Jordan wants to create a more confident future in a region where many people have uncertainty about the future. This will not happen only with a government programme but by giving youth and others a sense of ownership of their ideas and by including them in the national dialogue.

 

For this reason, Tawasol Forum, one of the Crown Prince Foundation’s projects, is worthy of more than just attention the day of its sessions, Tawasol is more than just an annual event, it’s an effort to institutionalize a culture Jordan requires urgently -- that includes open communication, constructive dialogue, and collective shared responsibility towards creating a better future.

 

Words matter. The term "Tawasol" means communication, but its true meaning is “to connect.” Connecting the divide of the decision-maker with the citizen, the institution with the youth, and national challenges with practical solutions. The Forum also states that it is the result of the National Dialogue Platform formed by the Crown Prince Foundation, A place where you can interactively exchange your views and ideas with others who also have views and ideas on national issues that reflect the current state and desires of both the Jordanian youth and societies. The goals of the Forum are to promote dialogue and participation, encourage public responsibility, build mutual trust, and encourage innovation amongst all stakeholders.

 

“Visions for Tomorrow’s Opportunities” is the theme for this year’s edition. These words hold profound significance in the face of humanity as it continues to evolve at an alarming rate. Changes in all facets of life, from economics, to the workplace, to the way we engage with the media, are occurring faster than we can comprehend. As freelancers and multiple streams of income become the new reality in today’s labor force, new technologies are continuing to redefine the landscape of the world. As a result, lifestyles, cities, institutions and even the way we determine progress, are all changing as well.

 

HRH Crown Prince Hussein sees youth as not just recipients of developmental opportunities, but as active contributors to creating that development. Through economic opportunities, prospects for leadership, and creating sustainable communities, the Crown Prince Foundation strives to prepare young Jordanians for tomorrow.

 

Tawasol is valuable because it doesn’t just treat youth empowerment as a ceremonial term, it actually provides youth with a chance to listen to, question, interact with, and envision themselves as part of the next stage of Jordan's evolution on its path towards success. This was clearly demonstrated in the discussions held at the 2026 agenda regarding Jordan’s opportunities within the new technology and/or digital media sectors, how much content has been created by the world of media, the rise of the “freelance economy,” changing lifestyles, national aptitude to acquire deeper technical and strategic skills, how the youth perceive the coming decade, AI’s productivity potential to improve work culture, and Jordan's future in sport.

 

This is not about theoretical issues, these are everyday challenges confronting Jordanian families, educational institutions, the private sector, and other governmental bodies. For instance: What’s the 5-10 year forecast for job opportunities? What strategies will assist small countries in competing in high value-added/high technology new industries? What alternatives exist for youth to earn income outside of traditional jobs? How should existing education systems adapt to technological advances related to artificial intelligence (AI)? How do we enhance the quality and extent of public discourse? What role does national pride play in creating value, and encouraging innovation and promoting excellence?

 

The importance of Tawasol is to facilitate dialogue amongst a wider audience to address these vital issues. Way Forwards, is to prepare for the future, not as an event that occurs suddenly, but rather through communication, planning, skills and courage. Tawasol, also provides evidence to reinforce that communication is not a weak issue; rather, in this modern world, communication is seen as an effective development tool. Nation states that have developed stronger capacities to listen to one another, coordinate with one another, or build confidence with one another, are therefore in a better position to respond to changes in their environment.

 

For decades, Jordan has depended largely on the skills, determination, and drive of its population in order to succeed. Talent itself will only take you so far, however, for young Jordanian’s to realize their potential, they require access to opportunities through connections with information, mentors, institutions, marketplaces, and the policy-making process. Young people must be able to visualize a path from their ideas to opportunities, from problems to projects, and from participation to impact. Through its work bridging the gap between young people and influential figures, Tawasol provides young people with this access.

 

The value of these forums does not stop when the sessions are over. The next step is to develop the relationship between dialogue and action. Universities, schools, municipalities, businesses, and public institutions must use the ideas generated by Tawasol to create their own things. To achieve this, we must ask ourselves: how do we create the next level of discussion? How do we turn these ideas into training programs, startup support, research, job creation, improved policies, and youth initiatives?

 

To strengthen its efforts, Tawasol 2027 needs to focus on using a much clearer directive, How do we transform today’s vision into measurable national actions? The Tawasol 2026 Forum has opened up many discussions in areas such as AI, productivity, digital media, freelancing, emerging technologies, programming, and the future of Jordanian sports. Young Jordanians require not only inspiration, but pathways and tools to success, networks and opportunities. And future events like Tawasol 2026 will continue to highlight HRH Crown Prince Hussein’s commitment to keep pace with technology, utilizing AI to enhance productivity and efficiency and developing educational programs that meet the needs of a modernized global society.

 

Transitioning from an open-ended and informal conversation about opportunities for youth to a defined and formalized agenda that includes actionable recommendations, youth-led projects and specific commitments from institutions developing out of Tawasol Forum is one potential avenue for Tawasol 2027. The Tawasol Youth Agenda may feature a list of priority focus areas for youth over the next year e.g. AI Education, Digital Entrepreneurship, Technical/Vocational Skills, Innovation in the Public Sector, Media Literacy, Green Opportunities, Creative Economy, etc. In addition, the Tawasol Youth Agenda may provide continuing mechanisms for follow up through universities, schools, governorates, businesses and the Crown Prince Foundation’s branches throughout the Kingdom. Thus, the conversation that started during the Tawasol Forum can continue beyond the boundaries of the forum itself.

 

An additional key element is to allow young people enough room to not just contribute, but also to generate ideas, be creative, and facilitate action. The Tawasol 2027 edition can be made up of various ways to participate including: youth challenges, policy labs, showcasing startups, innovation teams from universities, and engaging in regional dialogues through the governorate prior to and following the main forum. Tawasol will not only serve as a venue for young people to hear from experts, but will also serve as a medium through which expert and decision-making institutions receive feedback from young people with regard to solutions they have created.

 

No single area can create the future of Jordan. There must be collaboration between all stakeholders: government, private sector, universities, civil society, media and youth. Thus, Tawasol’s model is an important concept -- it imparts to us that progress is not made through one decision but through a shared journey. It fosters an environment where institutions hear the voice of youth, young people are involved in decision-making, and society thinks collectively about what lies ahead.

 

 

Mwaffaq Otoom, Former Vice President, Yarmouk University