Cairo (UNA-OIC) – The Women Development Organization virtually inaugurated its Civil Society Forum. The first meeting of the Forum, which was held yesterday, focused on the theme: “Building a Network of CSOs/NGOs to Foster Women’s Empowerment”.
The meeting was presided by H.E. Ambassador Ehab Fawzy, the Deputy Executive Director of WDO. At the beginning of the meeting, Ambassador Fawzy commended the different civil society organizations for their efforts and commitment to achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment in their respective constituencies. He also echoed the need for creating strategic partnerships with all relevant stakeholders to meet our shared objectives. He added that the main objective of that encounter is to set a platform through which local capacities of women will be developed, by using local expertise and partnerships for participatory development.
The WDO and NGOs exchanged views during the meeting about their scope of work, activities, potential partnerships, and expertise. The WDO and NGOs agreed that they all share the same aspirations and goals of seeing enhanced livelihoods, and a better future for women and girls in their different constituencies.
The major highlights of the different interventions of the participants pointed out to the power of coalition and multisectoral partnerships, optimal cooperation with, and support for the local and community-based organizations.
The discussions focused also on how to harness available resources and expertise to address women’s issues in our member states, as well as to contribute to the global efforts of reducing gender inequalities. Participants also highlighted a variety of pressing issues and priority areas to focus on when it comes to women’s needs, which fall under the four thematic pillars that will set the scope for WDO’s Four-Year Strategic Plan.
