In support of the national efforts to improve the engagement and effective participation of youth in municipal and local governorate councils, and in partnership with the Politics and Society Institute, the King Abdullah II Fund for Development (KAFD) launches the “Effective Representation of Youth in Local Administration Councils” project as part of its 2022 programme.

Set to contribute to the empowerment of young candidates by encouraging their active involvement in municipal and local governance councils, the project comes in alignment with the outcomes of the Royal Committee to Modernize the Political System and falls within the framework of enabling youth and engaging them in municipal administration and local governorate councils.

With the aim of sensitizing young candidates to the Law and the local administration along with its importance to community development. The project intends to hone the skills and build the capacities of these young candidates in order to help them plan their election campaigns and release their election manifestos in keeping with the needs and requirements of their local communities. In addition, the project seeks to empower the candidates with the best democratic practices to pave the way for their effective political participation in local administration and improve their chances in the local governorate councils’ elections.

The project targets young men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 who intend to run for the local councils’ elections in all governorates across the Kingdom.

Collaboration continues with the young candidates who get elected in order to increase their eligibility and their ability in applying the best practices in municipal administration, encourage their engagement in local communities, and help them maintain sustained dialogues with their communities.

Along with awareness sessions on the best democratic practices in municipal work, the project includes conducting workshops dedicated to the topics of managing election campaigns, leadership skills, and community outreach. As well as bolstering the skills needed in media and public communication, election-related press conferences, and fieldwork. Not to mention improving their ability to analyze election maps and political alliances.