In the past few years several MENA governments took initiatives to promote decentralization and citizen inclusion in the decision making process. For instance, in Egypt the government is reviewing the needed amendments to existing local administration law, and piloting decentralization in three governorates (Ismailia, Luxor and Fayoum). In addition, In Jordan’s King Abdullah announced a major initiative to advance decentralization by dividing Jordan into three administrative regions (North, South and Centre) and giving more authority and decision-making powers to governorates to ensure effective local administration and management of resources. These promising opportunities for civic engagement in government processes and public service delivery present opportunity for strengthening capacity of CSOs and networking across the region.

Project Goal:

CARE-Egypt has a partnership with the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability – Global Partnership Fund (ANSA GPF – GPF) to organize a training workshop that aims at building the capacities of civil society organizations and local government institutions to introduce different approaches and cases studies that focus on means to increase social accountability and enhance local governance.

This project aims to (a) build CSO capacities to use country-appropriate mechanisms and channels that enable civil society engagement with government departments and officials on emerging legislative and social issues; (b) initiate a process for MNA network of CSOs to share experiences with other participating CSOs. It is anticipated that this relatively narrow focused activity may lead to the eventual development of a regional CSO network. An illustrative list of targeted outcomes includes:

• 30 practitioners who have participated in the workshop have an enhanced understanding of social accountability and participatory governance.
• 30 practitioners have access to relevant practical information and tools about social accountability and participatory governance.
• At least 22 participants are actively networking with their peers and initiating collaborative relationships.
• At least 18 participants are receiving mentoring assistance after the workshop to mainstream social accountability and participatory governance in specific activities undertaken by their organization.
• At least 10 participating practitioners benefit from continuous opportunities for South-South learning and knowledge sharing on social accountability and participatory governance.
• All participating organizations have ongoing access to an online resource centre that provides practical information on a wide range of participatory governance approaches and tools ( By the World Bank, CARE, and other organizations)
• A workshop report that presents the main topics presented and the main lessons learned will be shared with all the participants and other interested actors.

Expected Results and Targets:

• MENA Network of civil society organizations
• Enhanced capacity and knowledge of social accountability concepts and emerging practices
• Improved process of civic engagement in policy dialogue and development processes in the region
• Improved awareness of the importance of civic participation in government and development processes