Project profile — Technological Bridges for Citizen Engagement

This project seeks to address the political, social, and economic exclusion of youth, particularly young women, youth living with disabilities, and other marginalized youth in the Middle East and North Africa region, particularly Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt. The aim is to equip civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth leaders with the tools and know-how to effectively use technology to broaden the spaces available to engage in the democratic processes that promote transparency and human rights, as well as hold public officials accountable. The project makes use of accessible technology (e.g. mobile phones, short message services-SMS, and social media) and seeks to develop the digital literacy skills required to understand and manage online information and tools. These new skills provide civil society organizations and youth leaders with the ability to create digital content, and influence decision-makers. Project activities include: (1) delivering training and online support on how to implement collective actions to address socio-economic issues, through the use of technology; (2) developing and piloting an online interactive toolkit to promote and support increased participation in the democratic decision-making process; (3) designing and delivering training sessions on learning modules to equip intermediaries with the necessary strategies and tactics to effectively influence existing or new socio-economic programs and policies; (4) providing coaching to beneficiaries on implementing community actions to influence program and policy development process, through the use of technology; and (5) disseminating innovative approaches and good practices for advancing participation in democratic processes and influencing programs and policy developed during the project.

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) enhanced equitable and inclusive participation in democratic decision-making, especially by women and marginalized groups, through the use of technology; (2) increased use of technology by people, especially women and marginalized groups, to hold their governments to account.

Results achieved as of July 2021 include: (1) the project benefited 728,476 women, men, girls and boys, including persons living with a disability, in the 4 target countries (Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia). This includes 6,157 direct beneficiaries, reached through community actions, media advocacy and information campaigns with targeted messages and content about their rights; (2) mobilized 122 civil society organizations or partners, including 28 working on women’s rights to support women and marginalized groups and used technologies to enhance their participation in democratic decision-making processes; (3) strengthened the capacities of 22 human rights educators ( 68% women, 82% youth and 9% persons living with disability) to conduct community-based actions that integrate technology to advance women and marginalized groups’ participation in decision-making. They also supported and accompanied 48 implementers (51% women, 71% youth and 10% persons living with a disability) with community groups’ local youth leaders, in the implementation of community actions. Also, the adoption and the use of technology to facilitate women and marginalized groups’ participation in decision-making; (4) mobilized 14 community actions integrating a human rights-based approach, mainly women and youth, including persons living with a disability. Also tackled issues such as the right to education to protect girls from early marriage in Jordan and the right to social security for women farmers, and the right to employment for persons living with a disability in Tunisia; (5) 4,181 individuals increased their capacity to use technology to hold their government accountable; and (6) engaged 304 intermediaries (69% women, 66% youth and 8% persons living with a disability) in collaborative activities to influence programs and policies. This includes mainly local youth leaders, both human rights educators and implementers, leading community groups in implementing community actions.