A national community dialogue caravan, 'My Municipality Starts with Me,' was launched on 19 July 2026 from the Jordanian House of Representatives with support from the European Union, aiming to collect citizen input on the 2026 Draft Law on Local Administration. The initiative, under the patronage of Speaker of the House of Representatives Eng. Mazen Al-Qadi, will travel across 10 governorates over 10 days, engaging at least 8,000 citizens through around 20 field stops, according to EU Ambassador to Jordan Pierre-Christophe Chatzisavas.
The caravan is implemented by Expertise France and the We Rise Center for Sustainable Development, with facilitated dialogues, rapid surveys, interactive tools, and a digital participation platform. Discussions will cover municipal services, digital transformation, complaint mechanisms, transparency, participatory budgeting, neighbourhood committees, equitable development project distribution, local investment, and job creation. The collected views and recommendations will be consolidated into a report for the House of Representatives, the Ministry of Local Administration, and other stakeholders.
Speaker Al-Qadi stated that sound legislation is built on listening to citizens, and the caravan's findings will inform parliamentary debates on the draft law, aiming for a more efficient, transparent, and accountable local administration system. Ambassador Chatzisavas noted that effective local administration is a cornerstone of Jordan's political and administrative modernisation, and the caravan provides a platform for direct citizen engagement. Amer Abu Dalo, Director General of the We Rise Center, said the caravan will simplify information on local administration and listen to citizens' experiences and priorities in an open manner.
The initiative targets young women and men, civil society organisations, and partner institutions, with no prior EU coverage on this specific file. The caravan's outcomes are expected to shape legislation more responsive to local community needs, aligning with Jordan's modernisation process led by King Abdullah II.