The USAID Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program (WESEP) hosted an event with representatives from government entities, the development sector, and media figures to discuss strategies to combat violence against women and girls in Egypt. The event, “Dissemination of Key Findings: Exploring Communication and Media Effectiveness Related to Violence Against Women,” was held as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
Earlier in 2024, WESEP, which is implemented by Pathfinder International, conducted focus group discussions across seven governorates—Cairo, Giza, Assiut, Behera, Minya, Qena, and Sohag—to evaluate the effectiveness of its community awareness interventions, media tools, and communication approaches. The program’s participants represent diverse geographic, socio-economic, and educational backgrounds.
The report findings provided key insights on effective media initiatives and tools targeted to local communities and how these different groups perceive and define violence against women and girls. These findings will guide WESEP and other stakeholders in Egypt’s women’s empowerment ecosystem to refine strategies for reaching and influencing different segments of society.
The Dec 5, Dissemination Event provided a platform to discuss the findings, evaluate perceptions, and enhance community engagement and media efforts. Participants explored practical approaches to raising awareness about violence against women and girls and fostering positive attitudinal changes.
Remarks were delivered by Dr. Mervat Abu Auf, Communications Professor at The American University in Cairo and Board Member at the National Council for Women, Ms. Ky Lam, Director of the Office of Democracy and Governance at USAID Egypt; and Ms. Dina Kafafi, Chief of Party for WESEP.
The Program also featured a panel discussion, “Role of Media and Advocacy in Combating Violence Against Women – From Theory to Action,” with Dr. Mervat Abu Auf, Communications Professor at The American University in Cairo and Board Member at the National Council for Women, and Engy Ghozlan, WESEP’s Social Empowerment Team Lead and Mohamed Kheidr, Film Director, Writer and Producer. Panelists explored how advocacy and media can build momentum for positive change, foster gender-sensitive dynamics within communities, and address diverse cultural and demographic contexts.
The event concluded with an interactive session titled “Stakeholders’ Role and the Actionable Way Forward,” which encouraged collaboration in designing effective solutions.
Dina Kafafi, Chief of Party for WESEP, emphasized the program’s commitment to combating violence against women and girls, stating, “By collaborating and sharing best practices, we can strengthen our collective impact and create lasting change for women everywhere.”
About the Women’s Economic and Social Empowerment Program (WESEP):
The USAID-funded WESEP, implemented by Pathfinder International, is designed to collaborate with the private sector, local communities, and NGOs to advance women’s participation in the workforce. The program generates demand for financial services, promotes tailored market-based solutions for women’s economic empowerment, and strengthens violence against women prevention and response efforts to enhance women’s economic and social resilience.
