Remarks by UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, H.E. Ms. Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, delivered at the Closing Ceremony of the “New Horizon” Project

I want to start by saying how glad I am to be here today — not just to mark the close of a project, but to acknowledge the work and the commitment that brought us to this moment.

This project was important because it was about real people, real frustrations, and real questions about how change actually happens — especially for young people and women who often feel that political reform is something discussed around them, rather than with them.

From the perspective of the United Nations, that question — who gets to participate, and how — is fundamental.

The UN Democracy Fund exists precisely because democracy, at its core, is not only a system of institutions and laws. It is a lived experience. Its success depends on whether people believe they have a role, whether they have the skills to engage, and whether there are trusted spaces where dialogue is possible. It is shaped by people’s sense of belonging in the national conversation, their confidence to express ideas freely, and the extent to which participation feels meaningful rather than symbolic.

This is why the UN places such importance on inclusion—particularly for young people and for women.

This project not start from the assumption that youth are disengaged. It started from a much more honest place: that many young people are engaged, and they’re deeply engaged, but they’re skeptical, they’re cautious, and they’re wary of being invited into conversations that might lead actually nowhere.

So instead of asking youth to simply “participate,” this project focused on capabilities.
Instead of telling young people what reform means, it asked them to analyze it.
Instead of promoting slogans, it invested in thinking, organizing, and dialogue.

That approach matters — especially in Jordan’s current moment.

Jordan’s political modernization process is ambitious. It reflects the recognition that institutions must continuously evolve, that participation must widen, and that institutions must remain responsive to a changing society.

And over the three years that I’ve been here in Jordan, I’ve had the privilege of having many private conversations with young people and with the leadership of the country. And I can say that I have observed in all those conversations a commitment to achieve these goals. 

But we know modernization is not just about commitment, and that its not just about new frameworks, laws or processes. It’s about relationships – between citizens and institutions, between generations, and across a society learning to navigate change together.

Those relationships are built through dialogue, through listening, and through the steady practice of participation.

From the UN’s perspective, one of the greatest risks to democracy – and to any reform effort – is not disagreement. It is disengagement. When people withdraw, when skepticism turns into silence, or when participation feels inaccessible, reform loses its foundation.

That’s why spaces that encourage informed, respectful and constructive civic engagement matter so deeply. 

These are not abstract ideals. They are practical skills that you as participants have been development. Skills that strengthen institutions, improve policy outcomes, and help societies adapt.

The UN Democracy Fund exists to support exactly this kind of democratic practice. The approach that you have adopted aligns closely with the spirit of Jordan’s political modernization. Leaders and citizens know that a political system that creates space for youth and women is better prepared for the future than one that relies on a narrow set of voices. 

As we move forward, this project that we have gathered to close today has made a meaningful contribution across six governorates. And you have continued contributions to make. The participation that changes people, that changes a society, and that changes a nation, must continue. You must continue to work, to build confidence, build credibility, and build a sense of responsibility. And then deploy that across the country. 

Sustaining participation means continuing to make space for dialogue.
It means treating inclusion as a strength, not a risk.
And it means recognizing that democracy is not a destination. It is a practice—one that requires patience, openness, and commitment over time.

It requires the courage to disagree, the courage to listen to each other, because Jordan’s future – in fact, the future of humanity all over this planet – will be shaped not only by policies, but by whether young people and women, whether all of society feels they belong in the national conversation, or in any national conversation. This is a lesson that we as humanity need to learn again and again.

To those of you that have been directly involved in this project, thank you for the inspiration. I had the privilege to tour the booths outside this hall this morning, and to be briefed on your policy papers. Let me say your work is very impressive. Already, we – my colleague the Head of UNFPA, who is here with us this morning, and myself – have discussed ideas about how we can bring your work into the mainstream of the work that the UN Agencies are doing here in the country, and into the work with do with bilateral partnership and with the government, and with all society across Jordan. How we can ensure that the ideas you have, the suggestions you’re making, actually get put into practice and actually inform some of the very critical discussions that will happen this year across a number of topics. 

So we look forward to dialoguing with you. I commit on behalf of the United Nations that we will not let this just be a number of papers that sit on a shelf somewhere, but that we will actually put this into action together. 

Thank you to all for the efforts that made this possible. 

Again, the United Nations is delighted to be a part of this and to have supported your efforts, and I look forward to talking to you again soon about what do next.