Forum of Federations: Empowering Women Leadership in the MENA Region

Within the framework of the Forum of Federations’ women’s leadership project “Empowering Women for Leadership Roles in the MENA Region: Jordan, Morocco, and Tunisia,” democracy has been strengthened in multiple ways. This eight-year project addresses the marginalization of women in leadership roles and democratic decision-making processes by aiming to achieve two goals: 1) to increase the participation of women in social, cultural, and political power structures by strengthening their leadership skills and knowledge of political and governance processes at local, national, and regional levels and 2) to improve the ability of women, men, and institutions to shape governmental and non-governmental policies, programs, and activities that affect women’s inclusion in cultural, social, and political spheres.

The main contribution of the Forum to strengthening democratic values lies in its advancement of inclusive governance and efforts to institutionalize gender equality principles. In Jordan, it supported the development of gender-responsive smart cities in 60 municipalities, specifically tailored for women officers. Participants included leaders of women empowerment units, who were equipped with capabilities to navigate the intricacies of urban governance. The Forum trained women in areas such as future forecasting, innovation planning, and proactive strategy development. With an improved understanding of developing strategies aligned with national agendas and government initiatives, participants evolved into change agents within their municipalities, contributing to advancing smart cities and reshaping urban landscapes.

At the core of the training was an emphasis on women’s pivotal role and participation in the governance of their cities. By leveraging external funding, pooling resources, and fostering collaboration, Heads of the women empowerment units were encouraged to implement impactful programs that address the multifaceted challenges faced by women in their local communities. As catalysts for positive change, these municipalities will play a crucial role in promoting gender equality, democratic participation and fostering inclusive development through effective intermunicipal cooperation.

More concrete results observed in 9 municipalities include:

1. Gender auditing procedures actioned at the municipal level.

2. Strengthening of women’s presence in permanent committees and decision-making roles within one municipality.

3. Development of capacity building actions for women within the women empowerment units and development units at the municipal level.

4. Awareness programs on the relevance of gender equality within municipalities.

5. Gender inclusiveness in hiring policies, increasing opportunities for women holding higher roles.

6. Updated organizational structure and municipal policies to include women’s empowerment and inclusion principles.

7. Integration of women’s need in the construction of new municipal buildings.

8. Strengthened accountability and adherence to professional ethics.

9. A proposed specialized training plan for female civil engineers on integrating gender perspectives in developing responsive smart cities.