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| Elections and Political ProcessesYemeni Consensus Building Program Partners for Democratic Change The key goal of the project is to develop and sustain local capacity within Yemeni civil society for cooperative decision-making and conflict resolution. Strengthening local NGO efforts will contribute to and reinforce this goal. With technical training and guidance from PDC, local NGOs will implement activities designed to develop the skills of Yemeni political, economic and community leaders at the local level to implement, through cooperative planning and decision-making processes, community development projects. PDC is also undertaking activities in Lebanon designed to support an action-oriented network of youth leaders to specific reform and advocacy initiatives, and to regularize interaction with and discussion between Lebanese youth and decision makers. PDC is working in partnership with a coalition of Lebanese civil society organizations to implement these project activities. Supporting Arab Civil Society Participation in the World Movement for Democracy National Endowment for Democracy The World Movement for Democracy enables democracy activists and practitioners, particularly in transitional countries and consolidating democracies, to acquire information about best practices, identify effective strategies and recognize the potential of collaborative activities, especially across borders. This project supports the participation of 30 participants from the Middle East and North Africa at the Fourth World Movement for Democracy Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey; publication and distribution of the final assembly report in Arabic; creation of sustainable networks among MENA participants to increase political participation; and incorporation of recommendations and strategies into collaborative projects. Institute of Training Community Leaders and Municipal Workers in the Arab Community Jewish Arab Center for Peace The institute is a series of capacity-building courses implemented jointly by the Jewish-Arab Center for Peace and the Arab Mayors Council. Trainings help improve professional management and performance skills and create a network of Arab professionals. Another goal is to improve services provided by the participants to their communities and continue networking and improving relations with governmental institutions. Supporting Democratic Reform Aspen Strategic Initiative Institute The Aspen Institute in Berlin is working with indigenous and expatriate reform-oriented activists to promote political reform. The program brings together key policy makers, opinion leaders, NGO representatives, media, and human rights activists from the Middle East, Europe and the U.S. to discuss practical steps toward the promotion of civil society and democracy in the region. 2006 Summer Institute on Election Management American University The institute's goals are to improve election administration, create structural reform that promote public participation and fair competition in elections, as well as expand participation in local and national governance processes. Raising Public Awareness on Environmental Rights Kuwait Environmental Protection Society The program supports the development of two student-led environmental organizations at local universities that employ democratic practices. The student organizations develop policy recommendations, conduct advocacy campaigns, and lobby on environmental issues of concern. Enhancing Civil Society Role in Democratic Reform in the Arab Region Human Rights Information and Training Center The Human Rights Information and Training Center, in collaboration with the Adalah Center for Human Rights in Jordan and the Bahrain Society for Human Rights, will establish three local dialogues on reform, bringing together civil society leaders, media and other stakeholders, towards the goal of enabling civil society leaders to effectively advance coordinated efforts on political reform. The partners will each be responsible for establishing national fora in their countries, which will develop national agendas for reform, including how to engage with government while building grassroots support for reform. To complement the in-country activities, and expand participation beyond the three target countries, the partners also will convene a regional forum. Media outreach and a Web site will help to amplify the work of the fora and develop a larger constituency for the project. Promoting the UN Convention Against Corruption in the Middle East and North Africa Transparency International This project builds upon the platform of action presented at the 2005 Forum for the Future in Bahrain. Building on its first, main recommendation -- the ratification and effective implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) -- the project aims to build the capacity of parliamentarians, journalists and civil society organizations to campaign for the incorporation of the UNCAC into national legislation; to equip civil society with the technical knowledge and tools to monitor the effective implementation of laws consistent with the UNCAC; and to foster an ongoing network of activists who can sustain this work. Transparency International, in partnership with local partners in the MENA region, will offer technical assistance consultations, a UNCAC implementation tool kit and two workshops for civil society activists, MPs, and representatives of the business community regarding how to track and monitor compliance to the convention. Women Democracy Watch Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights This project develops a Women's Democracy Watch network that monitors progress and outcomes of the Forum for the Future and advances coordinated policy priorities within the BMENA region to advance women's empowerment. The goal is to create a broad and sustainable network of BMENA women civil society activists from 14 countries working to advance tangible reforms regarding expanding women's empowerment. It also promotes women's political advocacy initiatives in the BMENA region and exploits opportunities for reform dialogue and partnership between BMENA civil society governments and civil society organizations. Strengthen Political Parties and Improve the Transparency of Electoral System National Democratic Institute This project aims to strengthen democratic practices and electoral systems by working with political parties on the development of platforms responsive to constituents' needs. The project also supports increased electoral transparency of and public participation in elections. Leaders for Democracy Fellowship Program Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs The Middle East Partnership Initiative Leaders for Democracy Fellowship Program will provide emerging democratic reform leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa with the opportunity to complete academic coursework and skill-building internships in their field of choice in the U.S. Elections and Conventional Political Participation National Foundation for Health and Research Development This project supports an expanded public space for democratic voices to be heard, as well as strengthened democratic practices and electoral systems. To address these goals and to support Algerian voter participation, the project is conducting three types of activities in all 48 Algerian Wilayat over the six-month period leading up to May 2007 parliamentary elections: workshops for local officials, conferences/lectures for the general public, and philosophical discussion cafes for young people. Community Libraries Ideaccess The project supports the establishment of community-based libraries. Civil Society Strengthening Initiative Democracy Council The project addresses the issue of freedom of association, the right of citizens to have access to independent sources of information, and the development of civil society groups. This is a collaborative effort between the Democracy Council and local partners. Strengthening Civil Society People in Need This project strengthens civil society through the dissemination of and training on lessons learned from the CEE transformation to democracy. Supporting Democracy Activists Foundation for the Defense of Democracies This project supports a new generation of activists in the Middle East through training, technical assistance and mentoring Democracy Assistance Dialogue Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV) This project aims to implement recommendations made at meetings of the Democracy Assistance Dialogue (DAD) as they relate to women's empowerment. TESEV is working with local partners to complete a baseline study, which will identify specific areas of the DAD recommendations that can be the focus of in-country activities and not duplicate existing civil society efforts. Following the publication of the study, TESEV and its partners will organize country-based workshops to bring together civil society leaders, academics and government representatives to advance these specific reform initiatives. Supporting Democratic Reform International Republican Institute This project provides support for grassroots public awareness campaigns and for the conduct and dissemination of public opinion polling research. Project activities in the public awareness campaign include support to local organizations to publish and disseminate a collection of reports on government human rights abuses and violations, to collect and distribute stories regarding administrative corruption affecting the lives of citizens, and to produce voice recordings of everyday citizens telling their stories. New Generation Advocating for Political Reform in the Middle East Freedom House The program provides professional internships for emerging political activists in the Middle East. The program gives participants the skills and motivation to devise and implement effective local advocacy campaigns and programs. Participants also receive post-internship mentoring and tailored training linked to their individual advocacy goals. Political Education and Electoral Rights Ibn Khaldoun Center To support Egyptian civil society, the project offers three activities: (1) a political and electoral rights program to raise political awareness in four communities in four electoral districts, distributed between rural and urban areas; (2) a civil society and democracy in the Arab world program to provide information on civil society through publication of a civil society newsletter, an annual report, ethnic and minority group updates and organization of a workshop to debate the annual report and updates; and (3) an Islamic reformation program to promote enlightened reformative Islam through books on Islamic Reformation and debates. Empowering Arab Youth in Old Cairo New Horizons Association for Social Development The project works in eight communities in Cairo to select and engage youth leaders aged 18-25 and to partner with three local civil society organizations to: (1) create and develop a civic education curriculum; (2) conduct training to deliver the curriculum; (3) recruit 1,000 youth participants, (4) determine a select group of 25 participants for further training and to lead 25 community groups; (5) develop project plans and award mini-grants for implementation by youth; and (6) conduct two conferences for 500 persons at beginning and end of project to discuss importance of democracy, human rights, and consequences of discrimination, extremism and political exclusion of certain segments of society. Future Leaders Egyptian Association for Supporting Democracy The project intends to strengthen political and advocacy skills among 500 young civic leaders, with emphasis on young leaders within political parties, trade and student unions, municipalities, cooperatives and agricultural unions, and youth clubs and centers, through targeted training workshops, development and dissemination of civic education materials, and broader community outreach. It also supports monitoring of elections. Democratic Structure in Political Parties in Egypt Egyptian Association for Developing and Disseminating Legal Awareness The project strengthens political parties by working with young party leaders to equip them as advocates for political parties and to help them engage senior political party leadership. Looking to the Future: Transparent Parliamentary Elections in Egypt United Group The project works in five governates to: (1) train 320 mid-level political party leaders in campaign skills, use of media, and importance of constituent outreach; (2) develop and disseminate a series of voter education publications; and (3) train 480 lawyers on the details of election law and rights and responsibilities of candidates. Women's Empowerment and Legislative Strengthening International Republican Institute The project strengthens democratic practices and increases women's participation in the political process in Oman. It builds the capacity of Omani Women's Associations (OWAs) by improving the skills and professionalism necessary to fully participate in Omani politics. It also strengthens the capacity of the Majles to the point where members use constituent relations and policy formation skills gained from continual engagement with experts, academics and associations to better serve the Omani public.
Previous May 2006 Update Democratic Strengthening Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening FY03 $11,500,000 FY04 $3,745,000 This program strengthens democratic processes and promote rule of law and accountable, effective government institutions throughout the Middle East and Supporting Political Parties, Parliamentary Reform, and Accountability Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening FY03 $115,000 This program develops reference documents in Arabic for political parties and Parliament to bridge the gap between members of Parliament, civil society leaders, and constituents. Political parties gain a better understanding of citizen perceptions as well as increase campaign skills for women through the following: 1) improving the efficiency and effectiveness of members of Parliament and party caucuses and 2) improving access to skills and resources. The program empowers political parties and civil society activists committed to democratic change by strengthening party structures to encourage democratic reform within parties and enhance party membership development capabilities. The program encourages increased transparency and accountability among elected officials. Democratic Participation and Effective Local Government Catholic Relief Services FY03 $256,316 Moroccan local government and civil society join together to strengthen democratic processes. The program seeks: 1) inclusiveness, participation, and transparency of civil society and local government in dealing with their constituencies; 2) effective civil society and local government responses to constituent needs; and 3) cooperation between civil society and local government to invigorate political reform efforts. Parliamentary Staff Training and Technical Assistance National Conference of State Legislatures FY03 $900,000 FY04 $300,000 The program enhances the ability of legislative bodies in the region by building parliamentary skills and capabilities. 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 to promote fiscal analysis and the provision of independent information to the legislative branch of government. Parliamentary Assistance and Political Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening FY03 $200,000 This program provides assistance in developing the institutional capacity of the Bahraini national assembly. It also assists political societies in developing the capacity to organize and increase their ability to engage in constructive dialogue with each other and with the government in order to improve the environment in which elections take place. Strengthening Parliamentary Institutions, and Increasing National Dialogue Consortium for Elections and Political Process Strengthening and FY03 $2,000,000 This program assists the Parliament in developing core skills including assessing legislation, identifying policy priorities and working in coalitions and constituency outreach, media relations, and executive oversight. The second stage also encourages members of Parliament to make greater use of the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. Legislative Strengthening State FY03 $2,000,000 The program strengthens legislative committee processes and increases the capacity of the Parliament to review, adopt, and monitor the national budget by providing technical assistance and other forms of support to legislators, staff, party caucuses, and other relevant actors.
Legislative Strengthening Regional FY03 $3,000,000 This program provides technical assistance and other forms of support to legislators, staff, party caucuses, and others to increase core legislative functions: representation, law-making and oversight. It focuses on developing more effective, transparent, independent and representative legislatures. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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