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In 2008, IRI established the Arab Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI). Led by an executive board of prominent Arab and American women leaders, AWLI recruits and works with women leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa to increase women’s political participation.  

Download Summary (PDF)
In 2008, IRI established the Arab Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI). Led by an executive board of prominent Arab and American women leaders, AWLI recruits and works with women leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa to increase women’s political participation.  

While the unprecedented events of 2011 in the Middle East initially instilled great optimism in women living in the region, opportunities that exist for instituting reforms that improve government efficiency, reduce corruption and hold decision-makers more accountable to their citizens have become increasingly difficult to capitalize on.  Despite these challenges, these turbulent times are a historic opportunity for women to play a more prominent role in the government and in community decisions.

Through its network of experts, AWLI offers women in government and civil society with the support, skills and mentorship necessary to foster increased participation in the democratic development of their societies.  AWLI programs, at its headquarters in Amman, Jordan and throughout the region, focus on relevant policy topics and current issues facing Arab women.  AWLI prides itself on offering members the skills needed to be effective leaders, creating relationships across boarders and cultivating new and innovative ideas for Arab women leaders.

AWLI’s support of its members does not end with their participation in a workshop.  The Institute works with partners to establish individual short- and long-term goals as they relate to their respective organizations and countries’ needs.  Participants receive ongoing mentorship to achieve these goals from AWLI’s Board of Directors, expert volunteers and IRI staff throughout the Middle East and North Africa.  In 2012, AWLI launched an annual fellowship program that provides the opportunity for up to 10 Arab women leaders to develop their own policy issue-based research papers with guidance from mentors within the Middle East and North Africa and the larger global community.

AWLI is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy and the Middle East Partnership Initiative.  In 2013, AWLI’s membership has grown to include women from Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank and Yemen.

For more information on how to become a member, please visit AWLI’s website.

Executive Board
Ms. Tami Longaberger, Chairwoman, United States
Dr. Wajeeha Al Baharna, Bahrain
Dr. Sundus Abbas, Iraq
Dr. Eman Al Hussein, Jordan
Ms. Wafa’a Abedalqader Al Jasem, Kuwait
Ms. Myriam Kairouz Aucar, Lebanon
Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Morocco
Dr. Lily Feidy, the West Bank