Counselor Amal Ammar, President of Egypt’s National Council for Women (NCW), welcomed a senior World Bank delegation on Wednesday to discuss expanding collaboration on women’s empowerment and human development.
The delegation included Fadia Saadah, Regional Director for Human Development; Stefan Jimbert, Country Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti; Amal Feltis, Senior Social Development Specialist; Mery Ovadia, Human Development Program Manager; and Youssef Abdelaziz from Egypt’s Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. The NCW’s leadership team, including Vice President Dr. Nesreen El Baghdady and several department heads, also participated.
This marked Ammar’s first official meeting with the World Bank since assuming her post. She emphasized the importance of sustained partnership, praising existing joint efforts and expressing hope for deeper future engagement. “Our shared vision is essential to advancing real progress for women in Egypt,” she said.
Progress on National Strategy and Media Representation
Ammar highlighted milestones in Egypt’s National Strategy for the Empowerment of Egyptian Women 2030, particularly in economic and legal support. She underscored the role of the NCW’s Women’s Complaints Office, which provides critical legal, psychological, and social services nationwide.
She also stressed the impact of media and cultural initiatives, citing the council’s longstanding participation in the Aswan International Women Film Festival and efforts to monitor media portrayals of women, especially during Ramadan. These include establishing a media observatory, developing a code of conduct for media representation, and issuing annual reports on gender portrayal in entertainment.
Tackling Cyber Violence and Advancing Policy
A key point of discussion was cyber violence against women, which Ammar warned threatens to reverse progress on women’s rights and leadership. She referenced the Cairo Declaration from the 10th Arab Women Organization Conference, which outlines eight urgent recommendations to combat digital abuse and support victims.
Dr. El Baghdady detailed the NCW’s preparations for upcoming parliamentary elections, including national training programs for community leaders and female candidates. She emphasized strong institutional cooperation to promote women’s political participation.
Expanding Joint Programs
The meeting reviewed several successful collaborations with the World Bank, including the Taa Marbouta awareness campaign, the Gender Equality Seal certification, and initiatives by the Women’s Skills Development Center and the Anti-Violence Units. These efforts, Ammar noted, are vital to creating safer, more equitable spaces for women across Egypt.
Both sides agreed to build on these foundations, focusing on integrated development strategies that empower women as drivers of economic and social progress.
