On its road to a new democratic system, Egypt has been given the possibility of creating a multi-party political system, where people of different backgrounds and opinions will have to work together to produce a more positive political scene. However, due to the emergence of many new political parties, it became increasingly clear that many of them needed support for execucuting an effective campaign for the previous parliamentary elections and the upcoming presidential elections and knowing how to play a strong role in the process of writing a new constitution.
With this in mind, DEDI together with a consortium of Egyptian and International organizations has designed a project that aims to support an inclusive and participatory political environment that addresses both shorter and longer term needs of political parties.
The overall objectives of the project are to provide a knowledge base of voter preferences, and of different global transition experiences. It also aims at providing training and dialogue on electoral systems, legal reform, constitution building processes and party organization. The project entails political debates and discussions.
The project addressed the most pressing needs of the political parties and intended to support interested political parties in the previous parliamentary elections in terms of electoral knowledge and strategy, political programming, campaigning, debating and approach to media. It also helps them in the constitutional process following the parliamentary elections and then in the post-elections process of building sustainable party organizations and the knowledge needed to establish a membership and funding base.
DEDI website: http://dedi.org.eg
The purpose of the Danish Institute for Political Parties (Institut for Flerpartisamarbejde) is to strengthen and complement the Danish democracy assistance, particularly through supporting political parties and multi-party systems in selected developing countries.
The institute works towards realization of its purpose by supporting party cooperation and capacity building of democratic parties in developing countries; supporting independent media, think-tanks and non-state political organizations promoting a democratic political culture and multi-party systems; engaging in cooperation agreements with local partners in the developing countries; and cooperating with international institutions and international partners towards democratization.
DIPD website: http://dipd.dk
Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS) was established in 1968 as an independent research unit functioning within the framework of Al-Ahram Foundation.
The Center has evolved over the times, especially in 1972, where its research scope did not halt at studying Zionism and the Israeli society, but expanded to incorporate the inclusive studies of international and strategic Issues, with a special focus on developmental issues of the international system, interactive trends between Arab countries and the international system, the regional framework surrounding them, and amongst one another. The Center devotes a large part of its activities to studying the Egyptian society from its various political, economical, military and social viewpoints. The center maintains complete independence in directing its research activities, and is keen on pertaining a philosophy of criticism; and is concerned in proposing an intellectual, investigative vision for the issues at hand. It also provides for the freedom of speech of its scholars and researchers in accordance to the guidelines of subjectivity and scientific research.
The programs of the center are the result of collective efforts built on a framework of democratic scientific research planning.
ACPSS website: http://acpss.ahram.org.eg
Nazra for Feminist Studies is a Women's Rights focused research organization, composed of young researchers and activists of both sexes. We aim at enhancing the involvement of young men and women in the gender debate in Egypt and the Middle East, believing firmly that Women's Rights represent an indivisible element of Human Rights on the one hand and of Democracy on the other.
We seek to let out a younger voice within the Human Rights and Feminist movements in Egypt, opening a door for the participation of a new generation of activists and researchers.
Nazra takes into consideration the social context and societal pressures affecting the situation of women and their acquired rights. Nazra also takes great interest in the tremendous strain that Feminists and Women's Rights Activists suffer. Therefore, we hope to develop theoretical frameworks for mechanisms of support and action that can help assuage, and ultimately eradicate, such pressures. We invest special effort in studying and developing innovative methods of communication with regard to Women's issues and the obstacles facing their advancement.
Nazra for Feminist Studies website: http://en.nazra.org
