second National Human Development Report, with a major focus on sustainable livelihoods. The report aims to make an analysis of the current situation in Jordan regarding assets; coping and adapting strategies; entitlements and rights; policies, institutions and processes, as well as an action plan which will be based on work with individuals from all sectors of Jordanian society.

A growing need to place young people in Jordan at the heart of national development processes spurred the establishment of the Princess Basma Youth Resource Centre (PBYRC) in 2002, (formerly known as the Princess Basma Women's Resource Centre). The Centre is part of the Queen Zein Al-Sharaf Institute for Development (ZENID), and with its new focus, aims to promote the active role of youth in society, and enhance their participation in the development process. PBYRC also seeks to provide the opportunity, support and freedom for youth to express their needs and shape new realities.

The Higher Population Council (HPC)

Given the close linkages between population issues and national development concerns, in 1994 Princess Basma initiated a re-organisation of the Jordanian National Population Commission (JNPC) including a General Secretariat hosted by JOHUD. An outcome of JNPC's enhanced efforts was the launch of Jordan's first National Population Strategy (NPS) in 1996. The strategy was ratified by the government and NPC was officially assigned as the national focal point and coordinating body for all population related programmes and information. In December 2002, as the culmination of its expanded role and responsibilities, JNPC was renamed the Higher Population Council (HPC). Headed by the Prime Minister, HPC is empowered with the authority to direct national efforts to achieve sustainable development by striving to create a balance between population growth, social and economic development and internal resources.

On the international level, Princess Basma is a global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as well as Honorary President of the Jordanian Association for Family Planning and Protection, a local NGO affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation.

National Goodwill Campaign & The Queen Alia Social Work Competition.

Over the years, Princess Basma's growing concern has been to focus national attention on the issue of poverty and unemployment, and the needs of marginalized groups within Jordanian society.

The National Goodwill Campaign

In 1991, Princess Basma launched the first National Goodwill Campaign. Culminating every year during the Holy Month of Ramadan, the Campaign is based on the Islamic values of solidarity and support, and emphasizes the importance of cooperation and participation. The Campaign has two dimensions: firstly, the human dimension which aims to help families below the poverty line with medical services, university scholarships, essential food items and clothing; secondly, the development dimension whereby needy families are aided to start their own income-generating projects. By the end of 1999, the Campaign reached more than a quarter of a million people.

The Queen Alia Social Work Competition

In an effort to create a positive impact on attitudes and perceptions concerning people with special needs, Princess Basma launched the Queen Alia Social Work Competition in 1995. The annual competition, which takes the form of a quiz contest, focuses on raising general awareness through disseminating information on the causes, effects, treatment and prevention of various disabilities. This national endeavour also raises funds to support special education services.