Case Studies
(Civic Participation) Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region:
WCI's ALWANE (Active Leaders for Women's Advancement in the Near East) program is a sustainable and active network of over 5,000 men and women political, economic, civil society leaders, academics, activists, experts and youth committed to social progress, gender equality, and the advancement of women's leadership in the MENA region. Working at both a national and regional level, this network of 16 countries aims to generate discourse about challenges to women's full participation in society, as well as share intraregional success stories. Members of ALWANE seek to raise awareness, create a platform for dialogue, advocate for change, and influence national, regional, and international policies affecting women's participation in society.
Committees meet on a monthly basis to identify pressing obstacles to women's advancement in their respective countries, establish their visions, design national advocacy action plans, and draft policy recommendations. During this process 320 committee members convene at sub-regional and regional summits to support one another through regional collaboration and exchange, as well as build their capacity and regional networks. Here country committees showcase their accomplishments, build their advocacy skills through new media and leadership trainings, network, and sign a regional commitment to the advancement of women's leadership.
(Political Participation) Malawi:
In Malawi, WCI conducted pre election campaign trainings that helped double the number of women Members of Parliament (MPs). Once in office, WCI provided post-election training on gender budgeting and analysis, legislative processes, and key policy issues. Working to raise the visibility of the women's caucus, WCI collaborated with these women MPs to develop and implement a national advocacy campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. The women MPs boldly decided the best way to increase awareness was to get tested publicly. This courageous act quadrupled the number of Malawians tested for HIV/AIDS.
(Conflict Mitigation) Sri Lanka:
WCI partnered with 31 grassroots women's and human rights organizations in Colombia, Liberia and Sri Lanka through its "Transforming Protracted Conflicts through Women's Empowerment" program. In Sri Lanka, WCI worked with Young Asia Television to produce a 31-part television and radio program, reaching an audience of more than 390,000 viewers. The program featured women leaders and addressed issues such as women's political participation, conflict resolution, racism and women's role in the community, workplace and home. This popular series led to an additional large scale ToT workshop that trained 625 current and aspiring women leaders on advocacy, coalition building, campaign skills, political solutions to conflict and UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
(Economic Empowerment) Liberia:
In Liberia, WCI has trained more than 15,000 rural women. Currently, WCI is working with 9 women-led agricultural collectives, providing them with value-added agricultural tools that save time and allow women to sell their goods at a higher profit. Along with these tools, WCI provides intensive training in organizational development and leadership for the management of these new resources. With small investments and strategic trainings, these collectives have been able to grow exponentially and give back to their communities. In Nimba County, with the investment of one cassava grinder, a collective earned the capital to start a series of women-owned businesses including a furniture factory, a restaurant and a hotel.