Enhancing Egypt’s IT sector  

Summit Holding launches website

Summit Holding - one of CID's leading clients in the IT sector - launched its new website in the wake of its brand re-launch. CID Consulting managed re-branding of Summit Holding and affiliates as well as website production. The website allows customers and potential clients to view the company's wide range of ICT services and solutions.

 See www.summit-mea.com for more on Summit Holding offerings.

UNICEF works to expand child protection  

In May 2009, CID Consulting was contracted to develop an advocacy strategy and implementation plan to inform policy-makers and highlight the importance of the Child Protection Mechanism. CID's Community Development is developing a Child Protection Mechanism (CPM) Toolkit for policy-makers. The Toolkit includes a procedural manual to guide the formation and operation of child protection committees on the district and governorate level as well as a system for monitoring and evaluation. In the wake of the success of UNICEF's pilot project in Alexandria to protect children at risk - "The Assessment and Upgrading of Community Monitoring System for Children at Risk," the CPM was ratified into law 126 in 2008, bringing protection mechanisms into effect on a national scale.

The project brings together committees from different governorates and districts that will work to identify and protect children at risk at home, in schools and on the street. The team includes experts in child protection, legal issues, advocacy, capacity-building, monitoring and evaluation, and database development and brings together consultants from CID's Community Development and Marketing Communications departments. The project will close in June 2010.

Solid waste management in Iraq  

The UNICEF/UN-Habitat Iraq Solid Waste Management Project (ISWMP) is working to improve public and environmental health in Iraq by creating a master plan for solid waste management (SWM) in Basra. The master plan was laid out in mid-2008 and the project closed in Q2 2009. The project will guide and orchestrate the efforts of decision-makers, SWM service providers, community representatives, and development partners in addressing the waste management needs of Basra.

CID was a lead consultant on the project master plan, working to review the situation of scavengers - especially children - in Basra and other war-torn regions. CID proposed initiatives included engaging women and youth in solid waste management using international best practices as a benchmark, as well as a public education and awareness plan for solid waste management issues.

Literacy in Iraq  

As part of UNESCO's on-going support for the Iraqi Ministry of Education in literacy and non-formal education (NFE), CID Consulting was commissioned to study the status of literacy and NFE in Iraq. The project covers both greater Iraq and Kurdistan to identify challenges and improve the quality of both formal and non-formal education with the objective of improving literacy by 50%.

CID Consulting worked closely with the UNESCO Iraq Education to draw up a National Literacy Action Plan. The plan tailors literacy programs to the needs of schools, drop-outs, adult illiterates, vulnerable youth and women, internally displaced people, and security forces. CID Consulting also planned interventions to enhance synergies between formal and non-formal education, build partnerships between government bodies, civil society and the private sector, strengthen literacy and life skills programs for adult illiterates, and enhance literacy programs for vocational skills. The project master plan was finalized in August '09.

YOU holds breakfast in London

Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) held the 3rd annual Breakfast for YOU - "Empowering YOUth" - at the Hilton in London, Ontario in February '09, drawing attendance by almost 500 local businesspeople. Dr. Laila Iskandar, CID's Chairperson and world-renowned community development consultant, gave a keynote speech at the event. Dr. Iskandar spoke passionately about the work of grassroots recycling communities and garbage collectors in Cairo, presenting an inspiring story of working with Egyptian youths and families to develop municipal recycling groups that would reflect positively on their lives and communities.

For more information, visit www.you.on.ca/breakfast.