egypt

 

The project Slovak-Egyptian Partnership for Democracy (SEPAD) is focused on Egyptian civil society which has been going through significant political and social changes since January 2011. Egyptian civil society existed under limited conditions as an opposition to authoritarian leadership of three previous presidents until the revolutionary changes started on January 25, 2011. This almost 60-years period very negatively influenced the activization and commitment of Egyptian citizens as well as their knowledge of democracy, political rights and democratic institutions. The lack of knowledge further results in limited number of direct and practical experiences with democracy.

We support local non-governmental organizations

Based on extensive experience of the Pontis Foundation, which first by means of its later members took part in the transition process in Czechoslovakia and later in Slovakia and later by its own means and capacities developed profound project engagement in countries which have been undergoing this similar process, the Pontis Foundation aims to utilize these experiences in Egypt.

The goal of the project SEPAD: Slovak-Egyptian Partnership for Democracy is to support local non-governmental organizations, which actively contribute to development of local communities in the city of Asyut and the local area. At the same time the project ambitions to support activities of analytical and academic community at the local university with the aim of creating a relevant voice in the process of political and social change of transforming Egypt.

Help for analysts and academics

Project focuses on four NGOs - two operating in rural environment and two in urban. Their previous activities have been characterized mainly by development of local communities. Forty representatives of these organizations will participate in trainings. They cooperate directly with more than 100 community leaders who will be extensively affected by the project activities. The second target group includes academics and analysts of the University of Asyut, particularly the staff of the Department of Political Sciences and Department of Law.

Hence, project impact will increase the capacities of NGO representatives, will transfer Slovak know-how of the transition process to the group of academics/analysts. It will further create relevant agenda-setting and free-thinking voice, which can influence the transition processes of the country and also can contribute to informing the local communities about political rights and democratic principles.

By means of series of trainings, the representatives of NGOs will learn how to write and administrate project proposals. Moreover, they will gain knowledge about democratic transformation, democratic institutions and political rights. The group of academics/analysts will gain skills to write analytical papers and can take part in the call for proposals, which will be issued by the Pontis Foundation in the course of the project.

The trainings will be administered and executed within the capacities of the Pontis Foundation, additionally inviting members of other Slovak NGOs to take part. 40 trained workers of NGOs and 15 academics, accomplished series of 9 trainings, written analytical papers; at least two public lectures at university of Asyut and public presentation of publication will be the project indicators. These activities will be carried out within the 9-month period from September 2011 until May 2012.

 

PROJECT DONOR:

The project SEPAD is supported by Slovak Agency for Internartional Developmment Cooperation Slovak Aid from the Slovak Ministry of Foreign Affairs resources.

 

PROJECT PARTNER: