Ammon News - By: Amanda Ammari- IB Student

Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in addressing public concerns, often through awareness campaigns, capacity building, research, and advocacy. In the fight against corruption, CSOs are essential for be promoting integrity, good governance, and advocating for stronger laws and regulations. They act as watchdogs, collaborating with governments to monitor the implementation and enforcement of anti-corruption initiatives. Transparency International's (TI) principles underscore the importance of this work.

This paper examines how civil society organizations contribute to enhancing integrity and anti-corruption efforts in Jordan, exploring the interplay between global frameworks and local contexts.

Jordan Transparency Center (JTC), a prominent Jordanian CSO, has conducted extensive study on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), a key tool published annually by TI. The CPI ranks countries based on perceived levels of public sector corruption, defining corruption as the "misuse of public power for private gain". JTC's analyses of CPI data, spanning from 2001-2014 and beyond, have identified factors contributing to corruption in Jordan, including weaknesses in anti-corruption entities, inadequate access to information, and deficient legislation. These studies have revealed Jordan's fluctuating CPI scores and rankings, highlighting the underlying reasons and ongoing challenges. For example, a JTC study found that Jordan maintained a low score and ranking on the 2021 CPI, signaling concerns about power abuse, illicit financial flows, human rights violations, and bribery. While Jordan has seen some fluctuations in its CPI performance, the 2024 CPI brought encouraging news. Jordan's score increased by three points to 49, resulting in an improved global ranking of 59th. This positive shift suggests that recent efforts to combat corruption may be starting to yield results, though sustained efforts are still needed.

This improvement raises a crucial research question: How can civil society organizations contribute to enhancing integrity and anti-corruption efforts in Jordan? This inquiry aligns with the concept of globalization, which influences the spread of international norms, including those related to governance and anti-corruption. CSOs and NGOs play a key role in translating these global norms into local action. This analysis will consider the methods by which CSOs like JTC operate, including research, advocacy, and collaboration, to assess their impact on local anti-corruption efforts.

My internship at JTC provided invaluable firsthand insights into the role of CSOs and NGOs in combating corruption in Jordan. Through collaboration, observation, and document review, I witnessed the strategic intersection of local governance and global anti-corruption initiatives. JTC plays a significant role in shaping Jordan's National Anti-corruption Strategies, including the National Integrity System (NIS). An interview with Hilda Ajeilat, JTC CEO, further illuminated the organization's challenges and successes in advocating for transparency. This experience connected the theoretical concept of development – economic, social, and political progress that influences governance and security – to the practical work of CSOs in driving anti-corruption efforts.

Development, as defined by Pearson (1992), encompasses economic, social, and political progress, influencing security and governance policies. It plays a crucial role in shaping anti-corruption practices in Jordan. JTC's engagement with international frameworks, such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), and its collaboration with regional and global anti-corruption networks (e.g., ACINET, UNCAC Coalition, UNODC, OECD, Freedom of Information and Open Government Partnership), demonstrate this connection. These partnerships provide Jordanian NGOs with resources, training, and policy frameworks aligned with global anti-corruption standards. However, this reliance on international frameworks also presents challenges.

Futher, Ms. Ajeilat emphasized the sensitivity of applying global standards to Jordan's local political climate. Adapting international models without proper consideration of local realities risks undermining the effectiveness of development efforts. More examples of this tension, perhaps through comparative analysis with other countries or deeper exploration of specific Jordanian political dynamics, would strengthen this argument. This challenge is evident in the complexities of Jordan's anti-corruption efforts, where a one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to succeed. Dependency Theory offers a lens for understanding this challenge, highlighting the difficulties developing countries face when relying on external solutions not designed for their specific contexts. Imposing global models without adaptation can reinforce existing inequalities rather than addressing the root causes of corruption.

My JTC internship reinforced the importance of NGOs in shaping national integrity through political engagement. Development provides Jordanian CSOs with access to global resources , but also necessitates adapting these models to local needs. The intersection of global and local efforts underscores the evolving nature of governance and integrity in Jordan. The OECD's Integrity Review of Jordan, with its concrete recommendations, and the National Integrity and Anti-Corruption Strategy 2020-2025, outlining government priorities, further illustrate this dynamic.

The political challenge is multidimensional, requiring both international collaboration and local adaptation. While international frameworks offer valuable tools, their effective implementation requires tailoring to Jordan's unique political landscape. JTC's initiatives, such as "Universities Against Corruption" and "Madrasti Nazahti", demonstrate the importance of engaging youth and educational institutions in promoting integrity.

JTC's work highlights the critical role of development in providing tools for anti-corruption efforts, but careful management is crucial to ensure these tools are effectively integrated for sustainable success.

Moreover, JTC has implemented notable projects, such as an initiative funded by the Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) to enhance Whistleblowers’ Protection Act for civic servants. Targeting seven governorates, including Amman, this project focused on strengthening the legal and administrative framework to safeguard whistleblowers, ensuring a secure environment for reporting corruption without fear of retaliation. The project also included specialized training for public sector employees on reporting mechanisms and whistleblowers protection, as well as awareness campaigns to educate the community about the crucial role of reporting in promoting integrity and combating corruption. This initiative underscores JTC’s commitment to advancing transparency and supporting institutional reforms to foster a fairer and safer working environment within government agencies.

In conclusion, this paper has explored the multifaceted role of CSOs in enhancing integrity and anti-corruption efforts in Jordan. By combining theoretical frameworks like Pearson's definition of development with practical examples from JTC's work, the analysis has highlighted the importance of adapting global anti-corruption principles to the local context. While international collaboration provides valuable resources and frameworks, the success of these initiatives hinges on understanding and addressing the specific challenges of Jordan's political landscape. Further research could explore the long-term impact of JTC’s initiatives and examine the evolving relationship between CSOs, the government, and international actors in the fight against corruption in Jordan.