In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, as elsewhere, the reform of public governance arrangements has become a priority in a context of increasingly complex and multidimensional policy challenges. The importance of strengthening public governance frameworks, tools and capacities to deliver for citizens has been underscored by a series of events over the last decade, including the 2010‑11 Arab uprisings, the COVID-19 crisis, the evolving conflicts in the Middle East and the repercussions of Russia’s continuing war of aggression against Ukraine.
In recent years, Jordan has demonstrated its political commitment to improving transparency, integrity and accountability, which are essential for addressing policy challenges and fostering trust and inclusive development. This has culminated in the recent wave of political, economic and public administration reforms highlighting the country’s aspirations to improve governance and support sustainable economic development. A series of constitutional amendments and electoral and political party laws were implemented to strengthen the role of political parties, following the recommendations of the Royal Committee to Modernise the Political System. The general elections that took place on 10 September 2024 reflected both this political commitment and citizens’ growing interest in participating in democratic processes. The key reforms are captured in the Economic Modernisation Vision, the Political System Modernisation Plan and the Public Sector Modernisation Roadmap.
As Jordan steps up its efforts to modernise its public sector, this OECD Public Governance Review: Together for an Accountable and Transparent Public Administration in Jordan (hereafter, the Review) provides an overview of the government’s capacity to design and implement more responsive, transparent and accountable policy outcomes, with the goal of building trust in government and fostering inclusive development. The Review also examines the extent to which strategic policy objectives are implemented. Drawing on the OECD’s expertise and global good policy practices, the Review supports the improvement of strategic planning and public sector performance management, which are crucial for optimising resource allocation and service delivery. This Review also provides tools for promoting a culture of transparency, facilitating access to information, ensuring greater citizen participation in public decision-making processes and determining how accountability frameworks can be strengthened to better meet the needs of women and young people.
The Review was carried out as part of the “Ma’an – Together for an accountable and transparent public administration in Jordan” project, funded by the European Union. The project assists Jordan in building effective, accountable and inclusive institutions and is implemented under the aegis of the OECD Public Governance Committee (PGC) by the MENA-OECD Governance Programme. This Public Governance Review is complemented by an OECD Integrity Review, which provides a holistic assessment of the public sector integrity environment in Jordan with tailored policy recommendations.
The Review is part of the OECD Programme of Work and Budget 2023-24 and of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme to support public sector efficiency in the MENA region. In line with the strategic priorities of the MENA-OECD Governance Programme and the PGC, it identifies key issues and lessons learnt in implementing public sector reforms to unlock social and economic development and meet citizens’ growing expectations in terms of quality services, inclusive policymaking and transparency in the MENA region.
This Review was approved and declassified by the OECD Public Governance Committee on 14 November 2024 and prepared by the Secretariat for publication.