03 April 2003
Middle East Partnership Initiative Designed to Benefit Arab World
(State Department fact sheet lists types of assistance programs) (750)
The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) is designed to work
with governments and people in the Arab world to "expand economic,
political and educational opportunities for all," according to a fact
sheet released by the State Department April 3.
The initiative will be funded with more than $1 billion that the
United States already provides to Arab countries annually and an
additional $29 million for specific programs geared towards education,
economic reforms, and strengthening Arab civil society, the fact sheet
said.
Following is the text of a State Department fact sheet on the
U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI):
(begin fact sheet)
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs
April 3, 2003
Fact Sheet
U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative
Summary:
-- The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative will work together with
governments and people in the Arab world to expand economic, political
and educational opportunities for all.
-- The Initiative will encompass the more than $1 billion in
assistance that the U.S. government provides to Arab countries
annually. The United States is also committing $29 million in funding
specifically for Initiative programs in support of reform and each
area listed above.
-- The Initiative is a partnership and we will work closely with
governments in the Arab world, other donors, academic institutions,
the private sector and non-governmental organizations.
-- As part of the Initiative, we will review existing U.S. assistance
programs in the region to ensure our aid is reaching as many people as
possible across the region, with a particular emphasis on women and
children. We also want to insure that we are providing the most
effective and efficient assistance possible.
-- With the $29 million in funding, we will establish new pilot
projects in each of the priority areas of the initiative. In addition,
under each priority area, we will develop projects aimed specifically
at empowering women and expanding opportunity for youth.
-- Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will serve as
coordinator for the Initiative. The Initiative will be managed by the
Near East Affairs Bureau of the Department of State.
-- Examples of programs we will fund and expect to fund in the future
include the following:
Education
-- "Partnerships for Learning " program to share knowledge with all
levels of society in the Middle East through programs such as a
Georgia State University workshop for non-governmnetal (NGO) leaders
from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates.
-- Programs focused on improving the lives of girls and women through
literacy training and scholarships to stay in school.
-- Efforts that expand access to bodies of knowledge and promote
active learning, for example through e-learning, English teaching and
book publishing initiatives. We will focus in particular on connecting
more schools and students to the Internet.
-- Implementing teacher training programs at the primary and secondary
school levels and expanding university linkages for higher education.
-- Scholarships for undergraduate study in the United States and in
American universities within the region, focusing on degrees in fields
such as economics, education, business administration, information
technology, and the sciences.
Economic Reform and Private Sector Development
-- Assistance to Arab members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to
help them comply with their commitments and technical assistance on
WTO criteria to aspiring WTO members in the region.
-- Enterprise funds with private sector management to provide capital
and technical assistance to promising entrepreneurs and their business
ventures. We will also establish new micro-enterprise programs to help
new micro-business.
-- New Department of Commerce Special American Business Internship
Training scholarships, which will provide internships in American
companies, and also will focus on developing networks and training
opportunities for women entrepreneurs from the Middle East.
-- Assistance in financial sector reform for governments across the
region.
-- Programs to assist on-going efforts to increase transparency and
fight corruption.
Strengthening Civil Society
-- Through mechanisms such as the Middle East Democracy Fund,
assistance to non-governmental organizations and individuals from
across the political spectrum working for political reform.
-- Support for establishment of more NGOs, independent media outlets,
polling organizations, think tanks, and business associations ---
groups that create the foundation for a vibrant democracy.
-- Programs that will increase the transparency of legal and
regulatory systems and improve administration of the judicial process.
-- Training for candidates for political office and for members of
parliaments and other elected officials.
-- Training and exchanges for electronic and print journalists.
(end fact sheet)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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