Injie Swailam

Abstract

Egypt has recently seen several high profile misfortunate incidents were women and girls were attacked, sexually abused and harassed. This thesis studies the role that NGOs play in impacting anti-sexual harassment legislation in Egypt. It addresses participatory policy making and the complex relationship between state and NGOs.Challenges, concerns and considerations to collaborative work between the two are presented. The study proposes a conceptual framework for the different strategies that NGOs use to influence policy making. The method used is qualitative, through interviews with Egyptian NGOs working on the issue.Collaborative, confrontational, legitimacy building, community representation, advocacy, media engagement, partnerships and program implementation are all strategies that guide the conceptual framework and the study. The thesis argues that the strategies and approaches adopted by NGOs have an effect on their level of involvement in policy making. The main finding of the study is that the more NGOs are working on becoming partners of state and avoiding confrontational strategies that could jeopardize their legitimacy and ability to represent the people, the more they become partners in policy making. NGOs need to be aware of their potential and their ability to bring innovative approaches to becoming part of policy reform. Their relationships with their beneficiaries, state and media can indicate whether or not they are legitimate actors of policy making. Understanding that policy reform is a long complicated process and that there is a gap and lack of trust between government and NGOs, is strategic for the later to identify schemas to overcome this. With recent developments of law modifications and national strategies in Egypt, this study is important to conceptualize strategies and approaches for future endeavors of civil society in policy making.

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Degree Name

MA in Public Administration

Graduation Date

6-1-2015

Submission Date

May 2015

First Advisor

Barsoum, Ghada

Committee Member 1

Hodgkins, Allision

Committee Member 2

Abdel Halim, Khaled

Extent

100 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Non-governmental organizations -- Egypt.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Sexual harassment -- Egypt.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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