Fahed Al Fanek on the National Agenda
I don't agree with most of what Fahed AL Fanek's writes in the Jordanian Press but there is some truth to what he included in his article about the National Agenda...Jordan's agenda for ten years
Fahed Fanek
THE JORDAN TIMES
Monday, February 21, 2005
Deputy Prime Minister Marwan Muasher hinted recently that Jordan will soon work on formulating a nationally agreed agenda to be implemented during the coming ten years. It may be called a vision or a list of priorities, but not a detailed or rigid plan.
His Majesty King Abdullah decided to form a Royal Committee to formulate the agenda.
The idea of the agenda is obviously good. Why should anyone object to a planned perception of the road ahead and the attempt to bring future developments under control, to fit a desirable pattern, and guide changes and developments in the direction of pre-determined national objectives, in line with the vision of the King for Jordan in 2115.
Since the agenda will be trans-government, it was not logical to ask the present government to do it alone and build such long-term vision that can be acceptable to future governments. The mandate given to the present government does not extend for ten years. Based on past experience, at least three or four more governments will come to power during the coming decade. Therefore, it was only normal for the King to call on various political, economic and social organisations and individual activists to take part in this endeavor.
However, the participation of selected political and civil societies and individuals, of all walks of life, may not make the job easy. Naturally, there are conflicting opinions, interests and priorities in a pluralistic society like ours, which will make a consensus difficult to achieve. What may be agreed among all could not be more than the bare minimum, which does not rise to the high ambitions of His Majesty, the only legitimate source for long-term vision.
Jordan's priorities for the coming ten years do not only differ widely from one social segment to another, they can also be altered following the changing circumstances in the region. Unlike Egypt, which can project a vision for the year 2020, Jordan needs a flexible and dynamic plan that can adapt itself to surrounding upheavals taking place from time to time.
What about a three-year moving plan that ends in 2007? Once 2005 is over, the plan will be revised to fit the three years ending in 2008, and so forth. This means that we shall always have a forward vision three years ahead, subject to amendments if needed every year. To exceed this medium-term period is to speculate and make haphazard assumptions regarding the regional and international circumstances that do not lend themselves to prediction or control.
From a practical point of view, the agenda should come up with objectives and means to face a large number of issues. These are some possible items that come to mind, not arranged according to their relative importance: economic growth rate, the central government budget, poverty, unemployment, corruption, upgrading human resources, political reform, a smaller but more efficient government, education, health, information technology, security, competitiveness, water, agriculture, industry, tourism, democracy, the right of return, political parties, professional associations, relative representation, women, quotas, judiciary system, overall excellence, etc.
In this regard, it is worth mentioning that our past experiments with planning are not promising. Since the 1960s, we've been drawing plans for five or three years each, but did not abide by them. Instead of achieving the set goals, in many cases the opposite took place and, of course, officials did not lack excuses.
We did not score successes in planning in as much as we did in crisis management, when a sudden and unanticipated state of affairs would come about and render our plans obsolete. Jordanian circumstances require short-term and flexible planning, coupled with highly qualified decision makers to lead the country to safety and transform regional risks into opportunities and advantages.
posted by Ashraf Zeitoon @ 1:44 AM
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