Non-profit

Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development

Website:

ardd-jo.org/

Type:

Non-Profit

Headquarters:

3rd Circle, Jabal Amman – Zuhair Mahlas Street, No. 15

Location:

Amman, Jordan

Founded:

2008 1

References

  1. “Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development.” Daleel Madani, June 17, 2020. https://daleel-madani.org/civil-society-directory/arab-renaissance-democracy-and-development
Board Chair:

Zaid Eyadat

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Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) is an advocacy group based in Amman, Jordan which pushes for liberal reforms to Middle Eastern societies. The organization explicitly endorses what it calls a “modernist” project to transform the Arab world, claiming that this will result in a “renewal” of “civilization” in the region. 1 The ARDD has also criticized the state of Israel for its alleged mistreatment of Arabs in the disputed Palestinian territories. 2

Policy Positions

Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development aligns with the Arab faction in the Israel-Palestine conflict, arguing that Palestinian identity has been a constant presence throughout history while the Israeli or “Zionist” claim to the region is the product of “interpretation” of recent history intended to “overpower” and “eradicate” the Palestinian claims. 3

ARDD claims that Middle Eastern and other nations must remove barriers to entry for refugees and migrants from the region and provide greater assistance to those already within their borders. 4

ARDD pushes for the revision of traditional gender norms in the Middle East, including through the force of law. The organization argues that greater integration of women into the workforce will benefit the economies of Arab countries and accelerate the political liberalization of their societies. 5

Programs

Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development has several initiatives related to advancing the Arab position in the Israel-Palestine conflict, including educational programs in partnership with universities in the region and networking venues for activists, as well as support and self-promotion activities among Palestinian refugee populations. 6

ARDD supports activism intended to raise awareness of and sympathy for refugees and migrants in the countries they enter, as well as lobbying of governments and institutions to increase their support for displaced and immigrant populations. 7 In particular, the organization has worked to draw attention to the more than one million migrant workers in Jordan, the vast majority of whom it says have no legal status in the country. The Our Right initiative mobilizes activists and trains organizers within migrant worker communities. 8 Another initiative, the Investing in the Future Project, supports educational programs for migrant children in Jordan. This project receives funding from the German government’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 9

ARDD conducts and publishes research intended to demonstrate the benefits of moving away from traditional gender norms. The organization also backs advocacy for legislation and institutional policies that it claims would benefit women. 10 One such advocacy initiative is For Us by Us, which mobilizes women in Jordan to push for societal reforms and provides networking opportunities for activists. 11

Partners

Notable international associates of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development include the American Bar Association, the University of Connecticut, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. 12

Leadership

Zaid Eyadat is the chairman of the board of Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. 13  He has taught at the Middle East Studies department at the University of Connecticut, as well as the Prince al-Hussein School of International Studies at the University of Jordan. In addition to his ARDD board chairmanship, he has been involved with a large number of advocacy groups and think tanks focused on the Middle East and Arab world. One of Eyadat’s academic projects aims to reconcile Islamic ethics with the modern liberal conception of international human rights. 14

Funding

Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development has accepted grants from the European Union and many of its member states, including France, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as from several United Nations departments, including the United Nations Children’s Fund, the UN Refugee Agency, and UN Women. 15

References

  1. “About Us.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/About-Us
  2. Question of Palestine.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/The-Question-of-Palestine
  3. “Question of Palestine.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/The-Question-of-Palestine
  4. [1]“Forced Migration, Displacement, and Statelessness Program.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/Forced-Migration-Refugees-and-Shataat
  5. “Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/Gender-Justice
  6. “Question of Palestine.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/The-Question-of-Palestine
  7. “Forced Migration, Displacement, and Statelessness Program.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/Forced-Migration-Refugees-and-Shataat
  8. “Our Right.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/What-We-Do/Projects/our-right
  9. “Investing in the Future Project.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/What-We-Do/Projects/investing-in-the-future-project
  10. Gender Justice and Youth Empowerment.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/Center-of-Renaissance/Program/Gender-Justice
  11. “For Us by Us.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/What-We-Do/Projects/for-us-by-us
  12. “Donors, Partners and Networks.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/About-Us/Donors-And-Partners
  13. “Board of Trustees.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023.

    https://www.ardd-jo.org/About-Us/Board-Members

  14. “Zaid Eyadat.” University of Connecticut Middle East Studies. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://mideast.uconn.edu/person/zaid-eyadat/
  15. [1]“Donors, Partners and Networks.” Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development. Accessed February 6, 2023. https://www.ardd-jo.org/About-Us/Donors-And-Partners
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