Amman, Dec. 29 (Petra) – The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) launched the CLOSER project, a regional initiative funded by the European Union’s Interreg NEXT MED Program, aimed at strengthening participatory local governance by connecting proximity networks across the Mediterranean region.

The project was officially launched during a roundtable held on December 15, bringing together representatives of governmental and international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector.

According to a statement issued by ARDD on Monday, the CLOSER project aligns with the organization’s ongoing efforts to advance Mediterranean cooperation and promote inclusive governance models that place local community needs at the center of public policy. The initiative seeks to enhance local governance mechanisms and expand citizen participation in six Mediterranean countries.

Implemented from 2025 to 2027, the project focuses on strengthening social services and social rights in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Greece, Spain, and Italy, with particular attention to marginalized and rural areas. It aims to empower civil society organizations and public authorities to design and deliver social services that are more responsive to residents’ needs.

CLOSER is implemented by a consortium led by the Danilo Dolci Creative Development Center – European Training Services (Italy), in partnership with Eurotraining (Greece), the University of Alicante (Spain), Juhoud for Community and Rural Development (Palestine), ARDD (Jordan), and the Municipality of Moukhtara (Lebanon).

Project Director Malak Suleiman said the project represents a strategic milestone for ARDD, reinforcing its role in advancing participatory local governance in Jordan. She noted that the initiative builds on the organization’s accumulated expertise in local governance and good governance practices.

Suleiman added that ARDD is working to ensure the project’s sustainability by developing a flexible and replicable methodology that can be applied across Jordan’s governorates, contributing to the institutionalization of participatory approaches and strengthening cooperation between citizens and decision-makers.

The project also seeks to establish local proximity networks in partner countries, bringing together public authorities, civil society organizations, and private sector actors to develop innovative solutions that enhance shared responsibility and improve the quality of social services.

Project expert Marah Khayyat said the initiative aims to position the Jabal Amman Neighborhood Future Committee as the nucleus of a local proximity network in Jordan. The committee includes representatives from government entities, private businesses, and civil society organizations, and works to preserve the area’s historical identity while revitalizing its urban heritage in line with inclusive standards.

She explained that the network functions as an interactive platform uniting the public and private sectors with civil society, placing residents’ needs at the core of planning and decision-making and presenting the area as a model for resilient communities capable of delivering sustainable, high-quality services.

Through active local networks in Italy, Spain, Greece, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon, the CLOSER project seeks to entrench cross-border participatory governance, enhance institutional capacities, promote the co-management of social services, and strengthen transparency, local ownership, and regional cooperation toward sustainable social welfare and community cohesion.

//Petra// NQ

29/12/2025 14:26:29