Forum of Federations

My journey began during my school days, where my drive to lead and passion for volunteer work led me to manage the school’s charity fund. At university, I organized initiatives to support underprivileged students, helping many complete their education with the assistance of a dedicated team of volunteers.

Despite societal taboos, I joined the National Current Party after graduating and quickly rose to head the women’s movement within the party. I led various initiatives, activities, and lectures to raise awareness about political parties and their roles in local communities. However, feeling constrained by the party’s limitations, I, along with a group of like-minded individuals, founded the Jordanian Shura Party. This new venture allowed me to connect more deeply with grassroots communities through charitable work, revealing the true impact political parties could have on society.

Recognizing the need for further development in my leadership skills, I participated in numerous courses offered by the National Committee for Women Affairs and the Forum of Federations. These courses equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a successful leader and influencer in my community. The training I received covered essential topics such as decentralization law, quota vote calculation, and the impact of societal violence.

The support from Forum of Federations proved invaluable when I decided to run for the governorate council in an area with few members of my tribe or family. Despite this, my partisan and social activism helped me build a strong local support base. My success in the election would not have been possible without the education and training provided by Forum of Federations.

Once in the governorate council, my colleagues and I sought to change the status quo. We prepared a code of conduct and engaged in several sessions with the House of Representatives to amend the governorate council law. Our efforts led to the law’s amendment in the second round, granting us more powers in follow-up, implementation, developing the needs guide, and budget approval.

The Forum of Federations continued to support me by helping me understand the true role of political parties and my rights and powers as a party member. Armed with this knowledge, I met with the Secretary General of the Party, the Central Committee, and committee heads to convey the challenges faced by the governorate council. I also leveraged the party’s meetings with the Ministry of Political Development and the Independent Electoral Commission to communicate our concerns effectively.

My story illustrates how targeted training and support can empower individuals to drive meaningful change, enhance leadership, and foster active participation in political and social spheres.

In the AI era, what are federations like India doing to reduce their vulnerability to strategic supply chain shocks and enhance their economic and national security?

Find out in this new Forum blog by Rajat Dhingra!

🔗 https://forumfedblog.org/india-semicondutor-strategy/

The Empowering Youth in Political and Economic Participation project was officially launched in Amman, bringing together over 50 young leaders from across Jordan, alongside government, civil society, and media representatives.



Implemented by the Ministry of Political and Parliamentary Affairs and the Forum of Federations, the initiative aims to strengthen youth engagement in political life and enhance their role in shaping Jordan’s future.



Through interactive sessions and upcoming activities across the country, the project will support young people in becoming active contributors to decision-making, community development, and democratic participation.

On 7-8 May, the Forum was convened an international research workshop at Marquette University’s Les Aspin Center for Government in Washington DC to discuss the pressing topic of AI and federalism. A collaboration between the Forum and Publius: the Journal of Federalism, this conversation brought experts from Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Nepal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States together to explore how federal countries are tackling the challenges and leveraging the opportunities of AI. The Forum looks forward to sharing the insights from these discussions later this year.

Thanks to the participants: Philip Rocco, Paul Nolette, Liam Whittington, Jamie M. Thomas, Rupak Chattopadhyay, Aziz Huq, Sabine Kropp, Luis Claudio Kubota, sandeep shastri, Shahal Khoso, Daniel Mallinson, Ph.D., Vishnu Kumari Tandon, PhD, Lucie Vignola, Yannick Newton, Philipp Trein, Martino Maggetti, Mario Kölling, and Julia Clinch.

The Forum thanks its funders and the James Madison Charitable Trust for their support of this event.

We’re pleased to welcome two distinguished scholars as Non-Resident Fellows at the Forum of Federations.

Eric Champagne is a Full Professor of Public Administration at the University of Ottawa and Director of the Centre on Governance, specializing in multilevel governance, decentralization, and fiscal federalism.

Sean Müller is a Leader in Swiss Politics at the University of Bern, specializing in Swiss and comparative federalism, direct democracy, political culture, and local autonomy.

Their expertise will further strengthen the Forum's work on federalism and multilevel governance.

𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗱𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

How are federations navigating the transition to an increasingly digital world?

Find out in our ForumFedCast series on digitalization and federalism!

Listen now!

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/forumfedcast/id1518317784

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2sKkuomMWt4blGqitizhdZ

• Podbean: https://forumfedcast.podbean.com/

On September 8, 2023, a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, exposing critical challenges in the country’s disaster response system.

Why did emergency response remain highly centralized despite years of decentralization reforms? And what does this reveal about how fragility is shaped and reinforced during crises?

Tara Lihi explores these questions in her recent paper on disaster governance in Morocco.

➡️ Read the full paper: https://www.forumfed.org/document/disaster-governance-uncertainty-and-the-reproduction-of-fragility-the-case-of-morocco-number-72/

It is with profound sadness that the Forum of Federations and I personally learn of the passing of the former Speaker of the House of Federation, Honorable Yalew Abate.

We wish to extend our collective and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this time of great loss. Honorable Yalew Abate was an exceptional leader whose dedication to public service and the principles of federalism left an indelible mark on the nation.



We hold in high regard the close and constructive working relationship he maintained with the Forum of Federations throughout his tenure as Speaker. His collaborative approach and steadfast commitment to strengthening intergovernmental relations were vital to our shared progress and mission.

His professional legacy and the personal warmth he brought to our partnership will be deeply missed, and our thoughts remain with his loved ones as they navigate this difficult period.

Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Discusses Support for Civil Society Organizations with the Forum of Federations

Ministry Media – Aden

Wednesday, April 22, 2026



H.E. the Minister of Social Affairs and Labor, Mokhtar Al-Yafei, met today in Aden with the Senior Advisor at the Forum of Federations, Muammar Batoil, to discuss strengthening partnerships that support institutional and community-based work.



During the meeting, they reviewed the programs the Forum plans to implement across a number of governorates, which aim to support civil society organizations, empower youth and women, promote principles of good governance, and raise awareness of the importance of decentralization and various systems of governance.



H.E. Minister Al-Yafei affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to provide all possible support and facilitation to ensure the success of the Forum’s interventions and to enhance cooperation in strengthening the capacities of civil society organizations and achieving sustainable development impact.



In this context, the Minister also emphasized the importance of the Forum of Federations playing a supportive and complementary role to government efforts by organizing dialogues and conferences and preparing specialized studies and research that contribute to developing effective and stable institutional models.

« I am Aicha Khrouz, Head of the Urban Studies and Social Cohesion Department at the Directorate of City Policy and National Gender Focal Point of the Housing and City Policy Department within the Ministry of National Territorial Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, and City Policy.

I also warmly welcomed my designation as the Department’s National Gender Focal Point and my invitation to join the RCI, leading to the discovery of the FOF. These elements represent, for me, the true starting point and driving force of change. These changes are not only personal but also professional.

The technical assistance, guidance, and support provided by the FOF to the RCI and its members are the main drivers behind these changes and serve as a source of inspiration for initiating and shaping actions aimed at institutionalizing the gender approach within the Department.

On a personal level, this experience has strengthened my public speaking skills, expanded my network with individuals working on similar issues, and enhanced my capacities in gender-related methodologies. It has also broadened my understanding of the various stakeholders working toward the same cause, whose roles are essential. Beyond the important role of civil society, the role of women parliamentarians discovered through the FOF is also crucial.

On a professional level, the FOF has been a true learning platform. Through exchanges with countries in the MENA region, particularly Jordan and Tunisia, I realized that initial efforts to integrate gender into city policy were limited to a single aspect. Thanks to the FOF, I strengthened both my conceptual and methodological capacities. This includes understanding the difference between gender and the gender approach, as well as gaining tools for analysis, design, implementation, and defining objectives for integrating gender into my institution.

As a result, I have initiated several actions aimed at institutionalizing the gender approach, including:

🔹 Appointing a Gender Focal Point for each central and local entity, as well as for institutions under the Ministry’s supervision, totaling 58 Gender Focal Points

🔹 Establishing co-financing partnerships, with the FOF, for training and capacity building of Gender Focal Points

🔹 Securing funding and technical assistance partnerships to conduct a sectoral gender analysis study across all government programs implemented by the Ministry, in order to develop gender-sensitive indicators

🔹 Introducing annual and three-year budgeting aimed at institutionalizing the gender approach

🔹 Creating an institutional environment that fosters dialogue around gender issues and actions to be taken within programs and sectors, through awareness-raising among decision-makers at both central and local levels

In the near future, I aim to work diligently to establish true Gender-Responsive Budgeting and advocate for the integration of a gender unit within the Department’s organizational structure. »