Strengthening Digital Resilience for Jordanian Women Leaders

A new partnership initiative will counter online abuse and support women’s full and safe participation in Jordan’s upcoming elections.

Something powerful began in Amman on October 1. Nearly 100 community leaders, activists, journalists, researchers and policymakers from across Jordan came together to launch an initiative to help women combat the digital abuse that mutes women’s participation in public life. Among them: 24 existing female municipal councillors with stories to share.

We’re pleased to be leading this alongside some deeply capable local partners. This initiative could mark a turning point in how Jordan confronts online harassment and digital violence against women. The goal: make the digital public sphere substantially safer and more inclusive for women running in Jordan’s spring 2026 municipal elections.

A look inside the launch event

Lina Momani, SecDev’s National Coordinator (Jordan), opened the October 1 event at the Hilton Amman with by highlighting our research on digital violence against women.

Her Excellency Maha Ali, Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women, discussed her aspirations for this partnership with IDRC and the SecDev Foundation.

Dr. Raed M. Sharif, SecDev’s MENA lead, reflected on his team’s frontline work in 12 Arab countries, where digital violence is now a daily reality that women face in public life.

Dr. Abeer Dababneh of Jordan's Independent Election Commission shared that body’s measures to address digital violence against women candidates, both legally and culturally.

Esraa Mahadin, CEO of the Karak Castle Centre, presented findings from their groundbreaking research on digital violence against women in Jordan’s 2024 elections.

Dr. Ayman Halsa, Director of the Information and Research Center (King Hussein Foundation), pinpointed reporting, enforcement and deterrence as primary challenges in combating digital violence against women leaders.

Rania Sarayreh, head of the Jordanian Network to Combat Digital Violence Against Female Journalists, emphasized media's role in shaping narratives about female candidates.

Rania Sarayreh, Esraa Mahadin and Dr. Abeer Dababneh share a lighter moment in a panel discussion on protecting female election candidates in digital space.

Nearly 100 community leaders, activists, journalists, researchers and policymakers gathered at the Hilton Amman conference centre to launch this new initiative.

Aida Daisat, former Deputy Mayor of Southern Jordan Valley Municipality and head of the local council shared her frontline insights as a longtime candidate running in elections.

Journalist and broadcaster Shereen Al-Abbadi shared media-side perspectives during our panel discussion on protecting female candidates in digital space.

Contributions from two Secretaries-General: Ruba Matarneh (Jordanian National Forum for Women) and Her Excellency Maha Ali (Jordanian National Commission of Women).

Dr. Ruhiya Seward represented the International Development Research Centre (IRDC)—and has been a fellow traveler for so much of our journey supporting MENA women’s digital resilience.

Longtime colleagues: The SecDev Foundation’s Lina Momani and Dr. Raed M. Sharif share a candid moment between sessions at the Hilton Amman.

A partnership to empower women candidates

For 14 months, “Strengthening Digital Resilience for Women Leaders in Jordan” is combining hands-on digital safety training, mentorship, policy advocacy and public awareness campaigns. The work reaches beyond Amman into other governorates so women leaders across Jordan can access tools, networks, and support systems to stay safe online—and be heard.

The SecDev Foundation is leading implementation, with funding from Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Our team draws on years of experience supporting digital resilience among women and girls across the MENA region. But the frontline strength of this initiative comes down to the work of our local partners, including:

• Jordanian National Commission for Women, which bridges government, civil society and education sectors to advance equality in national policy.
• Information and Research Centre – King Hussein Foundation anchors research and capacity-building and coordinates national-level activities.
• Karak Castle Center for Consultations and Training leads in southern Jordan, leveraging its existing network of 77 female municipal council members.
• Jordanian Network to Combat Violence Against Female Journalists adds a uniquely valuable and digitally-aware media lens.

Together, we’re raising broad public awareness, directly supporting up to 120 women leaders, and building a community-of-practice of twelve who will continue advocating for policy change.

From research to action

This initiative didn’t come out of nowhere. It builds directly on our recent study, Silenced with a Click: Digital Violence Against Female Candidates in Jordan’s 2024 Parliamentary Elections.

The SecDev Foundation co-led this research with the Karak Castle Centre, again with IDRC support. Our teams unpacked digital spaces as the new front line of electoral violence. Monitoring 167 female candidates, one striking finding was that 28 percent of online comments directed their way were abusive.

Those numbers and more told a bigger story: digital abuse is no longer random. It’s strategic. During Jordan’s 2024 parliamentary elections, online attacks spiked during televised debates and just before voting day—exactly when visibility mattered most. The intent seemed clear: discredit, intimidate, and silence women who dared to compete in public space.

Many candidates faced fake accounts, smear campaigns, and moral defamation. Others were bullied online by rivals or even relatives. The stark message: “You don’t belong in politics.” The initiative launched on October 1 responds to that message. It’s about moving from monitoring to prevention—from documenting the problem to changing the system.

Digital resilience matters

Jordan’s digital sphere has become central to political life. Campaigns, debates, and public engagement now unfold online. That shift creates opportunity, but also new forms of risk. When women face constant digital harassment, it’s not just an individual problem. It weakens democracy. It narrows participation. It tells the next generation that political leadership is unsafe or unattainable for women.

The SecDev–KCC study showed how this plays out: women candidates were attacked not for their policies, but for how they looked, dressed, or spoke. Abuse often surged right after successful moments—a viral campaign video, an endorsement, or a strong debate performance. Visibility and success were punished.

This project aims to break that pattern. By providing practical digital safety skills, building networks of support, and engaging policymakers and platforms, it helps create a digital environment where women can lead with confidence.

Building toward 2026

Next spring’s municipal elections will test Jordan’s progress. If nothing changes, the same cycle of digital violence could repeat itself. This time, though, women will not face it alone.

Through the new initiative, participants will learn to identify online threats, manage digital crises, and use social media strategically and safely. We’ll also work with political parties, government institutions, and tech companies to improve reporting systems and promote accountability.

A key measure of success will be whether participating women feel more confident, more visible, and more supported. As one participant put it during the discussion, digital space is now part of Jordan’s democracy. We can’t afford to treat it as secondary. Today, protecting women online means protecting democracy itself.