A project for the economic and social empowerment of women continues to provide new opportunities, writes Reem Leila The National Council for Women (NCW) and the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) last week celebrated the second anniversary of the Advocacy Network Programme for the Economic Empowerment of Women (ANPEEW). ANPEEW is implemented in partnership with community organisations, local media and religious leaders in six governorates of Egypt. It is funded by the US State Department's Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). The project includes networks in Beheira and Fayoum for the development of women; networks in Minya, Qena and Aswan for women's health and economic empowerment; and networks in North Sinai and Beni Sweif for women's economic empowerment. In most rural and a few urban societies, women are still considered of less value than men, noted NCW Secretary-General Farkhonda Hassan. Their many contributions in the home, workplace and community are overlooked and undervalued. Hassan continued that ANPEEW depends on a long-term strategic vision of national development goals, as well as cooperation with the government. "The networks have worked on enhancing the status of rural and urban women, and maximising their contribution to the growth and development of Egypt," stated Hassan. "They focus on narrowing existing socio-economic gender gaps and addressing women's strategic needs, including social and economic empowerment." The project supports women's advocacy networks to improve policies that affect women's lives. The networks determine priority policy issues, develop action agendas and advocate policy changes in the fields of health, economic empowerment and education. ANPEEW successfully increased women voter registration by 2,500, in communities where women's political participation is low. Members of the Minya Network for Women's Health and Economic Empowerment visited women in their homes to encourage them to vote in the 2005 Egyptian presidential election. "Religious leaders also worked to convince husbands and male relatives to allow women to vote," explained Hassan. The Fayoum Network for the Development of Women financed 100 women to start small projects at a total cost of LE500,000. It also provided women in Fayoum with medicine at a cost of LE70,000. Other networks have successfully advocated political and financial support for micro-enterprise activities, according to Amal Gamal, manager of CEDPA Egypt. Also, for the activation of women's health clubs, medical awareness campaigns and treatment, as well as support for female heads of household in rural areas. Gamal believes that ANPEEW demonstrates that with training and technical assistance, women can become effective advocates and policy champions. Also, that empowerment begins with winning equality, autonomy and respect for women within the household. The network project is committed to ensuring the greater participation of Egyptian women in local, national and global governance, so that policies and resources reflect the needs of women and their families, noted Gamal. The CEDPA Egypt manager added that in most societies, and particularly in the developing world, women's access to positions of influence and power is limited. Their occupational choices are narrower, their earnings lower than men, and they must struggle to reconcile activities outside the home with their traditional roles, she explained. While many men, particularly among the poor, also find themselves disenfranchised, it is a far more common experience among women. This experience is rooted in failure to value women for anything but their reproductive role, stated Gamal. "Through ANPEEW, CEDPA is working hand-in-hand with women leaders to strengthen their overall status, advocacy and political leadership," she concluded.
