Youth Participation in Developmental Policies Process Making in Jordan

Abstract

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is entering its second millennium with a decisive will for development and prosperity, depending on its youthful society; since youth in the age group (12-30) years comprise (61%) of the population. This fact implies that the developmental policies drawn by policymakers in the country must address the needs and inspirations of young people. This study aimed to analyze youth participation in the process of developmental policymaking from the perspective of the concerned directors of the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation (MoPIC) in terms of importance and implementation. The study adopted a qualitative approach and used semi-structured interviews to collect data from (10) directors. The study concluded that youth participation in developmental policy-making was considered to be crucial and essential for achieving development in Jordan. However, the current participation is considered to be weak and tokenistic. The study recommended more engagement of youth in policy-making.