ExxonMobil supports Egyptian women's leadership: advancing women, advancing the economy

The program, held October 11 to November 5, includes 23 mid-career women from Egypt, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Palestine who will examine and adapt best practices that advance women's economic opportunity and meet the needs of their own communities and countries.

The ExxonMobil Foundation's Women's Economic Opportunity Initiative provides women with full scholarships to attend this Middle Eastern regional training workshop.

The training program is run by the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), an international non-profit organization that has worked in Egypt since 1980 and worldwide for more than 30 years. Graduates of the Egypt training will join CEDPA's alumni network of more than 5,200 leaders who are working to improve communities in over 150 countries worldwide.

The Global Women in Management workshop builds on the success of an ongoing partnership between the ExxonMobil Foundation and CEDPA. Since 2005, the ExxonMobil Foundation has sponsored more than 250 women leaders from over 35 countries to receive in-depth training from CEDPA.

"ExxonMobil believes that women and girls are critical in advancing the development and progress of their countries' economy. ExxonMobil Foundation's commitment to capacity building for women and girls will have a direct impact on economic growth,"

said Tom Walter, Chairman and Managing Director, ExxonMobil Egypt.

"We are proud to host this workshop in Cairo for the participants who are working to make positive contributions in their communities," he added.

ExxonMobil's Women's Economic Opportunity Initiative is a global effort launched in 2005 that helps women in developing countries fulfill their economic potential and serve as drivers of economic and social change in their communities. The Initiative has invested more than $20m in programs that have involved women from 64 countries.