AWLI Holds Inaugural Training for Arab Members of Parliament

06/18/2009

Amman, Jordan - The Arab Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI) completed a week-long training for women parliamentarians from throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Participants completed more than 40 hours of networking and training on topics including parliamentary skills, legislative research and drafting, constituent relations and public communication.

The training provided the parliamentarians with opportunities to learn from expert trainers Marie-Louise Fort, a Member of Parliament in France, Liljana Popovska, a Member of Parliament in Macedonia and Dr. Ali El Sawi, a Professor of Political Science at Cairo University. Additionally, participants learned from each other as they shared ideas and experiences with their colleagues from other Arab countries.

AWLI supports the efforts of Arab women to increase women's participation in public life and the political process throughout the region. Through trainings and peer-to-peer networking, the Institute connects aspiring leaders to their counterparts in other Arab countries and helps them gain leadership, advocacy, management and governance skills enabling them to compete for leadership positions within their communities.

AWLI is funded through a grant from the National Endowment for Democracy and is led by a Governing Board whose members include Ms. Tami Longaberger from the United States, Dr. Eman Al Hussein from Jordan, Dr. Sundus Abbas from Iraq, Dr. Wajeeha Sadiq Al-Baharna from Bahrain, Dr. Lily Feidy from Palestine, and Dr. Najat Zorrouk from Morocco.