The transition to democratic government is a slow and difficult process in the Middle East and North Africa, yet unmistakable changes have occurred in recent years. Political liberalization in several countries has created new space for contested elections to be held, for political parties and citizens' groups to organize, for legislatures to assert their power, and for the media to speak.

Country Initiatives

Algeria
NDI is currently working in Algeria to strengthen intermediary institutions – parties, civil society organizations, and the media – in order to make them more effective vehicles through which to channel popular desire for sustainable political, economic, and social reform. Specifically, NDI’s Algeria programs are designed to strengthen and reform parties to make them more effective, representative, transparent and democratic; to promote an informed and active citizenry on issues related to elections and political processes; and to increase the participation of women and youth in political life.

Bahrain
The Institute's programs in Bahrain build upon its work with Bahraini political society leaders, women activists, civil societies, and government officials during the 2002 election cycle. Current programs are designed to develop the capacity of political societies to participate in future elections and to encourage women and youth to participate in political processes. While political parties remain illegal, new legislation allows political societies to engage in political activity and serve as de facto political parties. NDI is working to build the societies' capacity through a series of workshops and trainings and roundtable discussions on issues of national import. Women's participation is encouraged through a forum encouraging political society leaders to support women candidates in 2006 and women are empowered to participate through technical skills building trainings for activists, leaders, and candidates. The Institute's youth programming employs a variety of methodologies, including civic education workshops, candidate forums and regional youth roundtable dialogues to both educate and engage Bahraini youth.

Egypt
In May 2005, NDI established a new field office in Egypt and launched a 12-month, multifaceted program to foster a more open, multiparty political system through increased citizen participation and political party development. NDI is currently planning program activities in Egypt that will continue to foster a more democratic political system. NDI is also exploring the feasibility of conducting focus group research projects to gauge the views of citizens on constitutional and political reforms.

Iraq
NDI is currently working on long-term strengthening of civil society and political parties in Iraq. The Institute will assist civil society groups in developing basic organizational structures and strategic plans for becoming actively involved in political processes. NDI will also provide and manage micro grants to select organizations as way to help them take action and establish civil society’s voice in the political process. To assist political parties, NDI will help develop individualized training plans, in consultation with local party leaders and branches of national parties, based on the needs of parties in their region. This program will be implemented through workshops, seminars and round tables, providing training on organizational development, recruitment, research, focus groups, message development, outreach, and gender sensitivity.

Jordan
NDI's current program in Jordan seeks to encourage a more representative multiparty system and expand women's political participation. NDI is working to strengthen the capacity of political parties, parliamentary blocs, and women candidates and activists, preparing these groups to participate effectively in future parliamentary elections, which are expected to take place in late 2006 or 2007. In June 2005, NDI launched a program to establish a Focus Group Research Center to help Jordanian policy-makers better understand and value the viewpoints of citizens on a wide variety of issues related to the democratization process.

Kuwait
After supporting Kuwaiti women in their successful efforts to have suffrage legislation passed in May 2005, the Institute began a program to strengthen the ability of Kuwaiti women to participate in political life as educated voters and to mount viable campaigns for elected office during the 2007 parliamentary elections. When elections were called early, in June 2006, NDI condensed the campaign training portion of the program to an intensive one-month program for women candidates. Post-election, the Institute continues to work with women candidates to identify lessons learned from the 2006 elections and strategize for their continued involvement in political processes as well as engage civil society organizations to enhance citizen understanding of political processes.

Lebanon
In December 2005, NDI launched a 12-month, multifaceted program to continue support for civic organizations and women activists and to begin work with reform-minded political parties and movements. The goal is to promote a more responsible political system with institutions which are accountable to Lebanese citizens and not narrow sectarian interests. As part of this program, NDI established a focus group research center in Beirut to help civic and political actors and policymakers better understand and value the viewpoint of citizens on a wide variety of issues related to the democratization process.

Libya
Building on its April 2006 assessment mission, NDI has developed a program with the objective of raising awareness within Libya around issues of international democratic standards. NDI is encouraging dialogue and debate among reform-minded Libyans and will conduct a forum in Libya on constitutional drafting and comparative constitutional reforms.

Mauritania
NDI has been engaged in Mauritania since November 2003, when the Institute led an assessment mission to the country during the presidential elections. In early 2006, NDI established a field office in Mauritania and began to implement its programs as the country undertook a dynamic transition from authoritarian to democratic rule. Specifically, NDI’s work aims to provide parliamentary caucuses and their respective MPs with tools and knowledge to effectively perform their parliamentary responsibilities; to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations to guide a comprehensive national reconciliation process after years of ethnic strife; to strengthen political parties’ capacity to effectively participate in elections; and to increase women’s participation in the political sphere.

Morocco
NDI has been promoting and strengthening democratic institutions in Morocco since 1997 through technical assistance to political parties, Parliament, civil society, government ministries, and the media. Launching the first ever focus group center of its kind in the Arab world, NDI-Morocco opened the doors of The People’s Mirror to Moroccan political parties, NGOs, and the media. The center specializes in democracy-related issues and concentrates on establishing a better link between decision makers and Moroccan citizens. NDI is also using focus group research to complement other in-country programs, including its work with political parties, the Parliament, and the media.

West Bank and Gaza
NDI provides training and support to democrats and civic organizations throughout the West Bank and Gaza. Through cooperation with local partners, NDI programs aim to enhance multiparty pluralism by providing assistance to democratic political movements, to ensure free and fair elections through monitoring and observation, and to enhance political competition and representative governance through trainings in campaign organization and platform development. The Institute's political party development program in the West Bank and Gaza is a long-term initiative that aims to create awareness of the role and function of political parties in the democratic political process.

Yemen
The Institute is focused on supporting Yemen's nascent democratic institutions through legislative strengthening, political party development and election monitoring programs. The legislative strengthening program works to enhance the core skills of members of parliament, expand the resource capabilities of parliamentary committees and educate newly elected members on their legislative prerogatives and responsibilities. NDI's political parties program works with both government and opposition parties to strengthen internal party policies and to encourage national policy debate. Throughout its programs, the Institute endeavors to encourage women's participation as leaders within political parties and via elected office. In the lead up to the 2006 presidential and local elections, NDI worked with political parties to increase their confidence in the electoral commission by engaging both sides in discussions centered on increasing the commission's impartiality and to increase party monitoring efforts. The Institute also supported civil society organizations to monitor the voter registration and elections processes.

Contact Information
For further information on our programs in the Middle East and North Africa, please contact:

Ruth Kile, Senior Administrative Manager
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