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Maghreb Regional Learning Institute for Women's Leadership and Training of Trainers

Women's Learning Partnership (WLP) in cooperation with its partner in Morocco, Association Démocratique des Femmes du Maroc (ADFM), convened the Maghreb Regional Learning Institute for Women's Leadership and Training of Trainers from December 11-14, 2004 in Marrakech, Morocco.

WLP Institutes are learning centers for empowering women to participate as leaders in the decision-making processes in all areas of social, political, and economic life. The goal of the Institute was to train women's rights activists in the Maghreb region to become better trainers and advocates for women's equal participation in civil society.

Institute participants, which included 26 women's rights activists and leaders from Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia, took part in facilitation, communications, and advocacy skills training. Among the topics discussed were how to communicate effectively to influence decision-makers and mobilize the public, and how to translate organizational visions into compelling messages that resonate with various groups and constituencies. All participants plan to apply WLP's leadership curriculum and the facilitation techniques learned during the Institute within their organizations and communities.

The Institute was not only significant as a skills training session on becoming more effective advocates, but was one of the first opportunities in which women activists from throughout the Maghreb region met to dialogue and learn from each other's experiences. Participants plan to work together to build regional cooperation as well as strengthen national advocacy networks to advance women's rights.