Amman-Jordan - Our conference on “Leveraging Corporate-Community Partnerships for Women’s Progress,” came to a close yesterday in Amman. This conference was an opportunity for participants to learn from experts in the field and work together to identify best practices in creating and strengthening cross-sectoral partnerships. It was an amazing experience to see participants from across the region forge new connections and networks. The conference closed with great energy and optimism for the future.

While the plenary sessions, with experts from Jordan, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and U.S., were interesting and highlighted major developments in the field, the most productive part of the conference was no doubt the workshops and training sessions. These small working groups allowed participants to gain first-hand knowledge from experts in the field, share their own ideas with colleagues from the region and the US, and as well as discuss challenges they face in the region.

The energy and excitement at the conference grew with a visit from Queen Rania Al Abdullah, the patron of the conference, and an inspiring leader for women in the region and the world. She came to two training sessions, one on Implementing Workplace Awareness programs, led by Dennis Butler of Liz Claiborne, Inc. At this session, she interacted with participants in a conversation on employee volunteer programs and pointed out while Jordanian companies are doing a lot, there is definitely more that can be done. She encouraged integrating CSR into corporate strategy and that adopting a cause is a win-win situation for business. She also joined a training on “Encouraging Businesses to Invest in Women,” led by Ms. Mayada Logue of Catalyst for Change, LLC. Here, Her Majesty, listened to the challenges of gaining private sector support for women’s programs, and encouraged the NGOs to be persistent and professional in their outreach.

Building on the momentum and excitement around Her Majesty’s visit, the closing session highlighted a number of new partnerships and ideas for future programs. Plans to continue work in Jordan in partnership with the Family Protection Directorate, through focused work with the Family Justice Center, a model of co-located services for victims of domestic violence from San Diego, CA, were discussed as well as plans to collaborate with the King Hussein Cancer Foundation on workplace awareness programs. In addition, Vital Voices and MEPI announced plans for expansion of the program into the UAE and Bahrain. In Bahrain, the first meeting of the Bahrain Forum for Public Private Partnerships took place in September and there are current plans to continue the model of training and forum meetings. In Dubai, Vital Voices will expand on the pilot of a workplace awareness program on breast cancer awareness in cooperation with Komen for the Cure.

In addition, Vital Voices and Ms. Holly Taylor Sargent, Senior Director for Harvard University Women’s Initiatives, announced an exciting new partnership between Harvard University and Vital Voices to collaborate on a cutting edge study looking at the role that CSR can play in advancing women’s progress globally.

The opportunities to share the lessons from our ongoing project in Jordan and to forge new networks were invaluable, and the collaboration of our partners from Mahara Consultancies in Development and MEPI was critical in pulling this all together. This is not the close of the conference, but the beginning of many new opportunities for the future!