Improving the Operations and Impact of Rural Women’s NGOs

Thirteen women’s Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in Yemen’s underprivileged governorate of Marib have a clearer advocacy vision and expanded operational knowledge, and will soon receive additional training focused on how to implement advocacy and lobbying campaigns that will deliver results for the women they aim to support.  With support from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) local grants program, SOUL for the Development of Women and Children conducted the first phase of the training April 13 - 16.

Twenty six male and female representatives involved in the management of the participating NGOs took part in interactive training that examined the formulation of action plans, networking, team building, time management, and proposal writing.  The next workshop will take participants through the steps of successfully formulating, planning, and implementing advocacy and lobbying campaigns aimed at specific goals.  The primary objectives of this project, according to its coordinator, Nouria Al Khamery, is to create robust NGOs with more influence and weight in society, to strengthen women’s involvement in public life, and to generate effective pressure on governmental bodies to make necessary changes.

Al Khamery was very pleased with the outcomes of the workshop and is confident that there will be sustainable work and sharing of best practices among participants in the future.  “The group has graduated with a clearer perspective on their administrative role, and has gained vast experience on how to propose, run, and market their projects”.  The next step will be to hold a follow-up workshop to discuss action plans that were generated by each participant organization, Al Khamery added.

The project was extensively covered in print and electronic media such as Yemen Post, Wajh Al-Haqiqa, News Yemen, and 26 September.