The Women Champions for Change: Supporting Women Social Change Leaders Across the MENA Region
Location:
Middle East and Northern Africa
Background
In 2025, Co-Catalyst was a leading contributor to the creation of of the Women Champions for Change (WCC) network — a platform that connects and supports women social change leaders across the MENA region in fostering regional collaboration and driving joint action on shared social challenges — by providing expertise in gender-lens and social innovation. In September 2025, the network held its first summit, where participants identified key regional challenges and barriers, co-developed shared values and strategies for collaboration, and presented their own initiatives. Co-Catalyst led and facilitated the summit’s content and hosted a social innovation workshop.
Our approach
Gender-Lens: Applied a gender-lens approach to connect women social impact leaders and create a platform for their active participation in fostering regional cooperation.
Regional Grassroots Collaboration: Brought together women leaders from grassroots organizations across countries and sectors to lay the foundation for bottom-up international and interfaith dialogue in the MENA region.
Social Change and Innovation: Designed diverse formats — panel discussions, roundtables, workshops, and more — for the three-day WCC summit, fostering an environment for dialogue and co-creation of tangible innovative solutions to shared challenges.
Impact
Empowerment of Women Social Change Leaders: Connected and fostered collaboration among 50 female social impact leaders from across the MENA region, including Moroccan, Tunisian, Afghan, Emirati, Israeli, Palestinian, Iranian, Saudi, and Lebanese women.
Knowledge Sharing and Synergy: Facilitated discussions among women leaders on critical regional challenges and potential solutions, providing a platform for them to share their expertise, experiences, and innovative practices.
Support for Projects: Projects gained public visibility through presentations at a special open event held during the summit, which brought together over 200 attendees. Women social impact leaders were connected with private donors, representatives of foundations, embassies, international and women's civil society organisations to explore opportunities for funding and collaboration.
Stakeholder Collaboration: Brought together stakeholders from diverse sectors, including sports, media, education, civil society, and research, to co-develop shared visions for the region and identify joint pathways toward sustainable solutions.
Testimonials
“In a time when we are constantly surrounded by negative news, conflict, and stories of loss, for three days we experienced something different: peace, camaraderie, connection, and the excitement of possibilities. It reminded us that with hope and vision anything is possible”.
Nazanin Afshin-Jam Mackay, Human Rights and Democracy Advocate (Iran/Canada)
“While the path ahead for WCC is still unfolding, one truth is clear: Women are underrepresented in decision-making roles in peacebuilding, but studies have demonstrated that their involvement in peace processes increases the chances of achieving more sustainable and inclusive outcomes. Therefore, WCC is not symbolic. It is critical. It is strategic. It is a movement of women committed to action. As the world watches in hope, with peace talks on the horizon and a potential ceasefire within reach, the need for bold, transformative initiatives like WCC has never been greater”.
Mariya Dostzadah Goodbrake, Executive Director, Global FC (Afganistan/USA)
“For three days, we lived in a bubble to build trust and understanding among 30 women ready to contribute whatever they can to realize a vision of a peaceful and prosperous MENA region. We got a glimpse of what it could look and feel like if women were present at the most consequential negotiating tables, and of the healthier future we could have if given the chance to create it”.
Heidi Basch-Harod, Executive Director, Women's Voices Now (USA)