The Economic Literacy Component of the WEEP is envisaged within CRTD’s overall objectives of contributing to the achievement of economic and social rights of women and women’s empowerment in the Arab region. It is particularly informed by the accumulated knowledge on the crucial linkage between economic independence and the economic empowerment of women. Economic literacy and gender awareness contribute a great deal to women’s economic independence. As such, economic literacy is a critical tool in achieving women’s economic empowerment.

The project primarily targets women and development organisations and aims at building their capacities in economic literacy and gender awareness.There is a broad base of women and development organizations in Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco who can contribute to women’s economic empowerment through an enhanced understanding to economic issues as well as through networking capacities.

The Component is also in line with the objectives of the Beijing Platform for Action, namely:

• Eradication of female poverty
• Economic empowerment of women
• Development of institutions and policies for the advancement of women

Through this programme, CRTD will contribute to the capacity building of women and development organisations in the Component regions and countries (namely, Lebanon, Egypt and Morocco) and thus enable them through training, capacity building and close accompaniment to gain better insight and influence women’s economic empowerment more effectively. As a result women and development organisations in these areas will be in a position to improve their activities aimed at their women constituency as well as at the governments and other institutions with policies that have impact women and gender equality.