GISR was launched by Shaymaa Kadry in 2014 as a women-led independent polling and survey research firm that strives to achieve impartiality and follow a rigorous scientific methodology. Public opinion research has only been used recently in the Arab world and was often conducted cautiously. Since the Arab spring, there has been an increasing interest in surveys in the region, but unfortunately many of them weren’t conducted scientifically and research centers weren’t seen as credible by the people. GISR aims at providing the society with an accumulation of knowledge about people’s opinions, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors gathered through various methods of data collection, which will enhance accordingly the societal dialogue on important issues in the society.
GISR also aims at preparing and developing specialized and professional human resources in the field of public opinion polls. GISR sticks to the highest quality and ethical standards in survey design, survey sampling, survey implementation, data collection, data analysis, and reporting.
GISR has managed to work with several international organizations such as the International Labour Organization, the German Society for International Cooperation, and Care International. Projects done varied between conducting impact assessments, projects’ monitoring and evaluation, surveys for research purposes and training.
GISR focus extensively on the educational side in the field of survey research in a non-academic way through GISR academy, GISR’s genuine idea to the Arab survey research industry. GISR Academy provide the industry with highly qualified calibers whom will be able to leverage the industry by the knowledge and skills they acquire through low cost/free courses and workshops about various topics in the field such as questionnaire design and writing reports.
GISR also launched two community service programs targeting youth and kids, aims at promoting survey research and increasing awareness of its mechanisms within those two target groups, in order to foster a culture of dialogue that respect and value diversity in opinions.
In order to pave a better future for all Egyptians, Shaymaa also hopes all these efforts will help change how Egyptians perceive opinion surveys and reduce the widespread skepticism surrounding surveys and research that is vital for better decision-making in any society.