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Since 2003, NDI has provided assistance to Saudi municipal councilors, activists and journalists. NDI has facilitated local government cooperation and communication among municipal and provincial councils. Institute programs have also helped councilors gain the skills to navigate through the local government system, develop and monitor budgets, communicate with citizens through the media, and organize public forums to help people better understand local priorities. The institute’s programs are designed to improve the efficiency of local governance, open channels of communication among councilors, and increase collaboration among municipal and provincial councils.
NDI is also assisting a core group of Saudi women journalists, business leaders and other professionals in developing a network for sharing skills and insights on leadership, strategic planning, advocacy, communications and other areas that can facilitate progress in their current professions. This process simultaneously helps to prepare these women for future, expanded political roles, such as supporting other women candidates and leading voter education efforts.
Political Context
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a country with roughly one-third the land area of the United States, an estimated 27 million inhabitants, and the world’s largest proven oil reserves, remains one of the most closed political systems in the world. Authority and power are in the hands of the male descendants of King Abdul-Aziz ibn Saud, who founded the contemporary kingdom in 1932. However, the late King Fahd issued decrees restructuring the Saudi government system in March 1992. The measures included the establishment of an administrative system that divided the country into 13 separate provinces. In October 2003, the government announced that citizens would directly elect members of municipal councils. The Ministry of Municipalities and Rural Affairs (MOMRA), which oversees all areas of municipal services and is responsible for the administration of municipalities throughout the Kingdom, has jurisdiction over the municipal councils.
In 2005, Saudis went to the polls for the Kingdom’s first elections in over forty years to elect half of the members of its 178 local municipal councils; the other half were appointed by the government following those elections. The election was marked by a vibrant campaign period, with candidates erecting huge tents on empty plots where the public and the press asked about their platforms. Political reform, corruption, unemployment, environmental protection and better public services were the main issues candidates addressed. Though women and members of the military were unable to vote or run as candidates, the elections represented an historic opportunity for Saudi citizens to play a greater role in the governing of the country. The municipal councils represent an important vehicle for citizens to engage their government; significant opportunities exist as elected councilors respond to pressure to improve the day-to-day lives of Saudi citizens.
In recent years, women’s rights have progressed in the Kingdom, as the government moves to increase the number of working women due to the pressing economic need to replace expatriates with Saudis. Although women were not permitted to vote in the 2005 elections, officials claimed that this was due to the logistical difficulty of registering them (only an estimated 6 percent of Saudi women have exercised their right to acquire ID cards). No women have been appointed to municipal councils or the Shura Council, but the government has said women will be able to vote in the next elections.
In September 2007, the Society for Protecting and Defending Women’s Rights sent a petition to King Abdullah requesting driving rights for women. The group’s website and e-mail server have been hacked several times by opponents, but the group has also received support from public officials and well-known members of society. In October 2007, the foreign minister stated that women should be able to drive and agreed with the civil society campaign to reinstate this right by framing it as a social issue rather than a political or religious one. Shortly after the foreign minister’s statement several Saudi women tried to apply for licenses, but were turned away and told the issue was still in the hands of the Emir of the region.
The driving rights campaign is the first initiative of the Society. The organization plans other efforts to address domestic violence and problems of divorced women.
NDI Programming
Program History
Since 2003, NDI has supported Saudi activists by providing information and opportunities to network, share and discuss their respective political experiences with international and regional peers and experts. This work included a 2005 seminar that sought to conceptualize a long-term strategy for assisting Saudis in their efforts towards political modernization. Subsequently, NDI initiated a program to strengthen newly established municipal councils and increase the capacity of councilors to carry out their new roles and responsibilities.
Work with Saudi journalists has sought to improve their ability to cover political developments in the country. NDI sponsored a visit by Saudi journalists to Washington to examine the role of the media and journalists in shaping public debate and reporting on political issues. The journalists met with senior reporters from major U.S. newspapers, engaged in trainings on journalistic ethics and political reporting, and consulted with international NGOs regarding the state of press freedoms in Saudi Arabia.
Strengthening Municipal Councils
Currently, NDI is facilitating local government cooperation by encouraging communication among municipal and provincial councils. Activities impart councilors with the skills to navigate through the local government system, develop and monitor budgets, communicate with the citizens through the media and organize public forums to better understand local priorities. The program is designed to improve the efficiency of local governance, open channels of communication among the councilors and increase collaboration among municipal and emirate councils.
Women’s Leadership
In addition, NDI is assisting a core group of Saudi women journalists, business leaders and other professionals to develop a network for gaining skills and insight into leadership, strategic planning, advocacy, communications and other areas that are applicable for progressing in their current professions. At the same time, the process is preparing them for future, expanded political roles, such as supporting other women candidates and leading voter education efforts.
Regional Programs
Saudi municipal councilors are participating in NDI programs to support the formation of a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Municipalities Association. Programs of the GCC Municipalities Association include seminars on institutional capacity building, and communication skills for constituent and media outreach. The program provides a comparative perspective on local governance practices by fostering conversations among municipal councilors from the GCC, as well as the broader international community.
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Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Washington, D.C.
Leigh Catherine Miles, Program Manager
(202) 728-6304
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