Regional Programs

Commercial Law Development Program [Economic] – The Commercial Law Development Program of the U.S. Department of Commerce supports countries in the Middle East and North Africa in their efforts to accede to the WTO.  This program provides technical assistance in areas such as intellectual property rights, sanitary policies, standards and metrology, and the translation of submissions to the WTO Working Party to help develop and implement liberalized economic policies consistent with future WTO obligations.

• Algerian Judges Strenthen Dispute Resolutio Skills

English ACCESS Microscholarships for English Language Students [Education] – In partnership with the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), this program provides the opportunity for underserved youth to improve their English language skills and to gain a better future through access to expanded education environments.  English language instruction is given in the context of American history and democratic principles, thereby improving mutual understanding between countries in the Middle East and North Africa region and the United States.

U.S. Business Internships for Young Arab Women [Women, Democracy] – In cooperation with the U.S. Department of State’s Education and Cultural Affairs Bureau (EC) this program provides young women from the Middle East unique opportunities to learn management and business skills by studying and working in the U.S.  The program creates a cadre of female professionals infused with an experience that only hands-on training, coupled with intensely focused academic study, can provide.  Immersion in the American business environment gives these future business leaders unique tools and skills to bring home and incorporate into regional enterprises - whether new or existing, large or small.

Strategic Planning Workshops [Democracy] – working with the MEPI Regional Office in Tunis, the Egyptian NGO Support Center (ENGOSC) conducted a series of training workshops for targeted civil society organizations and NGOs in Algeria, Egypt, and Morocco.  The training workshops focused on organizational strategic planning, capacity-building skills, and awareness of ways that individuals and groups can apply for outside funding.

Survey of Women’s Freedom [Women, Democracy] – funded by MEPI, Freedom House released in May 2005 a report titled “Women’s Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Citizenship and Justice.”  This analysis represented the first-ever comparative assessment of the status of women in the region and revealed a substantial deficit in women’s rights throughout the 16 countries and Palestinian Territories, where it was conducted.  The report was a culmination of an intensive 20-month-long research process by a team of 40 leading scholars, analysts, and women’s rights experts, most of them originating from the region studied.

• New Generation of Advocates Program
• Solidarity Committee Backs Up Arab Civil Society Leaders

Partnership for Financial Excellence Part II [Economic] – Through the Financial Service Volunteer Corps (FSVC), this program provides technical assistance to strengthen the financial systems of selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa. This second part of the program includes regional training promoting dialogue among market participants and supervisory authorities in the region.  It builds on the foundation laid by FSVC in Part I, which included work to improve commercial banks’ capacity to provide credit and other financial services, particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises; strengthen the region's central banks; facilitate the eventual privatization of large state banks; and invigorate the region’s securities markets.

Elections Assistance [Democracy] – under this program, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) is assessing the political climate and technical capacity for democratic elections in select countries in the Middle East and North Africa.   The assessment results will form the basis for a draft regional strategy. Different obstacles have prevented IFES from visiting Algeria, Bahrain, and Tunisia, but they provided MEPI with assessments for Morocco, where a successful visit was made, and for Yemen, where IFES has an office in place.

• Arab Citizens Support Democratic Reforms

Middle East North Africa Media Development Initiatives Alliance [Democracy] – In this comprehensive media program, the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) will provide legal and advocacy support for improved press laws and protection of journalists throughout the Middle East and North Africa.  The program targets the commercial and regulatory concerns of the media industry by injecting needed legislation support, funds, business tools, and training into the field to accelerate independence, diminish the existing media oligopoly and to support local demands for democratic institutions. 

• Media Index Finds Faults, Areas for Reform

Empowering Arab Women through Literacy II [Women, Education] - Institute for Women’s Studies in the Arab World will extend the Basic Living Skills Program (BLSP), a non-formal integrated education kit in Arabic geared towards illiterate and semi-literate women in the Arab World.  Funding will support the publication of a series of simple booklets based on 11 topics addressed in the BLSP, including civic education, legal rights, and women’s empowerment. (FY04 small grant, follow on to FY03 small grant)

Economic Education and Job Skills Training in the Middle East [Economic] – In this program, Junior Achievement International (JAI) is collaborating with MEPI, USAID, and several major corporations and private sector companies throughout the Middle East and North Africa to develop self-sustaining Junior Achievement organizations.  The organizations help some 100,000 young students gain the skills required to build and succeed in their nations’ economies and to become productive and participative citizens.

Parliamentary Staff Training and Technical Assistance for Legislatures [Democracy] – This project of the National Council of State Legislature (NCSL) enhances the ability of legislative bodies in the region by building parliamentary skills and capabilities in Algeria, Morocco, Lebanon, and Tunisia.  The program identifies areas for parliamentary staff training in each country and runs regional workshops for skills development and legislative improvement. The program also provides secondary workshops and technical assistance in order to promote fiscal analysis and the provision of independent information to the legislative branch of government.  NCSL is in the process of designing follow-on programming to previous training of parliamentarians and professional staff in technology and administrative codification of laws.  Projects in Morocco and Tunisia were expected to be completed by early 2006.

Management Consulting in Media Outlets in the Middle East and North Africa [Democracy] – this program, led by New York University (NYU) improves the content and profitability of select media outlets in North Africa and the Middle East through an intense program of consulting. In partnership with the Journalism Development Group (JDG), the program uses a mix of international and local trainers to work with news outlets. The consultants work with each news organization to build a custom improvement plan to address needed changes in news or business practices.  Local managers then enact the plan with the help of the program consultants.  Fellowship opportunities at NYU exist for emerging print media leaders at participating outlets.

My Arabic Library [Education] – through Scholastic Inc., the world’s largest publisher and distributor of children's books, MEPI funds this program as the first major effort using classroom libraries to develop independent reading, critical thinking, and analytical skills in young readers in the region, including Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon, and Morocco. My Arabic Library includes fiction and non-fiction titles (translated and adapted from their original English) as well as teacher training and curriculum materials. To maximize the effectiveness of the reading materials, the program also aims at engaging school principals, parents, and local communities to support early independent reading, as well as providing sustainable resources for classrooms.

• My Arabic Library Inspires Young Leaders

Enhancing the Role of Arab Women in the Legislative Process [Democracy] – this program strengthens the practical skills and leadership of Arab women in the legislative process through the creation of joint plans of action prepared by Arab women across the region, designed to influence legislation that addresses women's rights.  Through a series of workshops and consultations, the Center will also expose Iraqi women to practical skills of women who have worked in countries in the MENA region to influence legislation within the framework of existing constitutions, family laws, and civil codes based on Shari'a.

Women and Law Workshop and Regional Justice Forum [Women, Democracy] – The American Bar Association (ABA CEELI) held the first MEPI-sponsored Middle East Regional Justice Reform Forum in September 2003 in Bahrain.  Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor led a group of American jurists that discussed with Middle Eastern counterparts best practices in judicial procedure.  As a follow on activity, nearly 100 women from 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa participated in a three-day workshop in February 2004 in Amman, Jordan on “Women and the Law.”  The meeting facilitated discussions among Arab women in the legal profession on common issues and challenges, to raised awareness of issues affecting women in judicial systems, and developed specific plans for future collaboration.

MEFC Due Diligence [Economic] – led by Chugach System International, this program involved conducting of a legal, corporate structure, and accounting and economic governance due diligence of the proposed Middle East Finance Corporation (MEFC).  Upon completion of the due diligence review, reports were compiled for the use of the MEFC’s board and management.  Changes to the original conception of MEFC required to accommodate the facts discovered on the ground were incorporated into a revised MEFC concept paper. 

Partnership Schools - Due Diligence and Education Summit [Ecucation] – a due diligence review was completed for the Partnership Schools Program, including a regional analysis of current educational systems and technological capacity, the identification of the lowest cost, most effective technologies, a review of the innovations in education currently under development in the region, and a review of key implementation hurdles and challenges in this sector to promote access to quality education for young people, especially girls.   The review’s success became clear in a recommendation for the most efficient and cost effective opportunities for MEPI funding to support.

Women as Political Leaders: U.S. Elections and Political Campaigns [Women, Democracy] – The "Women as Political Leaders" International Visitor Program, organized by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, was the first program implemented under the auspices of the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative. This program brought 49 elected and appointed officials, aspiring candidates, women's rights activists, civil society leaders and journalists from throughout the Middle East and North Africa region to the United States to provide an in-depth look at U.S. electoral politics at the grassroots level.

Arab Women's Forum [Women] - The Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights (ECWR) organized the first annual Arab Women’s Forum in Cairo in May 2003 to discuss how to overcome obstacles faced by Arab women. The conference brought together 25 women from 14 Middle Eastern countries. Follow-up funding enabled ECWR to conduct subsequent training and activities with women’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from across the region.  Three conferences were held in 2004 that covered: human rights awareness; understanding discrimination; and advocacy and legal awareness. EWCR partnered with local organizations to implement the workshops. A total of 74 people – mostly women – participated in the workshops, representing governments, civil society, academics and lawyers, from a cross-section of the BMENA region.

Partnership for Financial Excellence Part I [Economic] – this technical assistance program, led by the Financial Service Volunteer Corps (FSVC), helped strengthen the financial systems of Egypt, Jordan, and Morocco by promoting investment and employment growth in those countries.

An Initiative for Open and Pluralistic Media in Five Arabic Speaking Countries [Democracy] – this project was designed to enhance local media capacity in Algeria, Bahrain, Lebanon, Morocco, and Tunisia through specific training, thereby developing the skills of individuals and local NGOs.  The goal was to increase the ability of the participants to support the creation and growth of pluralistic and open media.

Partners in Participation [Women, Democracy] – a working together, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and International Republication Institute (IRI) supported regional campaign schools for aspiring women candidates and campaign workers in Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Tunisia, and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa.  This program provided leadership and organizational training for women seeking elective office, as well as giving participants practical campaign, communications, and advocacy skills, plus the opportunity to build professional networks and relationships among themselves.

• NDI Recognized for Pioneering Use of Cell Phone Technology

Partnership for Financial Excellence [Economic] – U.S. Department of the Treasury regulators implemented a supervision training program for junior to mid-level bank supervisory staff. U.S. participants included the U.S. Federal Reserve, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Treasury. Treasury's Office of Technical Assistance placed resident and intermittent advisors throughout the region to provide sustained assistance to Ministries of Finance and Central Banks, with the advisors focusing on Government Debt and Capital Markets, Financial Institutions and Regulation, and Financial Crimes.