Under the framework of the EU-funded Employment and Livelihood Programme (ELP), the Belgian agency for international cooperation (Enabel) and the Cities and Villages Development Bank (CVDB) led a key policy dialogue on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, titled “Evidence-Based Municipal Planning and Competitive Advantage in Northern Jordan Municipalities”. 
The dialogue was organized in partnership with Expectation State.  This dialogue forms part of Enabel’s ongoing efforts to promote evidence-based planning approaches and support municipalities in defining their development priorities on clear and sustainable economic foundations. The event brought together high-level representatives from government institutions, municipalities, and key economic stakeholders to review the findings of the Jordan Municipal Observatory and explore opportunities for local economic development. 
Discussions focused on analyzing the strengths and challenges facing municipalities in Northern Jordan, as well as identifying competitive advantages that can be leveraged and transformed into actionable investment opportunities, contributing to inclusive and sustainable economic growth. 
The dialogue was attended by representatives of the Belgian Embassy in Jordan and the European Union Delegation, alongside mayors and local stakeholders. This high-level participation underscored the importance of the collaborative approach led by Enabel in enhancing the effectiveness of municipal planning, expanding economic participation, and supporting the inclusion of refugees in host communities. During the opening session, key partners delivered remarks in line with institutional and diplomatic protocol, reflecting the strategic partnership underpinning this development initiative. 
In this context, Mr. Duccio Ferraro, Project Manager of the Employment and Livelihoods Programme at Enabel, stated: “Evidence-based municipal planning is a cornerstone for advancing sustainable local economic development. Through leading this dialogue, we aim to empower municipalities to make data-driven decisions that strengthen the use of local resources and generate inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities.” 
In the same context, Expectation State emphasized that: “Focusing on context-sensitive economic analysis enables us to work closely with municipal authorities to identify latent strengths and transform each municipality’s unique characteristics into actionable and investable competitive advantages that create sustainable job opportunities.” The programme featured key sessions including presentations on municipal economic analysis, as well as roundtable discussions on promising sectors and job creation opportunities. It also included working sessions to identify initial priorities for competitive advantages and define practical next steps to enhance institutional coordination among municipalities. This event highlights Enabel’s central role in leading efforts to support local development in Jordan under the EU-funded Employment and Livelihoods Programme (ELP), which aims to foster inclusive and sustainable economic development across the Kingdom.