Irbid — The charitable associations sector in Irbid Governorate is facing growing challenges to its ability to continue operating and fulfill its role, with hundreds of registered charities in the governorate and around 40% of them experiencing varying degrees of financial distress.
The Ministry of Social Development says empowering charitable associations remains one of its top priorities, based on its belief that charities are strategic partners in achieving social development and empowering local communities and target groups. The ministry said 459 associations are registered in the governorate, including 163 in the Irbid district.
While financially distressed associations struggle to maintain their operations amid limited resources and weak funding, others are presenting different models of institutional work through projects focused on food security, water, housing, youth and women’s empowerment, and the care of elderly people, children and persons with disabilities.
Salah Al-Zoubi, head of the Federation of Charitable Associations in Irbid Governorate, said the situation varies considerably among charities. Some are active and play a clear role in serving their local communities, while others operate on a limited scale. Some also face financial or administrative difficulties that prevent them from performing their expected role.
Al-Zoubi said the number of registered associations in the governorate stands at around 525, while about 390 are members of the federation and approximately 230 have paid their membership fees. He said the figures reflect the size of the charitable sector and the broad base of civic and voluntary work in the governorate.
Varying Degrees of Financial Distress
Al-Zoubi said around 40% of associations are experiencing varying degrees of financial distress. However, dealing with the issue does not necessarily mean shutting down struggling associations. Instead, efforts focus on correcting their status, addressing shortcomings, helping them resume their activities and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
He stressed that associations that can be reactivated should be given an opportunity to resume their role.
Al-Zoubi noted that active charities in the governorate no longer view charitable work solely in terms of distributing aid. Instead, they are implementing programs and projects targeting poor families, people with disabilities, elderly people and other vulnerable groups, alongside development and productive projects that can create jobs and provide beneficiaries with sources of income.
He also stressed the importance of strengthening coordination and cooperation between charities, the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Education, the private sector, donors and civil society organizations. Such partnerships, he said, can help associations reach larger segments of society and implement more specialized and sustainable programs.
Fadi Miqdadi, head of Al-Sanabel Al-Dhahabia Association, said the charitable sector is an important sector that provides direct services to citizens and supports the efforts of state institutions. However, it faces challenges related to insufficient support and funding, as well as declining confidence among some donors, companies and institutions.
Miqdadi said the large number of associations has, in some cases, contributed to a decline in confidence among donors and funding bodies, particularly because some associations do not perform their roles adequately, while others operate mainly on a seasonal basis, especially during Ramadan, without sustainable programs and projects throughout the year.
He said government support provided to charities by the Ministry of Social Development remains insufficient compared with the scale of their needs, calling for new and sustainable sources of funding and partnerships between charities, the private sector, national institutions and donors.
Miqdadi said Al-Sanabel Al-Dhahabia Association works in food security, water, housing, youth and women’s empowerment, and care for elderly people and children, in addition to supporting persons with disabilities.
He said the association has implemented projects involving the construction and installation of water wells and water-harvesting systems, totaling around 211 wells, as well as 89 homes for families in need. It has also renovated, maintained and rehabilitated around 370 homes for poor families and orphans.
Need for Continuous Planning
Another active organization is Al-Joud Charitable Association, headed by Rouhi Awwadeh. He said charitable work is no longer limited to providing assistance during occasions and emergencies, but requires continuous planning and programs capable of reaching beneficiaries more effectively.
Awwadeh said active charities face increasing responsibilities amid rising social and economic needs, requiring them to seek new sources of support and partnerships rather than relying solely on seasonal donations and assistance.
He stressed the importance of cooperation with public and private institutions and supporting organizations to implement sustainable programs and reach broader segments of society.
The White Family Association, headed by Faiza Al-Zoubi, represents another example of organizations maintaining their activities and presence within the local community.
Al-Zoubi said the association works to reach families and groups in need of support amid growing responsibility for addressing social and economic needs.
She said charitable activity should not be limited to in-kind or financial assistance, but should be accompanied by programs that build beneficiaries’ capacities, empower them and improve their social and economic conditions over the long term.
She added that charities have experience and a base of volunteers but need greater cooperation with government bodies, the private sector and supporting institutions.
Ministry Outlines Oversight Measures
The Ministry of Social Development said 459 charitable associations are registered in Irbid Governorate, including 163 in the Irbid district. It added that 14 associations were dissolved during the current year and that the governorate has nine social development directorates overseeing charities.
In response to inquiries from Al-Ghad, the ministry said many associations fall under the supervision of other authorities and specialized ministries, including the ministries of health, culture, tourism and agriculture.
The ministry stressed that announcements published through the Associations Registry website include all associations dissolved under various specialized ministries and are not limited to associations supervised by the Ministry of Social Development.
It said dissolution procedures are strictly based on legislation governing charitable associations, specifically Associations Law No. 51 of 2008 and the 2010 regulation governing associations’ bylaws.
The ministry added that the legislation clearly defines the grounds for dissolving associations and the legal circumstances requiring such action.
Field Visits and Follow-Up
The ministry said the dissolution of associations follows two main legal paths. The first is voluntary dissolution, based on a request submitted by the association itself.
The second occurs either through a reasoned decision by the Registry’s board of directors or automatically by operation of law following violations of applicable legislation, after the association has undergone close monitoring and the violations have been documented.
Among the main circumstances legally requiring dissolution is an association’s cessation of activities for a full year, in which case it is considered dissolved by operation of law.
Dissolution may also occur when an association commits the same violation for a second time after previously being warned and fails to rectify the violation within the legally prescribed period following written notification.
As part of its supervisory role, the ministry said it continues to conduct regular follow-ups and field visits to charitable associations through the ministry and its social development directorates.
The visits are carried out under a structured program by specialized committees and teams. They aim to assess associations’ financial, administrative and technical performance, develop practical recommendations and provide guidance to strengthen their ability to perform their institutional roles and responsibilities.
Regarding efforts to shift charities away from dependence on donations and assistance toward income-generating productive projects, the ministry stressed that empowering associations is one of its top priorities.
It said this approach is based on recognizing charities as strategic partners in achieving social development and empowering local communities and target groups.
In this regard, the ministry operates a specialized program supporting associations through productive and rehabilitation projects under the “Productivity Enhancement Program.”
The program includes support for association projects and credit funds, as well as access to projects under the “Charities Support Fund,” with the aim of ensuring sustainable operations and empowering beneficiaries.
The ministry also said it is keen to provide marketing opportunities by organizing bazaars to showcase and market products made by associations locally.
The latest such bazaar was held at the Irbid Development Corporation from August 21 to 25, alongside efforts to encourage associations to participate in various productive bazaars held throughout the year in Irbid Governorate.
Source: Al-Ghad
