Noor Al Hussein Foundation   
 
The Noor Al Hussein Foundation (NHF) was established by Royal Decree in 1985 to help improve the overall quality of life of Jordanians by responding to their diverse socio-economic needs, introducing innovative, dynamic and sustainable development models, and setting national and regional standards of excellence.

Chaired by Her Majesty Queen Noor, NHF and its programs have helped advance development thinking in Jordan by progressing beyond charity-oriented social welfare practices to integrate social development strategies more closely with national priorities.

Over the past two and a half decades, NHF has served hundreds of thousands of Jordanians. Through its comprehensive, integrated Community Development Program, (comprising the Quality of Life project, Qudorat, the Poverty Pockets, and the Capacity-Building and Business Development Services Unit), NHF provides education, training, and financial support to some of society’s most vulnerable members.

NHF''s strategy focuses on a business-oriented, marketing approach for micro and small enterprises, with a special emphasis on women’s empowerment and self-reliance. NHF provides extensive on-the-job training that enables women to manage their own businesses.

Through the efforts of its Community Development Programs, NHF has handed 53 income-generating projects to local community members who have transformed them into cooperatives and carved a successful niche in the marketplace. Through this initiative, 2,350 jobs were created. NHF continues to support these independent cooperatives with product development and marketing.

In 1988, NHF introduced the concept of rural lending based on Al Murabaha Islamic lending method. Revolving loan funds have been established in rural villages to create job opportunities and enhance productivity of entrepreneurs. These funds are managed by a trained local loan committee in each village, under the supervision of the Quality of Life’s Credit Unit.
 
Based on the success of its micro-credit programs, NHF launched an affiliate microfinance company in 1999, the Jordan Micro Credit Company (Tamweelcom). Tamweelcom disburses loans to low-income entrepreneurs to enable them to set up and expand their micro-enterprises. Today, Tameeelcom has 11 branches located throughout Jordan.

Since its inception, NHF has disbursed over 40,000 loans. The majority of beneficiaries are women.

NHF also works to promote cross-cultural understanding through the arts within Jordan and the world. The National Center for Culture & Performing Arts (PAC), which is a highly successful NHF institution, combines development with the arts through its innovative theatre-in-education approach that disseminates development messages through drama and interactive theatre. It also established Jordan''s first drama and dance schools.
 
NHF''s Institute for Family Health (IFH) was originally set up as a model health center in Sweileh to contribute to the national efforts of improving the quality of maternal and child healthcare services in Jordan. Since then, its programs have expanded nationally. The IFH provides high quality and comprehensive services to children and women at minimum affordable fees through its Pediatric Unit, Child Development Unit, Laboratory, dental clinic and Women’s Health and Counseling Center.

30,000 children have benefited from NHF''s primary health care services, including early detection of children''s disabilities; thousands of young people benefit from workshops on unconventional career options, civic responsibility, and the dangers of smoking, drug addiction, and HIV/AIDS; and environmental youth clubs have been established in many villages.

NHF programs have generated thousands of jobs, disbursed tens of thousands of loans to micro-entrepreneurs and provided training and business development services to thousands more. Local NGOs and cooperatives have been established and strengthened, while tens of thousands of women have benefited from literacy, leadership, communications and gender training, as well as comprehensive health and counseling services.

The success of NHF Projects has confirmed that non-governmental organizations can play a leading role in sustainable development, and act as catalysts and supporters for the social safety net