Walt Curnow

Walt Curnow is a Cairo-based journalist and former editor at Ahram Online who writes about Egyptian politics and culture.

Egypt | Nov 29, 2019

Egyptian women represent vast untapped workforce

In addition to improved education and workers' rights, a shift in workplace culture will be required for Egypt to harness the full potential of women in its economy.

Egypt | Apr 10, 2019

Egypt to amend controversial NGO law as Sisi visits Washington

Just before Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's visit to Washington, the minister of social solidarity announced that a new law governing the operations of nongovernmental organizations will be drafted.

Some of the fourteen Egyptian activists who were accused of working for unlicensed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and receiving illegal foreign funds, stand in a cage during the opening of their trial in Cairo February 26, 2012. An Egyptian court adjourned the trial of dozens of democracy activists including 16 Americans on Sunday at the opening session of a case that has threatened ties between Cairo and Washington and $1.3 billion in annual U.S. military aid. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany (EGYPT -

Egypt | Mar 1, 2019

Deadly Cairo train crash brings to surface anger, discontent in Egypt

Egyptians are fed up with the government’s negligence of the railway sector after a fatal train crash killed more than 22 people in Cairo.

Egypt | Feb 21, 2019

Egypt’s desire to eradicate slums leaves residents displaced

The Egyptian government has relocated dozens of families from the Manshiyet Nasr area after a rockslide, on the pretext that their houses are too damaged, while in reality the government is on a quest to develop Cairo’s slum areas.

Egypt | Jun 8, 2018

Can Egypt's education reforms overhaul broken system?

Analysts believe the problem of public education can’t be solved through monetary means alone, but rather with reforms to the entire educational system.

Egypt | Feb 5, 2018

An archive of resistance: Documenting Egypt's revolution

As videos of the Egyptian regime’s violations during the 2011 and 2013 uprisings were disappearing from social media, the Mosireen Collective launched an online archive to keep the memory of the Arab Spring alive in the minds of citizens.

Egypt | Jan 8, 2018

Child poverty increases in Egypt as critical support languishes

As independent organizations work to alleviate poverty and ensure access to education for Egypt’s children, the government’s NGO law is backfiring, hindering such attempts.

Egypt | Jun 2, 2017

Syrians in Egypt demand clearer work regulations

Syrians who fled their country and settled in Egypt have so far contributed to the Egyptian economy with more than $800 million, but they have yet to get their papers in order.