Results
Social empowerment highlights
Support was provided to the Unit developing the National FGM Abandonment Strategy 2016-2020 in the National Population Council, and was extended to line ministries and NGOs. Primary health care centre and immunization campaigns were launched to disseminate information and raise awareness on ending FGM. Following the launch of the National FGM Abandonment Strategy a National Task Force was established with budget lines to mainstream FGM abandonment in governorates with a high prevalence of FGM and more girls at risk.
Edutainment campaigns were launched, the first being “Taa Marbouta” in 2016. The campaign about empowering women featured seven PSAs broadcast on TV and social media. Endorsed by dozens of celebrities and public figures, “Taa Marbouta” achieved global recognition when it aired at the Commission of the Status of Women. In 2017 the programme supported National Council of Women in producing and launching a sequel to “Taa Marbouta,” which went by the name “Montega” (productive woman). This campaign that focused on the economic empowerment of women and raised awareness about the importance of women’s participation in the labour force. It was followed up by “Setat Misr” (Egyptian women), an interactive drama and musical show that rolled out in 12 governorates across the country, reaching 2,474 viewers in two months.
Legal empowerment highlights
In partnership with the Ministry of Justice Prosecution Information Center and Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, infrastructure was set up to automate the system in legal aid and dispute settlement offices in Egyptian family courts in Northern and Southern Cairo, Alexandria, Giza, Luxor and Aswan, as well as 60 subsidiary offices.
To increase women’s access to legal information on personal status and family courts law 17 legal aid offices in family courts were established between 2014-2018 and they supported 121,258 cases (72% women).
Economic empowerment highlights
Continued engagement in the One Village, One Product best practice—adapted from the successful Japanese model—focused on boosting the economic empowerment of women, particularly in rural areas. With a focus on handicrafts, traditional and contemporary, the model was applied in 26 villages in Upper Egypt, with more than half of all participants producing quality handicrafts and earning a regular income. Nearly 1,044 beneficiaries were trained in producing quality items through traditional French Loom embroidery, pottery, copper, and leather methods. To compliment the goods produced the women learned how to market their products locally and nationally. Additionally, more than 200 trainers were trained in Qena’s 23 technical vocation education and training schools.
Improving rural women’s access to basic citizenship rights was addressed through a partnership with the National Council of Women to identify women without ID cards. The programme used advocacy and communication tools to raise awareness on the importance of securing an ID cards if women hoped to claim their citizenship rights. A campaign launched under this pillar was the “knocking door campaign” in all Egyptian governorates. By the end of the joint programme, the total number of ID cards issued by way of SIDA funding reached 177,792 cards—exceeding the target of 100,000 cards.