Ashraf Sabkha, a 2015 graduate of the Tomorrow’s Leaders Undergraduate Program from the U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), recently became the first Libyan Knight-Hennesy Scholar at Stanford University. Under the Tomorrow’s Leaders scholarship, Sabkha received leadership training and support, graduating summa cum laude from the American University in Cairo with a ...
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By jarbuz | 19 September, 2022 | Topics: Alumni, Business, Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Education, Environment, Featured Event, Near East & North Africa, Study in the U.S., Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Business, economic growth, Entrepreneurship, fellowship, leadership, Libya, MENA, Middle East, North Africa, Success Stories, Tomorrow's Leaders
Dakhla offers many advantages and opportunities for businesses, including a transport hub with links to Europe and Africa, excellent infrastructure, quality human resources, and exceptional nature and weather conditions. However, business opportunities in Dakhla are little known, and local businesses are not well connected. MEPI’s “Promoting Economic Opportunity in Dakhla and Laayoune” project has helped ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 1 July, 2021 | Topics: Business, Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa | Tags: Business, economic growth, Entrepreneurship, MENA, Middle East, Morocco
Mohammad Aljilani participated in the MEPI Student Leaders Program (SLP) at Portland State University in the summer of 2019 where he studied conflict resolution, leadership, democracy, and U.S institutions. Mohammad believes in the power of diversity and describes the lessons learned with the Student Leaders Program as “a new lifestyle”. He shares that, “I have ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 25 February, 2021 | Topics: Agriculture, Alumni, Business, Culture, Economic Issues, Featured Event, Government Offices, Near East & North Africa, News, Success Stories | Tags: AI, alumni, climate, Green, Jordan, Leaders, leadership, MENA, Middle East, Student Leaders, Success Stories, Sustainability
The Al-Rawabet project promotes the growth of high-potential companies and invests in the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Safi-Marrakech region, with funding from the United States Department of State Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). A new public private partnership (PPP) in Safi, Morocco started through Al-Rawabet is providing opportunities for young entrepreneurs to ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 29 December, 2020 | Topics: Agriculture, Business, Culture, Doing Business in the U.S., Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Events, Featured Event, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa, News, Science & Tech, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, assistance, Business, Commerce, economic growth, Employment, Entrepreneurship, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, Morocco, Near East Foundation, news, Success Stories
In the Marrakech-Safi region of Morocco, many resources are available to entrepreneurs, but they weren’t working together or coordinating to influence policy. The Al-Rawabet project, funded by the United States Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), takes an entirely new approach to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. Through Al-Rawabet, ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 29 December, 2020 | Topics: Agriculture, Alumni, Business, Culture, Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Featured Event, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa, Science & Tech, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Business, Commerce, economic growth, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Environment, MENA, MEPI, Morocco, Near East Foundation, Start-up, Sustainability
In the Marrakech-Safi region of Morocco, many resources are available to entrepreneurs, but businesses weren’t working together or coordinating to influence policy. The Al-Rawabet project, funded by the United States Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), takes an entirely new approach to the development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region. Through Al-Rawabet, ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 8 December, 2020 | Topics: Agriculture, Alumni, Business, Culture, Economic Affairs, Economic Issues, Education, Events, Featured Event, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa, News, Success Stories | Tags: Business, civil society, Commerce, economic growth, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Funding Opportunity, Job Growth, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Success Stories, technology
The MEPI-TL scholarship program helps to cultivate academic and leadership skills to underserved students in the MENA region. These students then use the knowledge and skills they gain to take leading roles in serving their community on many fronts, including academia, economy, civil society, policy, healthcare, research among others. One example of an inspiring TL ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 21 October, 2020 | Topics: Alumni, Featured Event, Health Issues, Near East & North Africa, News, Policy, Public Affairs, Scholarships and Exchanges, Study in the U.S., U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Cancer Research, Civic Engagement, civil society, Entrepreneurship, fellowship, Georgetown, Health, Leaders, leadership, Lebanon, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, Policy, Scholarships, Success Stories, Tomorrow's Leaders
As young as eighteen years old, Danya Arayssi (SLP 2018, Lebanon) recognized many of her community’s challenges. Through accounts she heard about women being silenced by cultural norms, traditions, and values, Danya knew that her passion lied in empowering women. Danya explains, “They are silenced to denounce a continuous yet traumatic daily abuse and human ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 8 October, 2020 | Topics: Alumni, Culture, Education, Featured Event, Gender Issues, History, Human Rights, Near East & North Africa, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: advocacy, alumni, Arab media, civil society, economic growth, Entrepreneurship, fellowship, Georgetown, leadership, Lebanon, MENA, Mental Health, MEPI, Middle East, Student Leaders, Success Stories, Youth
MEPI Tomorrow’s Leaders program has recently launched, for the first time, the “My TL story” contest across the top three leading universities in the Middle East; the Lebanese American University, The American University of Beirut and the American University of Cairo. The contest invited current TL undergraduate students to share their experiences during the TL ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 22 September, 2020 | Topics: Alumni, Art & Culture, Education, Events, Featured Event, Near East & North Africa, Study in the U.S., Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Entrepreneurship, LAU, Leaders, leadership, Lebanon, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, North Africa, Scholarships, Tomorrow's Leaders, Youth
Nasser al-Tooblani graduated from MEPI’s Tomorrow’s Leaders program at LAU in the spring of 2020 with a BA in Psychology and received High Distinction. Suffering from diabetes since he was two years old, Nasser has consistently struggled with diabetes self-management throughout his life. In his capstone project « Bloom », Nasser came up with the ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 21 September, 2020 | Topics: Alumni, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa, News, Scholarships and Exchanges, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Arab media, Bahrain, Entrepreneurship, Health, Leaders, MENA, Mental Health, MEPI, Middle East, Success Stories, Tomorrow's Leaders
Ghufran Ashor, a MEPI’s Tomorrow’s Leaders LAU alumna from Libya, graduated in Spring 2019 and began her search for the right post-graduation job. She sought a role that would serve purpose and allow her to make a difference. After an excessive job search, Ashor landed a job that matched her skills and aspirations perfectly. In ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 3 September, 2020 | Topics: Alumni, Culture, Featured Event, Fundamental Freedoms, Gender Issues, Health Issues, Near East & North Africa, News, Scholarships and Exchanges | Tags: alumni, Arab media, BBC, civil society, COVID, COVID-19, Employment, LAU, Leaders, leadership, Libya, media, MENA, MEPI, Minorities, Tomorrow's Leaders, women
After participating in MEPI’s Student Leaders Program Mohammed Taoufik, felt compelled to find a solution to the high crime and drug rates that he saw in the youth in his community in Casablanca. He created a public awareness and support campaign to showcase the positive impact building a youth soccer field would have on the ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 24 June, 2020 | Topics: Alumni, Featured Event, Near East & North Africa, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, civil society, drugs, Leaders, leadership, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, Student Leaders, Success Stories
MEPI Local grantee Lebanese Center for Active Citizenship (LCAC) successfully empowered and trained 100 refugee and Lebanese women to produce and sell high quality fishing nets. The program also trained the women on how to market their product and cut out middle men, further empowering these women economically in their communities. The women have been able to ...
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By lachinml | 24 February, 2020 | Topics: Business, Economic Issues, Gender Issues, Job Opportunities, News, Success Stories, Trade, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Business, Commerce, economic growth, Entrepreneurship, Grants, Lebanon, MENA, MEPI, news, Success Stories, trade, Training, women
Cenacle de La Lumière (CDLL) completed their two-year MEPI funded project “Back into Community (BiC)” focusing on improving the lives and economic prospects of 125 women and youth in Lebanon, specifically in Keserwan, Jbeil and Metn. Working with local companies, CDLL succeeded in empowering and strengthening 125 vulnerable women and youth through extensive trainings and ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 15 May, 2019 | Topics: Events, Featured Event, Job Opportunities, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Lebanon, MENA, MEPI
It’s not every day that young people have the opportunity to talk with global leaders about critical issues. But on October 2, a group of young professionals from across the Middle East and North Africa met with Lebanese President General Michel Aoun and other Lebanese officials to discuss political, social, and economic issues affecting the ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 31 October, 2018 | Topics: Events, Featured Event, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Lebanon, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, Youth
The U.S. Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) program seeks nominations for potential participants in the MEPI Student Leaders Program scheduled to take place in summer 2019. The program will last from June 26 – July 31, 2019. This program is open to university students between the ages of 20 and 24. We seek ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 10 October, 2018 | Topics: Events, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: leadership, MENA, MEPI, Student Leaders, US
On July 9th, Ambassador David Freidman hosted the closing ceremony for the “Diversity Works” project – a joint initiative led by the itworks nonprofit organization and supported by the U.S. Embassy’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Diversity Works contributed to a dramatic 150% increase in employment diversity in the 47 participating companies by integrating various ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 11 July, 2018 | Topics: Featured Event, Job Opportunities, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Israel, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories
The MEPI Alumni Venture Fund (AVF) aims to collaboratively utilize the leadership skills that alumni have developed through their various MEPI program experiences in the Middle East and North Africa. The AVF supports alumni to work together on innovative solutions to economic and/or community needs. The small grants provide seed funding for innovative ideas to develop new partnerships, foster sustainable collaboration ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 10 July, 2018 | Topics: Alumni, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, MENA, MEPI
During his participation in the MEPI Student Leaders program at Portland State University in 2016, Safwen Karoui became inspired by the principles and ideas behind conflict resolution. He wanted to take the professional skills that he gained from the program and apply them to work with local associations and civil society organizations in his home ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 9 July, 2018 | Topics: Alumni, Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories, Tunisia
Following four years of coordinated donor technical assistance, the government of Tunisia recently announced the implementation of a new legal framework for investment. The implementation of several key changes will improve efficiency and productivity through the development of investments in innovative and high value-added sectors that will improve the competitiveness of the national economy and ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 9 July, 2018 | Topics: Economic Issues, Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: CLDP, MENA, MEPI, Tunisia
Reham El-Saidi experienced major changes in her life after participating in the Leaders for Democracy (LDF) Program. The program increased Reham’s knowledge of civic engagement, leadership skills and introduced her to new cultures and ideas, which allowed her to see things from different perspectives and reflect on her role within her community back home. During ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 3 July, 2018 | Topics: Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Gaza, LDF, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories, West Bank
As many LDF Fellows, Michel El Daccache described the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) program as a turning point in his life. The LDF experience was a milestone for multiple and enriching opportunities that helped shape his growing career. The program allowed him to develop his civic action plan and transform it into a manual ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 19 June, 2018 | Topics: Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Lebanon, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories
At just 24 years old, Haythem Srihi is a member of the Hack4Democracy (H4D) finale’s winning team and a newly elected municipal councilor from the city of Jammel in Tunisia. Haythem’s success in both the H4D competition and in the May 6 municipal elections serves as a prime example of what Tunisian youth can achieve ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 19 June, 2018 | Topics: Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: H4D, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories, Tunisia
On April 26, The Kingdom of Morocco joined
the Open Government Partnership (OGP) , an international initiative that secures commitments from governments to promote transparency, empower citizens, fight corruption, and harness new technologies to strengthen governance. Through a partnership with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, MEPI supported the Moroccan government’s initiative to establish and implement a National Action ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 21 May, 2018 | Topics: Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, Morocco, Success Stories
Some 35 participants of the program “Employment, Empowerment, and Leadership for Excelling Ethiopian Israeli and Veteran Israeli University Graduates” celebrated the completion of a 10-month MEPI-funded course held May 4 simultaneously in Haifa and Jerusalem. Run by Olim Beyahad (Immigrating Together), the program assists outstanding Ethiopian Israeli University graduates seeking suitable employment in Israel’s workforce. ...
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By kadah | 16 May, 2018 | Topics: News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Ethiopian Israelis, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, Minorities
Calling all MEPI Alumni! We here at MEPI are excited to add to their number by engaging with you to further your personal and professional development… but we need your help! A few weeks ago, you received an email from our colleagues at IREX on behalf of the MEPI Alumni Connection Program, requesting that you ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 8 May, 2018 | Topics: U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, MENA, MEPI
With the support of the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the National Democratic Institute (NDI) Campaign Schools program tailored its global practices to the post-Arab Spring context in the Middle East and North Africa to help potential election campaign managers and candidates build strategies using tested techniques. From 2012 to 2017, NDI trained 430 potential ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 29 March, 2018 | Topics: Near East & North Africa, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, MEPI, Success Stories
Thank you to the WeYouth team for their great work in launching the voter education campaign on March 21 in Sfax, Tunisia. Through its Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) funded project, We Youth organized a field outreach activity in the Medina of Sfax to raise citizens’ awareness of the importance of participation in the upcoming ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 28 March, 2018 | Topics: Events, Near East & North Africa, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, MEPI, Tunisia, Youth
One of our most dynamic MEPI Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) alumna, Nacira Amari, was elected on December 3, 2017 to her local city council in the western city of Saida, near Oran. A high school math teacher, Amari was a tenacious candidate, winning despite divisions within her local party apparatus. She certainly offers a ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 26 January, 2018 | Topics: Featured Event | Tags: alumni, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories
The Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC) is pleased to announce the 2018 Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Leaders for Democracy Fellowship (LDF) program. Since 2007, the program has provided early and mid-career professionals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with the opportunity to complete training in leadership, ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 17 January, 2018 | Topics: U.S. & MEPI | Tags: LDF, MENA, MEPI
JERUSALEM – October 25th marked the successful completion of a U.S. Consulate General-sponsored workshop to build a better ecosystem for innovation in the West Bank. Co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the workshop convened American experts and Palestinian entrepreneurs, academics, business leaders, and government stakeholders to identify policy and regulatory reforms that will help ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 26 October, 2017 | Topics: Events, Featured Event, Near East & North Africa, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: CLDP, MENA, MEPI, Success Stories
MEPI Alum Abbas Sibai (Leaders for Democracy (LDF) U.S. Program, 2013) has launched “Live Love Volunteer,” which leverages the popular Live Love social media accounts to promote volunteerism in Lebanon. Live Love Volunteer’s next activity is a trash clean up day at Lebanon’s Kfarhelda waterfalls on September 16. Abbas co-founded the “Live Love Beirut” social ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 26 October, 2017 | Topics: Alumni, Featured Event, Near East & North Africa, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: alumni, Leaders, MENA, Success Stories
RAP 2 is a grants and technical assistance mechanism to strengthen civil society organizations and support civil society actors working towards social and political engagement in the Middle East and North Africa. RAP 2 is funded by the U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) and is being implemented by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). ...
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By kadah | 18 October, 2017 | Topics: News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, MEPI, Morocco, Tunisia, West Bank
FSVC and the Tunisian Association of Public Auditors (ATCP) recently launched an electronic platform to monitor public infrastructure projects in Tunisia. The platform, known as “Cabrane” (a slang Tunisian word used to define a foreman), can be viewed at www.cabrane.com. The first of its kind at the national level, this platform maps out meaningful data ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 30 August, 2017 | Topics: Featured Event, News, Success Stories, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, MEPI, Success Stories, Tunisia
The Department of State’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a program within the Bureau of Near East Affairs Office of Assistance Coordination (NEA/AC), announces a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for projects designed to assist entrepreneurs seeking to expand and grow their businesses and activities. The NOFO will close on June 6, 2017. For more information on ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 25 April, 2017 | Topics: Business, Events, Near East & North Africa, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Entrepreneurship, Funding Opportunity, MENA
On February 2, MEPI attended advocacy training in Ramallah as part of the MEPI-funded Internews Network project, Supporting Civic Engagement and National Dialogue through Independent Palestinian Media. The project works with local civil society organizations, journalists and media to establish strong, independent media that includes a diversity of voices, supports inclusive political processes, and incorporates ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 1 March, 2017 | Topics: Events, Featured Event, Near East & North Africa, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Civic Engagement, civil society, dialogue, drugs, journalism, media, MENA, MEPI, Middle East, North Africa, women
Espace Al Hayat Pour l’Insertion Sociale is a Rabat based NGO that works on social development and economic inclusion. MEPI helped Al Hayat set up a computer lab, sewing classrooms, and equipped the center with gardening and electricity tools. They also trained 100 youth in gardening, plumbing, electricity skills and in computer science and are currently ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 22 February, 2017 | Topics: Economic Issues, Gender Issues, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, MEPI, Morocco
Learning from the PeaceCorps model, CorpsAfrica launched a new model for Moroccan volunteers to help their own communities – particularly challenging when the culture of volunteerism is not that pervasive. MEPI has been a key partner to helping CorpsAfrica get started and established. Now in its third year of operations, CorpsAfrica’s project “Volunteerism and Community ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 21 February, 2017 | Topics: Events, Featured Event, Job Opportunities, Near East & North Africa, Success Stories, Trade, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: Entrepreneurship, MENA, MEPI, MEPI LAA, Middle East, Success Stories, Youth
As part of the Empowering Youth through Entrepreneurship in Morocco (EYEM) project, funded by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), the Near East Foundation (NEF) cosponsored a day on “Entrepreneurship and Employment for Youth: A Common Challenge” on February 15, 2017 at the National School for Applied Sciences (ENSA) in Safi. Similar to the event ...
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By The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) | 15 February, 2017 | Topics: Events, News, U.S. & MEPI | Tags: MENA, MEPI, Morocco
