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*MEPI Programs Answer Calls of Arab Civil Society; Capacity and Networks
Grow*

*January 2006*

### The United States government is supporting the calls for reform articulated by leaders of civil society in the Middle East. Civil Society declarations from Alexandria, Sanaa, Cairo, Beirut, and Rabat, coupled with decades of on-the-ground experience of nongovern- mental organizations in the region, have yielded a democratic reform agenda whose ownership is firmly rooted in the region. ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.41875in" height="2.561111111111111in"}

**MEPI expands program with additional civil society awards:**
Reflecting the strong U.S. support for the advocacy role, strengthened
capacities and reform priorities of local civil society, MEPI is
receiving and funding more applications from indigenous regional NGOs.
Among the newer civil society awards aimed at increasing political
inclusiveness that permits citizens to have a more active role in
decisions guiding public life are:

\- **Bahrain Transparency Society--** To establish codes of conduct for
Bahrain's electoral processes. This project is centered on Bahrain's
2006 municipal and national elections and will develop a system to
collect data as well as monitor and evaluate Bahrain's electoral
processes (local and national elections, as well as the elections in
other societies, professional syndicates and public companies);

\- **Gulf Academy -** To establish a Gulf think tank to promote
political and economic reforms. Activities include workshops, debates,
and symposia to discuss key reform issues and democratization; creation
of a databank on individuals and organizations to support reform
objectives and the Gulf Institute for Democracy mission; development of
a website on reform and democracy in the Gulf; and

production of an electronic newsletter to be called

"Civilization Dialogue."

\- **Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation/**

**Yemen --** to establish five national NGO support networks for
democratic, legal and economic reform in the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
and Yemen and build a regional network including an information
clearinghouse. Networks will exchange ideas, share training, support
internal changes, and advocate national reform agendas;

\- **Center for Arab Women Training and Research (CAWTAR) -** to promote
informed dialogue on policy advocacy on local governance issues between
women's leaders, civil society, women's grassroots organizations, and
traditional leaders;

**- Al-Urdun Al-Jadid Research Center/ Jordan** - to build a network of
civil society organizations, organized around themes of constitutional
and electoral reform, rule of law, the role of the media, participation
of women and youth in political reform;

\- **International Center for Not-For-Profit Law -** To develop a corps
of local experts on the topic of reforming laws governing associative
rights and the legal establishment of civil society organizations;

**- Association of Women Committees for Social Work,** a Ramallah-based
NGO and former recipient of a MEPI small grant, to improve the
effectiveness and transparency of local governance, and to sustain
public dialogue on issues of communal interest following the Palestinian
municipal elections;

\- **Institute of International Education** - to increase educational
skills and ability for Yemeni women to participate more fully in
society; and

**- The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars -** to
strengthen the practical skills of Arab women in the legislative process
through the creation of joint plans of action prepared by Arab women
across the region for influencing legislation that addresses women's
rights, using the Iraqi constitution process as a focal point.

**MEPI** is a Presidential initiative that supports economic, political,
and educational reform efforts and women's empowerment in the Middle
East and expanded opportunity for all people of the region.

U.S. Department of State
**[www.mepi.state.gov](http://www.mepi.state.gov/)** Tel.
001-202-776-8500 Fax 001-202-776-8445