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Siwa,
Egypt: the Gender Challenge
In
1998, the UMP regional office for the Arab States organized
a city consultation in Siwa, a remote oasis located in
the western desert of Egypt. The city consultation addressed
the many challenges that Siwa is facing as it is rapidly opening
to the outside world, including economic development, increased
urban pollution and threats to the ecological sustainability
of the oasis, heritage protection, infrastructure development,
education, health and social development.
One
of the major difficulties faced in the implementation of the
consultation was to try to ensure the participation of women.
Siwa’s society is very conservative even by regional standards.
Gender roles are strictly defined, gender segregation stringently
enforced, and women are only allowed to leave their homes wearing
a traditional covering that conceals their faces and bodies.
Given this context, when the UMP City Consultation was initiated,
it was impossible for women to be present during formal consultation
events. When this issue was raised with local leaders, they
suggested that a separate women’s working group, conducted by
a trusted female community development expert, be organised
in a private home.
Results
• Siwans had, for the first time, an opportunity to discuss
their views for the future of Siwa openly with representatives
of the local and central government
• The adopted action plan indicated the commitment of
the local community to ensure that future developments do not
threaten the sustainability of the oasis
• Plans for the expansion of agricultural land, with potentially
strong negative environmental impact, have been put on hold
pending further review
• $125,000 was mobilized from the Ford Foundation to conduct
a strategic waste management planning exercise and implement
a pilot waste collection project
• $200,000 was mobilized from public and private sources for
the creation of a Micro-Finance fund that will target eco-businesses
and women’s income generating activities
• The outcome of the women’s meeting was formally presented
during the closing of the consultation and integrated into the
framework for action
• It marked the first opportunity for Siwan women’s voices to
be heard in a public forum, albeit through a spokesperson
• Women voiced problems that directly affect their lives and
fulfillment of their roles, and it revealed the extent of women’s
contribution to the social and economic development of Siwa
• Follow up projects have all incorporated the gender dimension
as a central dimension
• 50,000 pounds Sterling was mobilized to finance capacity building
activities for women
Follow
up
Efforts are continuing to raise funds to promote the sustainable
development of Siwa. Special attention is given to strengthening
civil society by building on the existing governance system
while addressing some of its most glaring shortcomings, in particular
the lack of female participation.
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