Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

Egyptian society has witnessed great controversy from the ratification of a new law organizing the roughly 27,000 NGOs in Egypt. Despite the existence of some supporters, the majority of Egyptians voiced objection, stressing that this could represent a governmental attempt to rid Egypt of volunteer work and NGOs. Prof. Amānī Qandīl, manager of the Arab Network for Non-Governmental Organizations, stressed that the status of volunteer work in Egypt is not as good as some might believe. She emphasized the clearly diminishing role of youth, with work currently being restricted to those aged 45 to 65 years old; the role of women has likewise experienced a manifest decrease. She further reflected on the negative aspects of NGOs’ work, stressing that their services concentrate on only one aspect of the community or society while neglecting other activities; she also mentions the huge funds needed by these organizations. Finally, she concluded by noting that the developmental NGOs are still a long way from achieving a fully integrated development approach with the community. 

 

Many of those who supervise volunteer work in Egypt emphasize the fraudulent nature of most Egyptian NGOs, asserting that they do not. They also believe that such organizations receive unacknowledged foreign funding to fulfill alien agendas inside Egypt. Additionally, they assert that most of these NGOs are established in order to serve personal financial interests and further social prestige.