Information and Research Center

The Information and Research Center (IRCKHF) serves as a catalyst for improved socio-economic development through multidisciplinary research and knowledge sharing with practitioners, policymakers, and advocacy campaigns in Jordan and the Middle East.

Established in 1995 as the research unit of the National Task Force for Children, the IRCKHF mobilizes evidence-based knowledge for social justice. By utilizing a human-rights-based approach, and ethical participatory qualitative and quantitative research, the IRCKHF generates information on critical issues including gender justice, civil society empowerment, and the inclusion of marginalized groups.

The IRCKHF bridges research to action by presenting policy briefs to decision-makers and development experts on local and international platforms. Through IRCKHF’s engagement of awareness-raising campaigns, capacity-building programs, and the initiating of ground-breaking networks.

For improved effectiveness of development interventions, the IRCKHF evaluation unit which specializes in gender-inclusive methodology, offers expertise in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL); as well as need assessments, impact evaluations, and Social Return on Investment (SROI) - a crucial tool for donors and philanthropists to monetize the value of social impact.

HAQQI

In 2014, a free-online platform was launched, to access evidence-based information generated by local experts on critical development issues in Jordan.

A wealth of information generated by local experts is available under human rights classifications, and categorized by legislation, research, media, and training manuals.

www.haqqi.info

Early Childhood Development Family Education Kit

In 2003, the IRCKHF developed, in partnership with UNESCO, a creative interactive training program targeting parents and caregivers, designed to benefit marginalized children (ages 0-8 years old). Through homemade items, the program stimulates children’s cognitive, motor, math, and language skills and familiarizes caregivers with all aspects of child development and well-being. Since 2008, the kit has been adapted for use by Iraqi and Syrian refugees. In 2011 the program was replicated in Abu Dhabi.

GENDER JUSTICE

The IRCKHF partnered with the Research Center at the Jordanian Parliament to mainstream gender perception among members of parliament and has been contributing to national efforts in researching and recommending strategies to address the root causes of gender inequality and patriarchy.

ADVOCACY FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

The IRCKHF pioneered research on child labor, home-bound girls, and the rights of youth deprived of family ties.

The IRCKHF also lead an impactful coalition calling for the rights of children of Jordanian mothers married to non-Jordanians and submitted the NGOs reports to the Convention of the Rights of Children in Geneva in 2013, and the Shadow Report for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2017.

EMPOWERING CIVIL SOCIETY

Since the Arab Spring in 2011, the IRCKHF has been annually assessing the sustainability of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Jordan by focusing on the legal environment, organizational capacity, financial viability, advocacy, service provision, infrastructure, and public image of civil society sector. Findings indicate that while the legal environment and financial viability have become more challenging, CSOs are more organized, and collaboration and advocacy continue to improve.Read more

INCLUSION AND RESILIENCE

The IRCKHF launched a novel digital platform for youth deprived of family ties and orphans; ‘AlBedaya’ (The beginning in Arabic), providing youth with practical information while also raising awareness about their experiences.

To improve the resilience of refugee women in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan,recommendations to policymakers were articulated. It embedded gender-based violence rehabilitation services within business services to support women entrepreneurs- especially those with disabilities, as well as their family members.

Making a Difference in Tafileh

Unprecedented impact followed a 2019 training program in gender advocacy skills by the IRCKHF to seven community-based organizations (CBOs) in southern Jordan.

Through the CBOs advocacy campaigns, community gains included:

assigning a general female practitioner to the comprehensive health center in Al Hassa;
the Ministry of Health allocated a budget for the governorate of Tafileh to hire a gynecologist in 2020;
the Director of the Tafileh Transport Commission was convinced to reroute bus lines to meet the peoples’ needs, and;
the CBOs themselves also responded to the community's needs by hiring mental health practitioners, a first in Al Qasaba!