Cairo Papers, Volume 27, No. 3 : The Role of Local Councils in Empowerment and Poverty Reduction in Egypt

Examining the link between poverty, participation, and local administration in three Egyptian governorates - Alexandria, Kafr al-Sheikh, and Assiut - Solava Ibrahim argues that an inadequate system of local administration discourages participation, thus hindering sustainable poverty reduction. Her research reveals an inverse relationship between poverty and electoral participation. Additionally, the sharp decline in female representation in local councils indicates their failure to empower the poorest segments of society, including women. This work features Cairo Papers Vol. 27, No. 3.