Ms. Sawsan Kanaan

I have two main roles within the my work activities, the first one is to build a background for activating the role of civil society beside local councils in the field of infrastructure development, and  encourage women, disabled people, youth, and other marginalized groups to express their needs and priorities regarding the basic services that will be provided by donors. For example when a certain community expressed their need for building a new school, my role is enhance  this procedure by community involvement through meeting with community  representatives (consists of  all  social groups and beneficiaries), local council or municipality members, donors, and even the contractors who will implement the project. This process ensures the integration of the needs of all gender groups in the community into the intended project and guarantee the best coordination and cooperation by all the stakeholders. The second role that we aim at accomplishing through this process is to activate the role of women in the local councils and inside the society both individuals and within the organizations. By giving awareness to all these stakeholders about the importance of  encouraging participation of all community groups especially women, disabled people and youth. The donors and local councils now are taking realistic steps in encouraging this participation and taking their needs and interests in the implementation of intended projects, and listening to their future needs and trying to make real change. As a result the infrastructure projects now are more gender sensitive, and aware of the real needs of all community groups and beneficiaries. Also, women’ roles and participation in the local councils and community meetings are more active and effective.