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Ammon News - The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) on Sunday launched the women leadership skills program in the public sector, in cooperation with Democracy, Rights, and Governance Office at USAID Jordan.

Speaking at the event, Civil Service Bureau (CSB) Chairman, Sameh Nasser, stressed government institutions' commitment and continued support to empower women's leadership drive.

As the first program in Jordan, he referred to the participation of 60 gov't female employees, who were selected out of 100 candidates from public sector institutions after passing an integrated assessment process under follow-up from a specialized committee.

Nasser added that Jordan's public administration process is "rich in women leaders and successful and distinguished experiences," who have proven their capability to overcome challenges and make achievements.

The government, he noted, has sought to increase the number of women in leadership positions at the director-general level.

During the last period, a relatively large number of women were appointed to these leadership positions, accounting for 70% of the total applicants, which are "clear" indications of Jordan's interest in this regard, and women's "distinguished" capabilities and competencies, he said.

On related statistics, he noted percentage of women working in the civil service sector amounted to 48% of the total workforce, adding that regulations in place forbid gender identification in vacancy applications unless the job requires otherwise.

For her part, Deputy Director of the Democracy, Rights, and Governance Office at USAID Jordan, Lyla Bashan, said the joint "collaborative" effort with the IPA and other government agencies, will enhance civil employees' capabilities.

This program will prepare women in various sectors to become leaders in the public sector, which would contribute to enhancing their overall competencies by building their leadership skills in strategic planning, policy-making and decision-making, Bashan pointed out.

This cooperation, she noted, is a testament to the continued Jordan-U.S. partnership and the continuous support for the Kingdom to achieve "a more effective and accountable" public sector, which makes the IPA a catylist for Jordan's public sector reform, by holding serious innovative programs.

The ceremony also saw graduation of 11 participants from the first cohort of the government leaders program from various civil service departments.