Library

Language:
EnglishCollection:
Mena Conference ReportsPublication Year:
2023
Other Details:
The wave of political protests in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in the early 2010s, known as the Arab Spring, was marked by the vanguard role played by women. However, contradictorily, after several subsequent transitional governments chose democracy as a means to adopt inclusive governance, women, constituting 50% of the population, remained excluded from leadership roles. Women’s non-participation was also hindered by a conservative historical and cultural heritage that negatively impacted their confidence, background, and experience to run for office or engage in decision-making posts.
The Forum of Federations (FoF) launched the MENA Project, funded by the government of Canada (the donor), in response to the marginalization of women in leadership roles in three targeted countries (the hosts): Jordan in the Middle East (ME); Morocco and Tunisia in North Africa (NA). The project aimed to enhance women’s inclusiveness through four dimensions of activities: capacity-building for established women or aspiring future leaders, public awareness raising, and improvement of institutional mechanisms. With the MENA Project, the FoF developed both the capacity to implement a multidimensional program and the capacity to implement a Women’s Leadership program.