The Crown Prince Foundation was established under Law No. (37) of 2015 as a public benefit civil institution, enjoying legal personality and financial and administrative independence. Article (4) of its law defined its objectives as contributing to comprehensive development across the Kingdom's governorates, developing charitable, social, and voluntary work, and providing the necessary support for youth and local communities. These objectives also include establishing scientific, cultural, sports, educational, social, professional, health, and entrepreneurial projects and activities, with the aim of developing youth talents and improving their standard of living, in addition to cooperating with various individuals and entities to achieve these goals.
These objectives are closely linked to Article (6) of the Constitution, which includes a set of obligations placed upon the state, foremost among them being the guarantee of the right to work and education, the protection of motherhood, childhood, and old age, and the care of the young while preventing abuse and exploitation. These provisions reflect the constitutional legislator’s concern for human dignity and the creation of appropriate conditions for the development of individual capabilities and talents.
This approach was reinforced by the 2022 constitutional amendments, which added new provisions to the same article, obligating the state to empower women and support them in playing an active role in building society, ensuring equal opportunities based on justice and fairness, and protecting them from all forms of violence and discrimination. These amendments also included strengthening the values of citizenship, tolerance, and the rule of law, empowering youth—within the limits of the state's capabilities—to contribute to political, economic, social, and cultural life, and developing their capabilities and supporting their creativity and innovation.
Comparing these constitutional texts with the goals that the Crown Prince Foundation seeks to achieve reveals a clear alignment between them, even though the Foundation’s establishment preceded the recent constitutional amendments by years. The educational and training projects it adopts contribute to qualifying youth for the labor market and developing their skills, while its leadership and volunteer programs encourage community participation and consolidate the values of citizenship and belonging. Furthermore, the extension of its activities to the various governorates of the Kingdom helps expand access to qualification and empowerment programs, reducing the disparity in opportunities available to young men and women.
The fact that the Crown Prince Foundation is not a constitutional authority and does not exercise powers directly assigned to it by the Constitution does not diminish the importance of this role, as it derives its existence and powers from its founding law, while its goals align with the obligations established by the constitutional legislator upon the state. Contributing to the realization of principles related to development and youth care is not limited to official bodies alone; rather, national and civil institutions operating within the framework of the law participate in it, thereby enhancing the integration between governmental and societal efforts in serving the public interest.
Therefore, the importance of the Crown Prince Foundation is not limited to the achievements it has realized over the past ten years, but extends to its contribution to embodying the constitutional goals related to caring for youth, empowering them, and supporting their creativity, and translating these goals from general principles stated in the constitutional document into real programs, initiatives, and opportunities that enhance their participation in building the state and its future. Here, the national value of the Foundation is manifested in its ability to bridge the gap between constitutional texts and practical application, thereby enhancing the role of youth in the path of comprehensive national development.
* Professor of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law, University of Jordan
