Rola Dashti

Dr. Rola A. Dashti a leading Kuwaiti economist and women’s rights activist, held a senior policy making positions in Kuwait, as Minister for Planning and development and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs (2012-2014). As head of planning team, lead the drive for the adoption of government 4-years program and development plans focusing on social prosperity and security, reforming and modernizing the economy, and building institutional excellence. During her term, she advocated strengthening Kuwait relationship with international organizations, and have signed agreement with UNDP for joining the JPO program. Represented Kuwait at ECOSOC 2013 Substantive Session in Geneva, and High-level Meetings of the 68th Session of the General Assembly on disability and development.

Prior to joining the government, Dr. Dashti was one of four women in the history of Kuwait to be elected to parliament. She served as member of Kuwait parliament (2009-2012), chaired the social affairs, labor and health committee and was a member of finance, budgetary, and women committees. She advocated for health and economic reform, and participated in drafting several laws pertaining to women rights and empowerment, women housing fund, advancing the role of small and medium business in the economy, privatization law, private sector labor law, and amending social security law. Dr. Dashti was also a chairperson and member of several parliamentarian investigation committees.

Education

Dr. Dashti holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Population Dynamics from Johns Hopkins University-Baltimore, a Master degree in Economics and Finance from California State University-Sacramento, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics from California State University-Chico. Attended executive programs at Harvard Kennedy School. Born in 1964, speaks fluent Arabic and English. She has lectured, conducted and managed research in development and applied economics particularly in regard to the country's recent quest for modernizing its economic, financial, and social processes.

Career

During the last 30 years of her professional career, Dr. Dashti has worked in both the public and private sectors. Liaising and networking with a range of stakeholders including government, non-state actors, and private sectors. She has lectured, conducted and managed research in development and applied economics particularly in regard to the Arab region quest for modernizing its economic, financial, and social processes. Held key positions in R&D institutions such as the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (Manager, Economics Department), and worked for major local and international financial and development institutions (Senior Economist at the National Bank of Kuwait, Director of Investment at Al-Ahlia Investment company, and consultant to the World Bank). Managed and was in charge of all the contracts signed on behalf of the government of Kuwait for the Emergency and Reconstruction Program during the invasion-to-post liberation period (1990/1991). Currently, heads an international consultancy firm in Kuwait focusing on Public Private Partnership, privatization, activation of SMEs, and corporate governance.

A regular contributor to regional and international policy forums on global governance, economic development and integration, democratization and women empowerment in the MENA region. Served as chairperson for the Arab Planning Institute (non-profit regional organization whose primary mission is to advance the cause of economic and social development in the Arab countries), and served as the chairperson for World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Agenda Council for MENA region, and member of advisory panel for the World Bank on Middle East Political and Economic transition, and member of advisory council for Arab Human Development Report for 2009 (Human Security in the Arab World), served as a member of higher supreme council for planning and development in Kuwait, served as a member of the executive committee of Young Arab Leaders-Kuwait chapter (an independent membership network of empowered Arab men and women who have seen the power of action in their own lives and experienced unprecedented levels of success for their age and are eager to trigger change in the world around them through spreading modern leadership values and fostering the development of future Arab leaders and help bridge the awareness gap between the Arab region and the rest of the world).

Believes that motivated and courageous individual can facilitate change, even in an environment that seems resistant to transformation. Recognized as a leading activist and a longtime champion of women’s rights and gender equality, advocated and lobbied for the May 2005 decree allowing Kuwaiti women to vote and run for parliamentary elections for the first time. Dr. Dashti was the first woman to file her papers at the election department, when the registration opened, and was herself a candidate in the 2006 parliamentary election. In the 2009 parliamentary elections, she and three other women won seats to become the first women to enter the Kuwaiti parliament setting the stage to deepening the role of women in politics and decision making.

Concerned with humanitarian issues since undergraduate years, was involved with the International Red Cross in Lebanon in 1982, assisting refugee families from the South. Participated in several activities to uplift rural Yemeni women from poverty. Also, worked with the Prisoner of War (POW) organization for missing Kuwaitis captured during the Iraqi invasion and held in Iraq. Principle role was to keep the issue of the POW’s alive on a national and international level till their fate is known.

As a leading social activist in the MENA region advocating democratic reform and fighting for gender equity and increasing role for women in public life. Contributed to the efforts towards energizing civil society institutions to turn them into a major driving force behind economic, social, and political reform. Developing work in these institutions also became one of her focus of interest after her election as chairperson of Kuwait Economic Society, a professional independent non-governmental organization with a mission to advocate competitive and transparent economic reform policies, empower a generation of professionals and entrepreneurs, and build informed knowledgeable community. Founded the Women Participation Organization, an independent non-govermental organization created to encourage women engagement in public life and promote their appointment to decision making position. Elected as Secretary General for Al-Fatat Club, a women sports club with a mission to invest and train young girls in different sport games and encourage them to participate in Olympics and International tournaments. Served as board member of Kuwait national competitiveness committee, served as executive board member for Foundation for the Future(an independent, multilateral, not for profit organization whose primary mission is to promote democracy and human rights through strengthening CSOs in the Broader Middle East and North Africa), and served as executive member of women committee representing Arab countries at International Parliamentarian Union(IPU). Dr. Dashti has been a resounding voice in the Vital Voices Global Leadership Network since its earliest days, acting on its Global Advisory Council. Currently, serves as executive board member for The Pan-Arab Women Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Violence against Women, and also a board member of Arab Women Parliamentarians Network for Equality (Ra’edat), a regional parliamentary network that advocates gender equality and the fair participation of women in policy making in the Arab States region.

Rola Dashti was listed among the world's 100 most influential Arabs for 2007 and 2008. She was the first woman elected to chair the Kuwaiti Economic Society, which was founded in 1970..

Awards

Dr. Dashti work received international recognition, awards and honors from various leading organizations and institutions across the world.

In 2005, Rola Dashti was the winner of The King Hussein Humanitarian Award and has been involved in several volunteering activities since her undergraduate years, where she worked with the International Red Cross in Lebanon to assist refugee families from the south in 1982. She has also been involved in various activities for the economic empowerment of women in the Republic of Yemen. Dashti is an activist in the MENA region advocating democratic reform, fighting for gender equity and increasing the role of women in public life.

In 2009, she won the parliamentary election, ranking the seventh place in her political district. In the Parliament she currently chairs the social affairs, labor, and health committee.

In 2010, she received the Council of Europe's North–South Prize together with Mr Mikhail Gorbachev. The prize was presented by Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva at a ceremony in the Portuguese Senate Room at the National Parliament.

In October 2011, she was also appointed to the budget committee and the "responding to the Amir's speech" committee.

References

Tetreault, Mary Ann. "Advice and Dissent in Kuwait." Middle East Report 226 (2003):36-39.

Etheridge, Jamie. "Progress on Political Rights for Kuwaiti Women." Christian Science Monitor (2005): 7.

External links

• Women as Global Leaders
• Center for Liberty in the Middle East
• Kuwait Economic Society - About Board of Directors
• Council of Europe North South Prize