The first mention of Jordan conjures up thoughts of Petra and perhaps even the Dead Sea. Few think of Jordan as a leader in government innovation. That is soon to change.
Today, the UK and Jordan are co-hosting the London Initiative. It is in an exciting time for Jordan and this conference will demonstrate the scale of ambition for Jordan’s economic transformation, whilst reflecting on the resources available in the country.
There is a vision of Jordan, as a more productive and competitive leader, not only in science and technology but with a growing financial private sector and a user-centred government. In 2018, UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, and His Majesty King Abdullah II met at the UN General Assembly to discuss this vision and agree for their countries to jointly host the conference.
Peace and Positioning
Bordering Syria and Iraq, in the last few years, Jordan has been considered a beacon of stability in the Middle East for many countries. Jordanians have generously provided for more than 500,000 Syrian refugees, fleeing a long and unforgiving war.
The borders to Syria and Iraq are slowly reopening and there is ongoing reform, but many Syrians do not want to return to their ‘home.’ Although this presents a challenge for Jordan, it also presents opportunities. Many of the refugees were skilled professionals before they fled, and many others are young, brimming with entrepreneurship.
Jordan has become a leader for innovative solutions in supporting refugees, with an emphasis on finding economic independence. ‘Start-up Zaatari,’ as it affectionately called, has become home to a number of these innovate solutions, ranging from the Samsung Smart Schools to hosting robotics workshops.
Launched in 2017, Building Blocks was born out a need to save money and feed hungry mouths. It helps the World Food Programme (WFP) distribute cash-for-food aid to over 500,000 Syrian refugees. Having started in Jordan, the project could eventually speed the adoption of blockchain technologies at sister UN agencies and beyond.
Time and time again, welcoming refugees have proven to of economic value to states. Jordan, too, could be rewarded by not only the refugees’ economic contributions but a legacy of innovation for strengthening stability. There is a real reason for optimism.
What is next?
There will be various challenges for Jordan to negotiate within the next five years, aside from those presented by the large refugee population. The Jordanian government has a lot to learn from their private sector, which is why investment in the Jordanian private sector will benefit everyone.
A key challenge will be keeping up with the pace of change in technology. As citizens adjust their expectations of services from international tech giants, so will they adjust their expectations of government. But as the way in which citizens interact with government is changing (increasingly through social media and government portals), it is important for Jordan to harness the appetite for innovation shown amongst its citizens.
There has already been some groundwork put in. Planned improvements include efforts to use open data to eradicate corruption and the expansion of e-government services, particularly in the area of online payment platforms and there has already been a lot of work done in improving capability in digital communications. These changes are the first steps in which the government can foster and facilitate innovation, making it ever more important in Jordanian society.
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