IN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE, THE MERCIFUL

Foreword by His Majesty King Abdullah II

Jordan's youth are its greatest asset and hope for the future. We must tap our young people's  intellectual, creative, and productive potential in order for Jordan to keep up with new developments in global scientific, economic, and social sectors. I am delighted, therefore, that this first Jordanian National Human Development Report focuses on the condition and role of youth in our country.

Young Jordanian businessmen and women have pioneered important economic development initiatives, particularly at the global level. While the young have a proven track record and commitment to national development, they still need more opportunities to be able to play their full role in society. I hope that the recent reforms in the education sector will be a stepping stone and impetus for parallel improvements in other key sectors. Such broad reform is needed to create an enabling environment that can tap our young people's creative talents and activate their spirit of initiative and hard work, particularly among our young women. We must listen more carefully to our young people, and accurately hear their concerns, interests, and hopes, so that together we can help them achieve their full rights and fulfill all their dreams.

This inaugural Jordanian National Human Development Report identifies new trends and challenges in Jordanian society, such as overcoming the gender gap, strengthening social identity and integration, linking education to labor market  needs, increasing political participation, and dealing with the many effects of globalization. We all need to address these challenges in an integrated manner, for together they comprise the full picture of human development today.

I hope that all sectors of society will reflect seriously on the issues raised in this report, and then reach a democratic national consensus on the most appropriate ways to respond to our real challenges and opportunities. This will require our public and private sectors, NGOs, and international partners to work together as one team, in order to assess the prevailing issues and challenges, and to devise an effective mechanism to monitor our youth's progress and the wider human development situation in Jordan. I also hope that this report will spur the formulation of an action plan for following up the report's policy and research recommendations, and that young men and women will actively participate in its implementation.

I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed to this first Jordanian National Human Development Report, and also to all who will take part in its follow-up activities. We have great hopes that, God willing, this report will bear good fruit in the near future. May God bless and guide you on the right path.