Morocco
MEPI in Morocco
MEPI administers ESF funding in Morocco through a unique combination of assistance that includes local grants awarded directly to indigenous civil society organizations (CSOs) in order to build their capacity and promote sustainability. Current MEPI projects focus on strengthening the leadership of rising youth political party members, combating child marriage, advancing equal rights for people with disabilities, and improving economic opportunities for rural women. MEPI supports the implementing of recent constitutional reforms through two parallel programs with CSO coalitions to draft, advocate for the adoption of, and increase public awareness of laws that enable citizens to present legislative initiatives to parliament (Article 14) and that establish parity among men and women (Article 19).
Featured Highlights
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New Cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows
The seventh cohort of Leaders for Democracy Fellows arrived in the U.S. on March 18, kicking off the six-week long academic portion of their fellowship. The twenty-two Fellows are based at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs where they will complete coursework in democracy studies, conflict resolution, political mobilization, and communication.
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Moroccan Civil Society Organizations Advance their New Constitutional Rights
In partnership with the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI), MEPI is working in Morocco to advance the implementation of key provisions of the country’s new constitution, which Moroccans voted on in July 2011.
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Public Opinion Research: A Tool for Rising Women Leaders
Public opinion research provides political parties and activists’ with insight into constituents’ perceptions and needs, and enhances policymakers’ abilities to respond to voters. Elected officials at all levels of government utilize public opinion data to improve citizens’ access to services and to better engage constituents, which is essential to increasing political participation.
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Civic Education Leaders Visit Washington
The sixth cohort of the MEPI-funded Civic Education Leadership Fellows (CELF) visited the U.S. Department of State in Washington. The 13 Fellows – all university professors from the Middle East and North Africa – are completing three-month residencies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University.
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Women’s Empowerment and Equality Workshop Held in Morocco
Thirty MEPI alumni and participants from throughout Morocco attended a workshop on women’s rights and gender equality, held in celebration of International Women’s Day in late February.
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MENA Students Enter Young Entrepreneurs Competition
In 2012, over 5400 high school and university students from the Middle East and North Africa competed for spots on the MEPI-supported sixth annual INJAZ Al-Arab Young Entrepreneurs Competition. Seventy five students secured finalist spots for the competition which took place in November 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
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Women’s Rights Advocacy Succeeds in the Region
Vital Voices’ MEPI-funded “Policy-Advocates for Women’s Issues in the Middle East and North Africa” project mentored teams of women activists and provided them training in advocacy, social media outreach, and project management over the past two years. Each country team selected a public policy issue identified as a priority and implemented nationwide campaigns to lobby for needed reforms.
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New Mobile Apps Assist People with Disabilities and Fight Corruption
MEPI-partner IREX is leveraging technology and media tools to serve the needs of communities in Tunisia and Morocco. IREX is actively providing technical support and small grants to non-governmental organizations (NGO) through the MENA Social Media/Social Action project (SM|SA).
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Vital Voices Project Aims to Improve the Lives of Women Across the Region
On October 25, 2012 Vital Voices hosted a panel discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. at which participants shared successes, challenges, and lessons learned from the MEPI-funded Policy Advocates for Women Issues in the Middle East and North Africa project.
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MEPI Launches 214 New Projects in 2012
As of September 30, 2012 (the end of Fiscal Year 2012), MEPI awarded an unprecedented number of grants to international and indigenous organizations working throughout the Middle East and North Africa region. These grants reflect a large increase in civil society activities in MENA, and strong demand for MEPI support, especially in countries that recently experienced democratic transitions.
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MEPI Partner Uses New Media to Inform Citizenry
Through its Social Media|Social Action (SM|SA) project, MEPI partner IREX recently issued a solicitation to provide small grants to youth-serving non-governmental organizations (NGOs) interested in leveraging media tools and approaches to increase the outcomes and impact of their organizations’ activities.
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Students Leaders Learn About Civil Society and Leadership
A total of 118 undergraduate students from across the Middle East and North Africa participated in the 2012 MEPI Student Leaders Program in Washington, D.C. The program brings civically engaged students with outstanding academic achievements from universities throughout the region to the U.S. to study civil society, democratic participation, and leadership.
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International Youth Activism Summit Promotes Cross-Border Collaboration
In June 2012, MEPI partner Soliya convened an international summit during which thirty-four Fellows ages 20 to 30, from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East met to work together towards the betterment of their communities.
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IFES and Arab Parliamentarians Work on Political Finance in MENA
Recent electoral events in the MENA region have led to calls for greater transparency and accountability. The International Foundation for Electoral Systems and the Arab Region Parliamentarians Against Corruption are working on the MEPI-funded “Enhancing Transparency in Political Finance in the Arab Region” project to increase stakeholders’ awareness on issues relating to political finance.
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MEPI Conference in Morocco Recommends the Repeal of Underage Marriage Law
Moroccan participants in the Vital Voices-MEPI “Policy Advocates for Women’s Issues” project held a conference in Fes on May 5-6 to discuss changes to an aspect of Morocco’s family law that allows for underage marriage. More than 260 attendees came together to discuss two hotly-debated sections of family law that allow child marriage in certain cases.
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Sec. Clinton Affirms Commitment to Supporting Arab Reformers
MEPI’s 2012 Leaders for Democracy Fellows (LDF) met with Secretary Clinton on May 29th, following their participation in the Civil Society Strategic Dialogue town hall meeting earlier in the month. The Secretary praised the fellows’ reform-oriented activism and work in advancing civil society during an unprecedented time in the Arab world.
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Young Activists Produce Films to Capture Change
After extensive training in media production and community engagement provided by U.S.-based NGO Soliya and MEPI, 110 young civil society leaders throughout the Middle East and North Africa are harnessing the power of new media technologies to promote informed and constructive discourse on reform topics.
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E-Mediat Helps Activists Hone Social Media Skills
On March 24-25, the Institute for International Education provided social networking and marketing training to more than 40 Moroccan civil society activists in Fez, Morocco through the MEPI-funded E-Mediat program. The training provided participants the opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned from their use of social media to effectively advance their activism.
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MEPI Partners with the League of Women Voters to Advance Reform in the Region
MEPI is pleased to announce the G8 Broader Middle East North Africa (BMENA) Initiative partnership with the U.S. –based NGO the League of Women Voters. The BMENA Initiative is a multilateral effort to promote cooperation between the G-8 and BMENA governments and civil society to advance reform efforts throughout the region.
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Moroccan Project Promoting Democracy Wins State Department Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund Award
MEPI congratulates Moroccan Leaders for Democracy (LDF) Fellows Professor Halima Ouamouch, a professor at Ain Chok Faculty of Letters and Humanities in Casablanca, and Dr. Behnassi, a professor at Ibno Zohr University in Agadir for winning an award from the State Department’s Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund.
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Moroccan Activists Advocate to End Child Marriage
The MEPI-funded “Policy Advocates for Women’s Issues in the MENA Region” project, recently achieved a milestone in Morocco. The Morocco Policy Advocates Team led a successful advocacy campaign to raise awareness of the country’s child marriage rate, which saw an increase of child marriage cases.
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MEPI Congratulates Khadija Rouissi, MEPI Alumna and Newly Elected Member of the Parliament in Morocco
Recently, Moroccans elected a new Parliament under its new constitution. Two MEPI alumnae won seats in the new Parliament, bringing experiences and knowledge acquired through participation in MEPI projects to the public life in their country. One of the Parliament’s new rising stars, Mrs. Khadija Rouissi, recently provided MEPI with some insight into her work and experience.
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2011 Leaders for Democracy Fellows Meet with Secretary Clinton
MEPI’s 2011 Leaders for Democracy Fellows met with Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on June 3. The Secretary assured the Fellows of U.S. Government support for democracy and human rights across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and praised them for their dedication and hard work.