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The Arab Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI) strengthens the democratic development of women in the Arab region by providing the skills, resources and connections necessary to succeed as elected or appointed officials, within civil society and as community leaders.  AWLI is founded on the belief that the path toward democracy is only possible with the full, unrestricted political and social participation of women.

Download Summary (PDF)
The Arab Women's Leadership Institute (AWLI) strengthens the democratic development of women in the Arab region by providing the skills, resources and connections necessary to succeed as elected or appointed officials, within civil society and as community leaders.  AWLI is founded on the belief that the path toward democracy is only possible with the full, unrestricted political and social participation of women.

Led by an executive board of prominent Arab and American women leaders, AWLI employs a multidimensional approach designed to fill the void of educational, resource and support opportunities available to women in the Middle East and North Africa.  By providing its participants practical skills training, a platform for dialogue and sustained mentorship, AWLI is increasing the quantity and quality of Arab women leaders, without which a democratic Middle East cannot be possible.

The Executive Board

• Chair, Tami Longaberger, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, The Longaberger Company, United States
• Vice-Chair, Dr. Wajeeha Al Baharna, Vice President, Bahrain Women’s Society, Bahrain
• Vice-Chair, Dr. Sundus Abbas, Executive Director, Women’s Leadership Institute in Baghdad, Iraq
• Vice-Chair, Dr. Eman Al Hussein, Professor of Education, Al-Balqa’a Applied University, Jordan
• Vice-Chair, Dr. Najat Zarrouk, Director of Training, Administrative and Technical Staff, Ministry of Interior, Morocco

• Vice-Chair, Dr. Lily Feidy, Secretary General, Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue & Democracy, West Bank

Trainings

AWLI advances its mission through a unique, cross-regional approach that provides intensive training workshops in leadership, advocacy, management and governance to women of diverse backgrounds and experience levels.  Through trainings, AWLI sharpens the skill of women while providing a rare forum for aspiring leaders to network with and learn from their peers in countries of varying stages of democratic development.

AWLI support of its participants does not end with their initial training.  The Institute works with participants to establish individual short and long-term goals as they relate to their respective organizations, personal goals and country-specific women’s empowerment needs.  Participants receive ongoing mentorship to achieve these goals from the Executive Board, professional trainers and AWLI and IRI staff.

In 2009, AWLI held specialized trainings for more than 100 Arab parliamentarians, civil servants, parliamentary staff and university students.  In 2010, AWLI held a sequence of economic development trainings that targeted 50 women civil society leaders and local elected/appointed officials.  Also in 2010, AWLI launched its website.  The site provides AWLI participants access to a resource library for research, training materials and manuals.  The site’s members only forum will allow participants to network with peers, trainers, AWLI staff and AWLI board members. 

AWLI is funded by the National Endowment for Democracy.  Participants include women from across the Arab region including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.