Each regional office makes grants in fields that most effectively address problems in that region. In the Cairo office, we support efforts in five key areas:
Governance and Civil Society
We seek to foster dialogue and debate on some of the most important policy choices facing countries in the region. By expanding the space for independent discourse, scholars and civic leaders can better articulate a vision of society at a time of rapid social and economic change. Giving voice to a broad range of thinkers in the Middle East helps to advance debates on issues of governance, trade, technology, peace and security.
Higher Education
In 2005, we launched a program to strengthen higher education institutions in the region under the premise that when dynamic, high-quality education systems are in place, people can improve their lives and assist others in the pursuit of social equality and justice. Our grant making in this field targets educational quality at national universities, leadership training and knowledge development. It also helps Arab universities, operating in an increasingly global and market-driven economy, to provide interactive learning, extracurricular activities and opportunities to relate aspects of campus life to the various challenges of democratization and civic engagement.
Human Rights
The last two decades have brought a proliferation of national and regional organizations dedicated to promoting human rights in the Arab world. Our work focuses on increasing the effectiveness of human rights advocacy by strengthening organizations that protect human rights; by fostering collaboration and networking across the region; by expanding access to legal aid and services; and by supporting efforts to protect the rights of women and of marginalized groups such as refugees and the displaced.
Media, Arts and Culture
This area of work supports an independent artistic community and creates new spaces for free expression. Our efforts build on the premise that imagination, creativity and criticism are essential for the development of vibrant, open and just societies. Grant making in this field focuses on sustaining innovative arts communities and the energy and experimentation that artists, cultural workers and media professionals bring to political, social and civic life.
Reproductive Health
We support regional institutions and initiatives focused on the issues of sexuality and reproductive health. Our grants fund research and policy work, scholarship and capacity-building, and the strengthening of institutions that serve women, whose rate of mortality and illness is disproportionately high. Because youth account for one-fifth of the region’s population, we support organizations that focus on broadening understanding of bodily integrity and reproductive health, particularly among young people, and help instill sexual and reproductive rights in disadvantaged communities.