JORDAN & THE MDGS
March
Q3 GLOBALIZATION BENCHMARK BY Ryan Harris [1]
Project introduction Personal Introduction
MDGs Introduction
The following is the final culmination of my journey in understanding the struggle of reform inside developing countries and the even greater struggle of actually going about reform inside developing countries. For this project, the country I chose to focus on was Jordan, located in the Middle East. In the project, I conducted all types of research ranging from info about the country itself, its global presences, and most importantly how the country can implement the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals): The UN’s International Key List to achieving the extermination of global issues like poverty and HIV/ AIDS. Following items are visual representations of that research.
The Millennium Development Goals, or MDG’s, were developed by the UN in as way to unify the countries of the world under a common goal: exterminating extreme global issues and build sustainable global partnerships. These 8 goals themselves have been around for decades, with each country making strides to complete the goals to varying degrees of effectiveness. By 2015, the UN is hoping these goals can be achieved so that global community can become much stronger for it.
8 MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
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Briefing Note for Current State of the Country Jordan for Year of 2012-2013 Written By Ryan Harris Issue: As issued by the Freedom House, the country named Jordan, officially titled The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, was considered “NOT FREE” of the year 2012-2013. Background: - Since it’s induction as a country in 1946, Jordan has been governed by monarchy; with it’s current ruler being Abdullah II. - Located in the Middle East bordered around Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, and Israel. - One of the first/only country(s) in the Middle East to form a peace treaty with Israel. - The rule of current king, Abdullah II the constraints between the government and it’s citizens has increased since 2011. - The main religion of Jordan is Islam (The government practices Sharia Law) - The King has made many attempts to improve many things like the economy but many have reacted with things such as protests. Current Status: As stated in the background, Jordan is not an elected democracy. The King of Jordan (currently King Abdullah II) has complete executive control in addition to the ability to appoint whoever he wants to the position of prime minister and positions of the cabinet. Since he has become king, Abdullah II has tried to reform Jordan from the economic crisis it was facing from the rule of the previous king. Many freedoms such as expression are very strict in Jordan. While the government does not explicitly block any specific sites, the government has been known to heavily monitor things such as blogs of journalists for any form of Anti-Jordan speech. Criticism of the government, its king, or even members of the royal family have been counteracted by acts of violence on those who say it. In 2011, Jordanian blogger, Enass Musallam was stabbed after she allegedly criticized a member of the royal family. In addition to that, many of forms of media broadcasting are under government control as well. There are many newspapers and magazines, each with hidden informants, who alert the government if any negative material is about to be published. Citizens are not even given the right to freely protest, with many protests being extremely small and some also turning violent. The judicial system is also not a elected democracy with a lot of its influence being from the executive branch and its members being appointed by the king himself. But all is not terrible in Jordan. Jordan stands at the forefront as one of the most educated countries in the Middle East. Both primary and secondary schooling is free and required for all children through the age of fifteen. The country is home to 61 community colleges and 27 universities.
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Relating the mdgs With its natural resources greatly depleting, Jordan has a huge dependency on foreign markets for things like wheat and red meat. Also, with global prices for commodities increasing and the massive amount of refugees who live in Jordan, the need to feed is enormous. With many of country’s citizens being children, many children are also going hungry very quickly. Probability of Success: 60% ! ! Source: http://jordantimes.com/hunger-poses-threat-to-jordan-middleeast-experts-warn
This MDG is achieve near perfectly by Jordan. Jordan has been improving their education system for the last few decades. Primary (secondary) education is both free and mandatory for all citizens, with almost 40% of citizens under the age of 14. With a plethora of colleges and universities available afterwards. Also, since 1960, Jordan has increase its literacy rate from 33% to 85%. Probability of Success: 100% Source: http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/resources3.html While has made some strides in gender equality, with women taking up about half of those attending higher educational facilities, there is still a great gender gap. One prime example of this is in Jordanian law which is governed partly by Sharia (Islamic Law). With something like Sharia, that always grants more rights to men, women have a tough time lobbying for equal rights. In addition, Jordanian women cannot grant their foreign spouses citizenship while Jordanian men (and even refugees), can grant their spouses citizenship. Probability of Success: 30% Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/01/world/middleeast/injordan-a-struggle-for-gender-equality.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
As of 2009, the infant mortality rate of Jordan is 23 deaths/1000 births. While thankfully is relatively low compared many other countries, Jordan has shown that it doesn’t have adequate resources for infants in the neonatal stage of life. Jordan has admitted that goal 4 is one of their top priorities in achieving the MDG’s. By 2015, they are hoping to decrease the rate to 17 deaths/1000 deaths. Probability of Success: 70% Source: http://jordantimes.com/reducing-infant-maternal-mortalitykey-to-meeting-millennium-goals-in-jordan
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Relating the mdgs (cont.) Much like goal 4, Jordan has placed this goal at the top of their to-do list. As stated by Queen Rania of Jordan, nearly 60 million women gave birth without any professional help. Nearly half million dying as a result of it. The result of women dying from pregnancy could possibly lead to near 40% of its citizens being under the age of 14. Probability of Success: 70% Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rania-al-abdullah/maternalmortality_b_300052.html As of 2012, there are as many as 258 discovered cases of HIV/AIDS in Jordanian citizens. Research has showed that 80% of those who contracted in, contracted it aboard. Jordan has taken up many of the treatments and medications that have expanded one’s life expectancy as long as 30 years. Since many contracted it aboard, all foreigners who seek to work in Jordan are required to be tested for things like HIV/AIDS, malaria, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis. Probability of Success: 80% Source: http://jordantimes.com/ten-jordanians-diagnosed-with-hivaidsthis-year
After a history of overusing nature resources mainly water, compounded by other issues such as high unemployment, young population, and gender inequality, Jordan is making massive strides to obtain environmental sustainability. One example of this is having farmers produce completely organic crops and pushing for their businesses to release yearly sustainability reports. These reports are not only for citizens of Jordan by also for surrounding countries to take the same example. Probability of Success: 70% Source: http://www.queenrania.jo/community-empowerment/ sustainable-development
Jordan is one of the many countries that are striving for obtain great relationship between surrounding countries. Along with countries like Turkey and Pakistan, they have many discussions towards the advancement of things like science & technology, educational opportunities, and obtaining better relationship between the countries overall. Probability of Success: 80% Source: http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/12/201754.htm
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Budgeting budgeting the mdgs
total budget: $61,810,000 (43,755,299 jd) - Supply $ to the UN towards the aid of refugees in Jordan (5,086,000) - Supply Jordanian citizens with synthetic wheat crops (4,500,000) - Install more efficient groundwater basins and purification technology in rural areas (4,000,000)
- Computers, Books, Expansion of schools (5,000,000)
- UN-affiliated organization “Women Watch” (1,000,000)
- Establish a partnership w/ the World Health Organization (WHO) - Goes towards to the creation/maintenance of smaller hospitals in more rural and underdeveloped areas of in Jordan. (15,000,000) - Hire a qualified staff of Jordanian citizens to work in new hospitals (2,250,000) - Training for able-bodied citizens in neonatal/pregnancy care (2,250,000) - Creating better resources for neonatal/pregnancy care in current and future established hospitals (4,000,000)
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budgeting the mdgs (cont.) - Supply sustainable amounts of medications for affected citizens (5,724,000)
- Install wind towers and solar panels are alternative forms of energy (3,000,000) - Install rainwater collection towers/waste water recycling plants (4,000,000)
- Research, development, and expansion of the Jordan Education Initiative (6,000,000)
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DATA VISUALIZATION & CAMPAIGN AD
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REFLECTION I believe that my country is doing very well in their implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. They’ve already created sustainable ways of complete goals 2 and 8, something that can’t be said by a lot of countries within it’s immediate region. When it comes to the other goals, I like that the country acknowledged the fact these are pressing issues and immediately created to counteract them. I feel that Jordan is country that can complete many of these goals by 2015. I’d have to say the most pressing issue in my country is freedom expression and gender equality. While they’re very progressive when it comes to things like education, the people of Jordan and other surrounding countries don’t really have the freedom to express how they feel. While one can’t really go to jail for posting something negative about the government of Jordan online, many people have been victims of violence because of it. It’s kind of a very “under-wraps” thing that if it keeps persisting, then the people of the country and it’s surrounding countries can’t trust the government. I think that Jordan’s greatest success is its education system. They fact that it’s free and required for all children 14 and under, shows that Jordan really values its children as agents of change. Especially in a country where 40% of its population is actually under the age of 14. Another positive attribute is the battle towards the reform of maternal/child/infant health and mortality. The country has noticed that they are definitely the most pressing goals they need to complete, because it does have a relatively young population. That’s way I gave nearly 60% of my budget towards those two goals because if the children are dying, who going to be the ones to keep the sustainability everyone’s trying to get?
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SOURCES "Jordanian Blogger Stabbed After Criticizing Royal Family Member." Freedom House. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. "Jordan." Freedom House. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. "Higher Education in Jordan: An Overview | Youinjordan.com." Youinjordancom. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2013. "Hunger Poses Threat to Jordan, Middle East, Experts Warn." Jordan Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. "Jordan - Human Resources - Education in Jordan: A Commitment to Excellence."Jordan - Human Resources - Education in Jordan: A Commitment to Excellence. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. Sweis, Rana F. "In Jordan a Struggle for Gender Equality." The New York Times. The New York Times, 01 Dec. 2011. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. "'Reducing Infant, Maternal Mortality Key to Meeting Millennium Goals in Jordan'"Jordan Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. Jordan, Queen Rania of. "Maternal Mortality." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 25 Sept. 2009. Web. 23 Mar. 2013. "Ten Jordanians Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS This Year." Jordan Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2013.
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