The 6th German-Arab Women’s Forum
What is the Women's Forum?
The Women’s Forum is one of the most important events in the EMA calendar and the closing event of the mentoring programm OUISSAL. Over the years, this event has welcomed hundreds of distinguished guests from Europe and the MENA region, making it one of our most significant gatherings.
Save the Date: October 16, 2024
On October 16, 2024, we will once again offer a high-caliber platform dedicated to the economic empowerment of women. This event, hosted in Berlin, will gather our unique German-Arab women’s network under the inspiring motto: “Connecting women to empower the world“. Organized under the Feminist Development Policy from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Germany, we aim to foster cultural exchanges and international cooperation between Europe and the MENA region.
Our core audience consists of women leaders, cultural advocates, and entrepreneurs from Europe and the MENA region who are dedicated to fostering connections and cultural exchanges across these regions. Through OUISSAL, the EMA has successfully connected female entrepreneurs, founders, and managers from countries like Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Germany, and more. We expect around 100 influential women from the current 2023/24 cohort to attend the upcoming Women’s Forum, along with an additional 100 distinguished guests.
This forum provides an unparalleled opportunity to forge valuable connections in a vibrant intercultural setting. Moreover, it offers the chance to network with distinguished guests from the private sector, civil society, academia, and government officials from both Germany and the MENA region.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a unique German-Arab women’s network, fostering meaningful connections and advancing the cause of women’s empowerment globally.
- 16.10.2024
- 14:00 o'clock
- Berlin
What is OUISSAL?
Who are our Speakers?
Svenja Schulze
Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany
Svenja Schulze has been Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development since December 2021. She was previously Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety from 2018 to 2021. In North Rhine-Westphalia, she held the office of Minister for Innovation, Science and Research from 2010 to 2017 and was also a member of the state parliament from 1997 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2018. She has been a member of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) since 1988. Svenja Schulze studied German and political science at Ruhr University Bochum.
Dr. Anna Christmann
Commissioner of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Germany for the Digital Economy and Start-ups
Dr. Anna Christmann is the Aerospace Coordinator of German Federal Government and the Commissioner for Startups and the Digital Economy at the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. She has been a member of the German Bundestag since 2017 and is part of the parliamentary group Alliance 90/ The Greens. She received her PhD from the University of Bern in 2011 and then worked at the Center for Democracy at the University of Zurich. From 2013, she worked at the Ministry of Science in Stuttgart as the minister’s office manager and as a policy advisor in science policy.
Sanae Abdi
Member of the German Bundestag, Spokesperson for Development Policy for the SPD
Sanae Abdi, born on July 7, 1986, has been the directly elected Member of the Bundestag for electoral district 93/Cologne I since 2021. Previously, she worked as a project manager at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). As part of her mandate, she aims to focus on promoting social justice, effective climate protection, and equitable international cooperation. Sanae Abdi serves as the spokesperson for development policy for the SPD parliamentary group. She is also a full member of the Subcommittee on International Climate and Energy Policy.
Susanne Friedrich
Director of Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE)
Susanne is an organizational developer with large experience in capacity building and multi-stakeholder management. She started her professional career at the Chilean Export Promotion Bureau and also worked as an advisor for public-private partnerships in development cooperation for several years. She joined GIZ in 2009 and worked in various projects of the German development cooperation in Latin America and Germany, in fields such as inclusive business, integrity in supply chains, quality infrastructure and export promotion for SMEs. Currently she leads the Agency for Business and Economic Development. She is a member of the Advisory Board of Transparency International Germany.
Our Mentors and Mentees
Certain mentors and mentees who have participated in the program will also take part in panel discussions, bringing valuable insights and experiences from their journeys.
Among the selected participants are:
- Marlis Jahnke, Mentor, Germany | Digital Entrepreneur
- Dr. Rasha Aleid, Mentee, Jordan | Owner & GM, Juman Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics
- Reem Ghazal, Mentee, Egypt | Co-Founder, Vitally
- Dr. Nadia El Shafei, Mentor, Egypt | Managing Partner & Co-Founder, R&S Management Consultancy Company
- Fella Bouti, Mentee, Algeria | CEO, EcoTashira
- Sanaa El Aji, Mentee, Morocco | Co-Founder and Publishing Director, Marayana.com
- Marwa Al Shamy, Mentee, Egypt | Founder, Smart Content
- Ikbel Kaouiche, Mentee, Tunisia | Product Owner, Kamioun
Youmna Naufal
Geopolitical Advisor and Media Specialist | Director, APCO Worldwide
Youmna Naufal is a Media Specialist and Director of Communications at APCO based in Riyadh, KSA, where she advises government entities on critical issues and executive positioning. Prior to that, she was at Brunswick Group providing counsel to high-profile clients, and co-managing Brunswick’s relationship with the World Economic Forum (WEF), having moderated panels at Davos in 2022 and 2016.
Throughout her career, Naufal has interviewed over 500 figures including such luminaries as Nicolas Sarkozy, Julian Assange, John McCain, and Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho. Previously, she was the Head of the English News division at Future Television, and the Beirut Correspondent for China’s Global TV Network (CGTN) and TRT World. Naufal earned her MA in International Business and International Relations from New York University (NYU).
Clara Gruitrooy
Founder & Secretary General of EMA e.V.
Clara Gruitrooy, Secretary General of the EMA since 2017, has shaped the organization since 2009. With a Master’s in Intercultural Conflict Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Executive Management from ESMT, and certification as a Leadership Coach, she also leads gender equality initiatives as Chairwoman of the federal board of the Working Moms e.V. in Berlin. Her efforts have earned her nominations for the Emotion Award “Women for the Future”and the Global Peace Institute’s“ 40 Under 40 Peace Champions.” Clara founded the awardwinning mentoring program “Ouissal”and recently founded the OWYO Campus, a recently started project in Dresden for the integration of refugees into the German labour market.
The Program of the Women's Forum?
You can access the live stream of the Women’s Forum with the link below:
‘‘Connecting women to empower the world’’
The 6th German-Arab Women’s Forum, one of the most significant events on the EMA calendar, brought together over 150 distinguished guests from Germany and the MENA region, fostering mentorship and collaboration for women’s empowerment. This forum hosted in Berlin, gathered our unique German-Arab women’s network under the inspiring motto: “Connecting women to empower the world“. Organized under the Feminist Development Policy from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Germany in cooperation with the Agency for Business and Development, the forum fostered cultural exchanges and international cooperation between Europe and the MENA region.
Clara Gruitrooy, Secretary General of EMA, opened the event together with her co-moderator Youmna Naufal, Geopolitical Advisor, Media Specialist, and the Director of APCO, by welcoming the Federal Minister Svenja Schulze and guests, emphasizing the importance of networks in overcoming challenges, and highlighting the critical role of women in advancing transformative change amid global and regional crises.
Empowerment Keynote by Minister Svenja Schulze
In her empowerment keynote Minister Schulze underscores why feminist development policy is pivotal; not just for social justice but for economic growth. She emphasizes that gender equality equates to untapped potential. Addressing the national and global pushback against gender advancements, she states:
“Achieving gender equality is a gain for societies as a whole. Feminist development policy strengthens women’s roles as knowledge bearers and decision-makers.”
Minister Schulze announces continued support for Ouissal in 2025 and 2026, reinforcing Germany’s commitment to empowering women and promoting leadership roles.
Transformative Journeys – Entrepreneurs Shaping Change
After her speech, Minister Schulze was invited to join the panel with three Ouissal participants from the current cohort. These participants shared their Ouissal experience and how the program helped them grow both personally and professionally. This panel explored how personal relationships and mentorship drive entrepreneurial success. Svenja Schulze and other panelists discussed the transformative impact of connections.
Marlis Jahnke, an OUISSAL mentor and digital entrepreneur, shared her experience mentoring women across several Ouissal editions. Dr. Rasha Aleid, a mentee of the program from Jordan recounted how mentorship helped her transition from running a small pharmaceutical business to leading a larger company. She noted the challenges of changing her mentality, especially as a chairwoman in a male-dominated sector, saying, “My mentor was really my sister through this journey.”.
Reem Ghazal, a co-founder from Egypt also a mentee of OUISSAL, reflected on how mentorship gave her the confidence to expand her business and manage products more effectively. She highlighted the role of co-creation in her entrepreneurial success. Minister Svenja Schulze’s powerful statement underscores the vital role of collaboration and networking in empowering women across various fields. By fostering connections and sharing resources, we not only uplift individual women but also contribute to broader societal and economic advancements. This perspective aligns seamlessly with the goals of the Ouissal mentoring program, which aims to create pathways for women to excel in their respective domains.
Inspiring Keynote by Dr. Anna Christmann
Dr. Anna Christmann, Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Start-ups in Germany, spoke about the intersection of gender equality and digital transformation. She emphasized that fostering women’s participation in the tech and energy sectors is crucial for sustainable development. According to Dr. Christmann, “Mixed teams tend to enjoy commercial success and are more innovative,” reinforcing the idea that diversity strengthens business outcomes.
Socio-ecological Transformation and Just Transition
Following her keynote, Dr. Christmann joined the panel with Ouissal participants to discuss the importance of women entering male-dominated sectors like energy and digital industries. Dr. Nadia El Shafei, OUISSAL Mentor and managing partner from Egypt, spoke about the need to create opportunities for women to take on leadership roles and drive socio-ecological change. She emphasized the importance of rethinking traditional approaches, stating that “We need mindset shifts for women to see opportunities in fields they never considered before.”
OUISSAL Mentees Dr. Fella Bouti, CEO of Eco Tashira, and Ikbel Kaouiche, a product owner from Tunisia, shared their transformative journeys. Dr. Bouti highlighted how mentorship helped her gain confidence and expand her business in a challenging sector. Kaouiche emphasized the significance of mentoring in helping her lead projects in the tech industry
Shrinking Spaces – Countering the Global Pushback on Gender Equality
As global crises increasingly threaten civil liberties and gender equality, the role of networks like Ouissal becomes even more vital. This panel discussed how cultural, religious, and political dynamics in the MENA region influence approaches to these challenges. Susanne Friedrich, Director of AWE, emphasized the importance of sustained efforts to counteract the growing pushback against gender equality. She remarked, “We have seen a backlash against gender equality, with anti-feminist narratives emerging, especially in social media. More than ever, it’s essential to create opportunities and networks like Ouissal that address the local circumstances women face, offering tailored solutions and capacity building. By promoting spaces for intercultural exchange, we can foster innovation and contribute to more inclusive economic models.”
Dr. Sanaa El Aji, co-founder of Marayana.com from Morocco also a mentee of OUISSAL, discussed the media’s crucial role in promoting gender equality and combating misinformation. She emphasized the need to dismantle misconceptions about feminism while addressing both positive and negative narratives to highlight the real challenges women face.
Marwa Al Shamy, founder of Smart Content from Egypt also a mentee of OUISSAL, shared how the Ouissal program helped her align her technical skills with her entrepreneurial ambitions. She highlighted the importance of mentorship in building her confidence and understanding customer-oriented product development through stakeholder engagement.
Closing Remarks
Clara Gruitrooy and Youmna Naufal, in their closing remarks, emphasized the importance of long-term relationships and continued collaboration. They urged participants to stay connected and support one another beyond the forum, reinforcing the idea that Ouissal is not just a program but a lasting network. The panel discussions were followed by a captivating performance by Jamila & The Other Heroes, who closed the event with music celebrating unity and empowerment. The day ended with a networking reception, where participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas over dinner.
The Ouissal program continues to successfully connect female entrepreneurs, founders, and managers from countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Germany. The 6th German-Arab Women’s Forum not only celebrated these accomplishments but laid the foundation for future collaboration, ensuring that the network and its impact will continue to grow in the years to come.