Government & NGO SDG Policy Input (17.2.1)

Direct involvement or input into national or regional SDG policy development with governments and NGOs. 

Al-Ahliyya Amman University (AAU) plays a pivotal national and regional role in shaping Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) policy development through direct collaboration with governmental bodies, ministries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international agencies. Guided by its institutional vision of “Partnerships for Impact,” AAU ensures that academic expertise, research evidence, and community engagement contribute directly to national and regional sustainability agendas aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda. 

AAU’s policy involvement is grounded in a robust governance framework supported by several officially approved institutional policies that formalize the university’s contribution to SDG policymaking: 

• Participation in SDG Development Strategies’ Policy (Defines AAU’s structured contribution to national and regional SDG policy consultations and strategy development) 
  https://www.ammanu.edu.jo/Sustainability/Files/Participation%20in%20SDG%20Development%20strategies’%20policy.pdf 

• SDG Progress Reporting and Publication Policy (Ensures accurate reporting, transparent communication, and evidence-based documentation of SDG achievements to national and international bodies) 
  https://www.ammanu.edu.jo/Sustainability/Files/SDG%20Progress%20Reporting%20and%20Publication%20Policy.pdf 

• International Collaboration for SDG Data Collection Policy 
  (Supports AAU’s engagement with global partners to exchange data, standardize metrics, and strengthen SDG monitoring systems) 
  https://www.ammanu.edu.jo/Sustainability/Files/International%20Collaboration%20for%20SDG%20Data%20Collection%20Policy.pdf 

Through these policies, the Sustainability and International Ranking Center serves as AAU’s formal institutional platform for SDG policy consultation, knowledge transfer, and evidence-based advisory support. The university collaborates closely with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, the Jordanian National SDG Committee, the Jordan Engineers Association, and the Arab Universities Network for Sustainable Development (AUNSD). These partnerships enable AAU to provide documented inputs, technical analyses, and policy recommendations that inform national frameworks on renewable energy, water security, climate adaptation, sustainability education, and inclusive development. 

AAU’s role extends beyond consultation toward the co-development of national and regional sustainability strategies. Faculty experts participate in governmental task forces, ministerial committees, and regional policy dialogues addressing green economy transition, environmental legislation reform, digital transformation in higher education, and climate-resilient development. Through advisory reports, national submissions, position papers, and joint policy briefs, AAU translates scientific research into actionable policy guidance that directly supports Jordan’s National SDG Implementation Plan (2023–2030) and regional initiatives under the Arab League and UNESCWA. 

Through this integrated, policy-driven approach, AAU serves as a recognized national partner in SDG policy formulation—bridging academic research with governmental decision-making, strengthening institutional capacity, and ensuring that higher education plays a leading role in SDG implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. 

Impact Evaluation & Development Plan 

Government & NGO SDG Policy Input
 

1. Performance Evaluation
   

   AAU demonstrates strong and consistent performance in policy-level engagement and advisory contributions related to SDG development. 

   Between 2023 and 2025, the university participated in more than 15 national and regional SDG policy consultations, contributing technical reports, sustainability data, and academic recommendations that supported policy formulation in the fields of renewable energy transition, digital education, climate adaptation, and social inclusion. 

   The Sustainability & Global Ranking Center acts as the coordinating body for all institutional SDG policy input, ensuring data integrity, traceability, and alignment with the university’s research framework. Policy engagement is recorded within the AAU SDG Partnership and Policy Tracker, which monitors participation, outcomes, and alignment with specific SDG targets. 

   AAU faculty members serve on ministerial and NGO committees, such as the National Committee for Climate and Environment, the Higher Education Reform Council, and the Jordan Green Growth Initiative, where they contribute research-based insights, impact assessments, and sustainable strategy recommendations. 

   These actions highlight AAU’s evolving role as a policy knowledge partner, bridging research and governance, and contributing to measurable SDG progress through evidence-driven input. 
   
   

2. Development Actions
   

   Target (2025–2028): 

   Enhance AAU’s national and regional policy engagement capacity by increasing participation in official SDG policy consultations and advisory committees by 40% and establishing institutional mechanisms for policy translation and follow-up. 

   Action 1: Establish the AAU Policy & Governance Advisory Hub (2025–2026), Centralize coordination of academic contributions to national SDG policy, linking researchers with ministries and NGOs. 
   Action 2: Launch the Annual “AAU Policy Impact Forum” (2026) Facilitate dialogue between academia, government, and civil society to co-develop evidence-based sustainability policies. 
   Action 3: Create the “AAU SDG Policy Tracker Dashboard”  (2025-2027), Digitally monitor and document all institutional contributions to national and regional SDG initiatives for transparency and evaluation. Action 4: Develop Specialized Policy Brief Series (2026–2028) Publish bilingual (Arabic-English) policy briefs summarizing university research relevant to national and regional sustainability goals. 

   Through these actions, AAU seeks to institutionalize a systematic and proactive policy engagement framework, ensuring that scientific findings are effectively translated into national decision-making processes and that the university remains a key stakeholder in shaping Jordan’s sustainability trajectory. 

   
   
3. Benchmarking & Best Practice 
   

   Benchmarking Reference: 

   AAU benchmarks its SDG policy engagement framework against leading international universities such as University College London (UCL, UK) and National University of Singapore (NUS), both recognized for embedding academic-policy integration and multi-sector SDG governance within their institutional structures. 

   Adopted Practice: 

   AAU has implemented a triple-helix model connecting academia, government, and civil society to foster innovation and inclusive policy formation. This approach emphasizes co-creation of solutions, joint policy evaluation, and capacity building for sustainable governance. 

   Local Adaptation: 

   AAU localizes these practices by embedding its sustainability expertise within Jordan’s National SDG Strategy, contributing to policy frameworks on energy diversification, water efficiency, digital transformation, and education for sustainability. The university collaborates with the Ministry of Environment, UNDP Jordan, and Arab Universities Network to develop regional SDG implementation toolkits and policy advisory papers tailored to Arab contexts. 

   Future Benchmark Goal (by 2028): 

   Establish the AAU Center for Policy Innovation and SDG Governance, a regional hub dedicated to policy research, government partnership facilitation, and performance monitoring. The Center will publish annual SDG Policy Impact Reports documenting Jordanian and regional progress on SDG-aligned legislation, institutional governance, and public engagement.