Academy for Educational Development

Advancing President Obama’s Cairo Agenda:
Can Education Reform Spur More
Female Entrepreneursin the Muslim World?

“Entrepreneurship, Education, and Gender Equality in the Muslim World”Forum Hosted by the United Nations Development Program and AED April 28

What: “Advancing the Cairo Agenda: Entrepreneurship, Education and Gender Equality in the Muslim World.”  This international forum, sponsored by UNDP and AED in support of the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship, will explore how educational reform in the Muslim world can produce a new generation of women and men committed to business and social entrepreneurship.

Despite progress, positive public opinion, and outpacing boys in academic achievement, the UNDP reports that girls continue to suffer from a lack education opportunities in the Muslim world.   In terms of basic indicators, the Arab region has one of the highest rates of female illiteracy in the world.

Who:    

• Reem Bsaiso, Chief Executive Officer of World Links Arab Region, and Summit Delegate
• Yuyun Ismawati, Co-Founder and Director of BALIFOKUS Foundation, and Summit Delegate
• Soraya Salti, Regional Director of INJAZ Al-Arab, Senior VP of Junior Achievement, and Summit Delegate
• Maura O’Neill, Senior Counselor and Director of Innovation at USAID
• May Rihani, Senior Vice President and Director of the Global Learning Group at AED
• Adel Abdellatif, Chief of Regional Program Division at the UNDP Bureau for Arab States
• Host: Stephen Moseley, President and CEO of AED
• Moderator: David Yang, Senior Advisor at UNDP Washington

When: Wednesday, April 28, 2010; 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. (followed by a reception from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.)

Where: AED, Academy Hall, 1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, 8^th Floor

Why: In his landmark “New Beginning” speech in Cairo last June, President Obama announced that the ]U.S. would host a Summit on Entrepreneurship “to identify how we can deepen ties between business leaders, foundations and social entrepreneurs in the United States and Muslim communities around the world.” The summit is being held in Washington on April 26 and 27 with delegates from over 40 countries on five continents. This is one of several related events following the summit.

About AED: AED is a nonprofit organization working globally to create enduring solutions to critical problems in health, education, social and economic development.  www.aed.org

About UNDP: UNDP is the UN's global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. www.undp.org

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