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Middle East Partnership Initiative
The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is a
Presidential initiative founded to support economic, political, and
educational reform efforts in the Middle East and champion opportunity for
all people of the region, especially women and youth. The initiative
strives to link Arab, U.S., and global private sector businesses,
non-governmental organizations, civil society elements, and governments
together to develop innovative policies and programs that support reform in the region. As the President outlined in his Nov. 6,
2003 speech at the National Endowment for
Democracy, the U.S. has adopted a new policy, a forward strategy of
freedom in the Middle East. MEPI is the administration's
primary diplomatic policy and development programmatic tool to support
this new U.S. policy.
MEPI
is structured in four reform areas. In the economic
pillar, MEPI policy and programs support
region-wide economic and employment growth driven by private sector
expansion and entrepreneurship. In the political
pillar, MEPI champions an expanded public space
where democratic voices can be heard in the political process, the people
have a choice in governance, and there is respect for the rule of law. In
the education
pillar, MEPI supports education systems that enable all
people, including girls, to acquire the
knowledge and skills necessary to compete in today's economy and improve
the quality of their lives. Finally, in the women's
pillar, MEPI works toward economic, political, and
educational systems where women enjoy full and equal opportunities.
Among the hallmark activities being conducted under the
auspices of MEPI are the establishment of the Middle East Finance
Corporation (economic pillar); a Regional Judicial Forum and Regional
Campaign Schools (political pillar); "Partnership
Schools" that offer creative, innovative alternatives for quality and
relevant education for children and serve as models for governments
as they build schools in the future (education pillar); and regional
micro-enterprise and business internships for women (women's pillar).
To date, the administration has committed $129 million to
MEPI ($29 million in FY 2002 supplemental and $100 million in FY 2003
supplemental). This MEPI funding is in addition to the bilateral economic
assistance we provide annually to the Arab world.
The Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, is the
Coordinator for MEPI. The Department of State's Near Eastern Affairs
Bureau, Partnership Initiative Office manages the policy and programs
under MEPI and works closely with agencies across the U.S. Government.
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Standing
Program Announcement
The Middle
East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) has awarded new grants totaling nearly $5
million to five organizations to support local reform efforts in the
Middle East and North Africa. MEPI selected the grant recipients
from the first round of the MEPI Standing Program Announcement (SPA)
and the Middle East Entrepreneur Training (MEET US) program Request
for Applications. These grants will support MEPI partnerships with
private sector, non-governmental organizations, civil society
elements, community based organizations, and governments in the
Middle East and North Africa. The programs will be initiated in
Jordan, Morocco, and Yemen. MEPI invites additional proposals for
consideration within MEPI's on-going grant process. Learn how to
apply!
Eight University Partnerships: Performance and
Results
The Association Liaison
Office for University Cooperation in Development promotes higher
education partnerships for global development and administers the
U.S.-Middle East University Partnerships Program.
Women and the Law -- A Regional
Dialogue
The United States,
through the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), is delighted
to have sponsored the Women and the Law Workshop in Amman, Jordan,
in partnership with Jordan's Ministry of Justice. This event
brought together nearly 100 women in the legal profession and other
prominent individuals from 16 countries in the Middle East and North
Africa to discuss challenges facing women in the judicial and legal
profession, as well as aspects of law that directly impact women in
the Arab world.
The al-Khalij Women's Campaign
Initiative is the first in a series
of leadership and campaign schools sponsored by the Middle East
Partnership Initiative and implemented by Partners in Participation,
providing leadership and communication skills to current and future
women leaders in the Arab world.
Business Internships
The U.S. Business Internship Program will provide
talented young women from the Middle East unique opportunities to
learn management and businesses skills while working in the dynamic
and productive U.S. business environment. Also see application.
Judicial Reform
The Arab Judicial Forum 2003 offered a superb
opportunity to discuss essential elements of sound judicial systems
throughout the world and specifically in the Middle East. For
materials and reports, please visit the Arab Judicial
Forum's site. | |