Empowering Women

The MEPI women's pillar supports local NGOs and women reformers across the Middle East and North Africa in their effort to achieve full participation in society. This targeted program aims to address the cultural, legal, regulatory, economic, and political barriers that women encounter in their daily lives. The program is designed to be flexible and nimble in order to support positive developments as they emerge on the ground. Specific assistance is thus provided that best supports and intensifies this forward momentum. Within the women's pillar, MEPI is concentrating in the following four areas:

Women and the Law: To support the elimination of arbitrary legal systems and provide women with the skills and tools required to help build strong judicial institutions.

Women in Democracy: To increase the level of women's participation in building democratic pluralistic societies, through both political representation and civil society strengthening.

Women's Rights: To assist local reformers in their struggle for women's rights, facilitating their organization and expanding their impact.

Women's Economic Empowerment: To provide access and opportunity to women in an effort to enhance their marketable skills, gain economic independence, and increase the power of the private sector in building a democratic society.

Read about examples of success stories.

The women's pillar allocated $5 million in 2002; $12 million in 2003; $15.5 million in 2004; $15 million in 2005; and $15 million in 2006. Because of the cross-pillar focus of many MEPI programs, funding for women's empowerment is actually approximately equal to the other pillars.