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Amman: Children's Municipal Council

Avatar: Official proposal Official proposal

The Children's Municipal Council in Amman helped establish an institutional model of participatory democracy by directly involving children in local decision-making processes. Launched by the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) in 2006, the initiative aims to empower young people aged 13–15 to exercise their right to express their views and participate in civic life, in line with the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Amman's vision of becoming a child-friendly city.

The initiative is based on democratic elections held every three years in schools across the city, including public, private, UNRWA, and Military Culture schools, as well as disability support centers and orphan care institutions to ensure inclusive participation of children from diverse social backgrounds and nationalities. Representatives are elected from each of Amman's 22 districts to form a Children's Municipal Council that mirrors the structure of the official municipal council. Through field surveys, community consultations, and dialogue with municipal departments, council members identify children's priorities and submit recommendations to decision-makers within the municipality.

Over time, the initiative has generated tangible community outcomes. Recommendations from council members contributed to the creation and rehabilitation of public parks, improvements in traffic safety through pedestrian bridges and traffic signals, upgrades of sports facilities and public spaces, and environmental volunteer campaigns such as tree planting in public parks. Children have also participated in innovation labs and community events, strengthening their leadership, dialogue, and civic engagement skills.

Institutionally, the initiative established a structured mechanism within the Greater Amman Municipality to receive, review, and follow up on children's proposals. Since 2019, the program has been integrated into the municipal annual budget, ensuring sustainability and continuity. The model has also demonstrated scalability, as it has been transferred to other municipalities in Jordan, including Zarqa and Madaba, through structured training programs. Today, the Children's Municipal Council represents a sustainable framework for strengthening youth participation in local governance and building trust between younger generations and public institutions. 

Learn more about:
www.ammancity.gov.jo 
https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1878.pdf 
https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1879.pdf

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Amman: Children's Municipal Council

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