Egypt

MEPI in Egypt

MEPI is providing critical support to Egyptians as they undertake their democratic transition. MEPI has launched new projects since February 2011 to provide timely on-the-ground assistance to existing and emerging political and civic organizations. MEPI will also continue to encourage networks of civil society organizations, and support law firms, trade associations, and publishing houses engaged in work to advance the democratic transition.

Featured Highlights

New Cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows

The seventh cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows arrived in the U.S. on March 18, kicking off the six-week long academic portion of their fellowship. The twenty-two Fellows are based at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs where they will complete coursework in democracy studies, conflict resolution, political mobilization, and communication.
Public Opinion Research: A Tool for Rising Women Leaders

Public opinion research provides political parties and activists’ with insight into constituents’ perceptions and needs, and enhances policymakers’ abilities to respond to voters. Elected officials at all levels of government utilize public opinion data to improve citizens’ access to services and to better engage constituents, which is essential to increasing political participation.
Civic Education Leaders Visit Washington

The sixth cohort of the MEPI-funded Civic Education Leadership Fellows (CELF) visited the U.S. Department of State in Washington. The 13 Fellows – all university professors from the Middle East and North Africa – are completing three-month residencies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University.
Women’s Rights Advocacy Succeeds in the Region

Vital Voices’ MEPI-funded “Policy-Advocates for Women’s Issues in the Middle East and North Africa” project mentored teams of women activists and provided them training in advocacy, social media outreach, and project management over the past two years. Each country team selected a public policy issue identified as a priority and implemented nationwide campaigns to lobby for needed reforms.
MENA Students Enter Young Entrepreneurs Competition

In 2012, over 5400 high school and university students from the Middle East and North Africa competed for spots on the MEPI-supported sixth annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition. Seventy five students secured finalist spots for the competition which took place in November 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
EFE Training Enables Cairo University Graduate to Start her Career

After graduating from Cairo University with a degree in Commerce, Merihan continued her training through internships in finance companies. She took several extended studies courses that she thought would open the way to a career in finance and commerce. However, a year after graduation, she remained unemployed.
Vital Voices Project Aims to Improve the Lives of Women Across the Region

On October 25, 2012 Vital Voices hosted a panel discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. at which participants shared successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the MEPI-funded Policy Advocates for Women Issues in the Middle East and North Africa project.
MEPI Partner Uses New Media to Inform Citizenry

Through its Social Media|Social Action (SM|SA) project, MEPI partner IREX recently issued a solicitation to provide small grants to youth-serving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in leveraging media tools and approaches to increase the outcomes and impact of their organizations’ activities.
MEPI Launches 214 New Projects in 2012

As of September 30, 2012 (the end of Fiscal Year 2012), MEPI awarded an unprecedented number of grants to international and indigenous organizations working throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. These grants reflect a large increase in civil society activities in MENA, and strong demand for MEPI support, especially in countries that recently experienced democratic transitions.
International Youth Activism Summit Promotes Cross-Border Collaboration

In June 2012, MEPI partner Soliya convened an international summit during which thirty-four Fellows ages 20 to 30, from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East met to work together towards the betterment of their communities.
Students Leaders Learn About Civil Society and Leadership

A total of 118 undergraduate students from across the Middle East and North Africa participated in the 2012 MEPI Student Leaders Program in Washington, D.C. The program brings civically engaged students with outstanding academic achievements from universities throughout the region to the U.S. to study civil society, democratic participation, and leadership.
NGOs Develop Advocacy Skills in Egypt

Through the NGO School – Activism 2.0 project, the Development & Institutionalization Support Center (DISC) in Egypt assists NGOs throughout the country in developing advocacy and public outreach strategies with the use of mobile technology and social media. DISC also offers assistance to emerging NGOs to support staff that manage projects, conduct fundraising campaigns, and maintain organizations records.
IFES and Arab Parliamentarians Work on Political Finance in MENA

Recent electoral events in the MENA region have led to calls for greater transparency and accountability. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption are working on the MEPI-funded “Enhancing Transparency in Political Finance in the Arab Region” project to increase stakeholders’ awareness on issues relating to political finance.
Young Activists Produce Films to Capture Change

After extensive training in media production and community engagement provided by U.S.-based NGO Soliya and MEPI, 110 young civil society leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa are harnessing the power of new media technologies to promote informed and constructive discourse on reform topics.
Human Rights Association Monitors the Presidential Elections in Egypt

In May 2012, Egyptians went to the polls to elect a president from a wide list of candidates. This election symbolized an important step in Egypt’s democratic transition. Commenting on the importance of the training, Nasser Aboel Oyoun, Chairman of Assuit Human Rights Association (HRA), said: “For the first time in sixty years, the people were able to choose their president.”
MEPI Commemorates International Women’s Day 2012

On International Women’s Day 2012, MEPI recognizes this critical moment for women’s rights in the MENA region. The Arab Spring has brought profound change to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), change that includes both promise and uncertainty.
Bokra for Media Production Launches Internet Radio & News Website

Bokranews.com, a web radio station and online news site, provides Egyptian citizens with vital news coverage of political events in Egypt. Launched in June 2011 by MEPI partner Bokra for Media Production, Media Studies and Human Rights, “Radio Bokra” provides independent media coverage of events relating to the parliamentary, presidential, and local council elections.
MEPI Partners with the League of Women Voters to Advance Reform in the Region

MEPI is pleased to announce the G8 Broader Middle East North Africa (BMENA) Initiative partnership with the U.S. –based NGO the League of Women Voters. The BMENA Initiative is a multilateral effort to promote cooperation between the G-8 and BMENA governments and civil society to advance reform efforts throughout the region.
MEPI Grant Helps Stimulate Egyptian Small Business Post Revolution

Supporting Egyptian small businesses and entrepreneurs as key engines of growth and job creation is one of MEPI’s top priorities in supporting Egypt’s transition to democracy. Working with its partner the International Institute for Education, MEPI assisted in the creation of the “Endeavor” project to help selected small businesses expand their knowledge, networks, and businesses.
Sec. Clinton Affirms Commitment to Supporting Arab Reformers

MEPI’s 2012 Leaders for Democracy Fellows (LDF) met with Secretary Clinton on May 29th, following their participation in the Civil Society Strategic Dialogue town hall meeting earlier in the month. The Secretary praised the fellows’ reform-oriented activism and work in advancing civil society during an unprecedented time in the Arab world.
“Learn, Participate, Progress” Advances the Role of Women in Egypt

If you ask Sally Aljbas, the Director of the Siza Nabrawy Center for Law and Women Rights, and other Egyptian women’s rights champions like Dr. Azza Kamel and Esraa Abdel Fattah, representation of Egyptian woman in the political scene could be much higher. MEPI and the Siza Nabrawy Center for Law and Women Rights have partnered to address this critical issue.
MEPI Alumnae Honored for Activism and Courage

Two prominent MEPI alumnae were recently honored for their activism work in Egypt. Dr. Azza Kamel, accepted the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) 2011 Madeleine K. Albright Grant on behalf of her organization. And Social activist Esraa Abdel Fattah.
Fledgling Democracies Have Full Support of U.S.

On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton addressed the Community of Democracies, applauding many countries that have successfully transitioned to democracy and speaking directly to those in the Middle East and North Africa demanding their rights and freedoms.
2011 Leaders for Democracy Fellows Meet with Secretary Clinton

MEPI’s 2011 Leaders for Democracy Fellows met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on June 3. The Secretary assured the Fellows of U.S. Government support for democracy and human rights across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and praised them for their dedication and hard work.
Young Entrepreneurs in Egypt Empowered to Start New Businesses

Five hundred students from 11 Egyptian universities convened to showcase their businesses and compete for seed funding in INJAZ's Young Entrepreneurs Competition in September 2011. Ten winning teams received a total of $50,000 in seed funding, elevating them from the entrepreneurship education phase to becoming startup businesses.