About FWID

Founded in Cairo in 1997,  Forum for Women in Development (FWID) is a network of women’s rights activists, educators, and civil society leaders advancing gender equality, democratic participation, and social justice across Egypt. The organization works to reform discriminatory laws and policies, including personal status laws, while strengthening women’s leadership, civic engagement, and economic participation at both community  and national levels. 

Rooted in participatory leadership, collective action, and feminist education, FWID combines leadership training, legal advocacy, cooperative development, and youth organizing to expand women’s influence in public life and decision-making processes. The organization works closely with local communities, civil society groups, and policymakers to advance equality and strengthen democratic participation. 

A leader in youth engagement, FWID equips young women and men with tools to lead social change through annual leadership camps, mentorship initiatives, and community-based trainings. Its programs focus on issues including climate justice, citizenship, gender-based violence prevention, digital justice and community advocacy, helping build a new generation of feminist and civic leaders across Egypt. 

Since joining Women’s Learning Partnership in 2005, FWID has collaborated extensively with organizations across the Middle East and North Africa on women’s rights advocacy, leadership development, and regional solidarity initiatives. The organization adapted and translated WLP leadership manuals into Egyptian Arabic, revising case studies and training materials to reflect local realities and cultural contexts. 

At a time marked by ongoing economic instability and growing attention to climate and environmental issues in Egypt, FWID continues to expand its leadership and advocacy work, supporting women and youth to shape public policy, strengthen local cooperatives, and advance justice and equality nationwide.

Key Accomplishments

• Organizes an annual Young Women Leadership Camp, training university students on participatory leadership, climate justice, entrepreneurship, and community advocacy. 
• Established a digital justice program “Women and Technology” to address the gap between women’s technological skills and access to increasingly digitized services. 
• Collaborates with Egyptian civil society organizations, policymakers, and legal experts to review and advocate for reform of Egypt’s personal status laws. 
• Established networks and task forces supporting women’s cooperatives and cooperative economic initiatives across Egyptian governorates. 
• Leads advocacy campaigns on women’s right to nationality, family court reform, and the removal of reservations to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). 
• Convened a regional MENA conference advancing a feminist vision of social justice in labor, health, and education based on research and policy analysis. 
• Translated and adapted WLP leadership and political participation manuals into Egyptian Arabic for local training and community organizing. 
• Expanded adult learning and literacy initiatives through collaboration with regional Arab education and learning networks. 
• Contributed to regional initiatives advancing gender-responsive economic policy and women's labor participation. 
• Supported regional youth leadership and movement-building initiatives addressing active citizenship, refugee inclusion, and community resilience.

Organizational Programs and Activities

• Women’s Leadership and Empowerment Training: Conducts participatory leadership trainings and capacity-building programs for women, youth leaders, and civil society organizations across Egypt. FWID adapts feminist leadership curricula to local contexts and supports peer-to-peer learning and community engagement. 
• Women’s Economic Rights and Cooperative Development: Facilitates trainings on cooperative management, economic participation, and gender-responsive economic development. FWID supports women’s cooperatives, advocates for women’s labor rights and union participation, and conducts research on gender and economic inequality. 
• Legal Reform and Advocacy: Advocates for reforms to discriminatory laws and policies affecting women, including personal status laws, nationality rights, and protections against violence. FWID collaborates with civil society coalitions and legal experts on constitutional and legislative reform efforts. 
• Youth Leadership and Civic Engagement: Supports young women and men through mentorship, leadership development, and active citizenship programs. FWID works with youth networks, university students, and emerging activists on issues including gender equality, digital engagement, and community organizing. 
• Learning, Research, and Regional Networking: Produces research, educational materials, and advocacy resources related to women’s rights and social justice. FWID contributes to regional feminist and adult education networks promoting participatory learning and knowledge exchange across the Arab region.