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The Middle East Partnership Initiative Supporting freedom and opportunity
so democracy can spread, education can thrive,
economies can grow, and women can be empowered
http://mepi.state.gov
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• MEPI was established in December 2002 to offer tangible support to reformers
in the region. The initiative is where programs and policy come together.
• We have devoted nearly $300 million to 350 programs in 16 countries and the
Palestinian territories in four years. MEPI has worked directly with people
throughout the region to develop program ideas.
• We have established regional offices in Tunis, Tunisia, and Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates.
• MEPI works to ensure that U.S. bilateral economic assistance to the Arab world
also champions freedom.
The Middle East Partnership Initiative
Overview
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The Middle East Partnership Initiative
Types of Assistance
Election Assistance and Political Party Strengthening
Civil Society Empowerment
Legislative Strengthening and Legal and Judicial Reform
Free and Independent Media Development
Examples
Provided support for 2,000 domestic election monitors
for Egypt's first multi-candidate election
Supporting the only live satellite broadcasts of Arab parliamentary sessions
Increasing the transparency of government by training journalists
and news media executives throughout the region
Democracy: Giving People a Voice in Their Future
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The Middle East Partnership Initiative
Types of Assistance
Investment
Entrepreneurship
Trade and Transparency
Examples
Providing technical support for free trade agreements that expand business opportunities
Established self-sustaining Junior Achievement chapters in 12 countries
with more than 10,000 students participating
Supporting the development of Arab entrepreneurs
through training and fellowships in the region and in the United States
Economic Development: Jobs, Security for Families, Hope for the Future
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The Middle East Partnership Initiative
Types of Assistance
Expanding Access
Improving Quality
Developing Employable Skills
Examples
Working with highly-motivated Arab young people through intensive, five-week institutes
in the U.S. that teach leadership, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial skills
Training more than 3,000 teachers in civic education,
reaching 65,000 students in more than 500 schools in 10 countries
Creating U.S.-Middle East university linkages so American universities can collaborate closely
with Arab universities in academic areas such as business, journalism, and education
Education: Unleashing the Region’s Potential
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The Middle East Partnership Initiative
Types of Assistance
Women and the Law
Women in Democracy
Women’s Rights
Women’s Economic Empowerment
Examples
Raising the political, advocacy, and communication skills of women candidates
through innovative regional campaign schools
Building professional networks for Arab women legal professionals and businesswomen,
supported by businesswomen's summits and in-region network hubs
Empowering grassroots women's NGOs across the region through targeted training
on advocacy, negotiation, outreach and communication skills
Women’s Empowerment: Providing Choices and New Opportunities
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Working Together in Support of the People of the Middle East
• The Forum for the Future promotes and develops political, economic, and social
reform in the region and provides regional businesses and civil society groups a venue
to express their goals and ideas for reforms to their governments.
• The Democracy Assistance Dialogue brings together governments, civil society
groups and other organizations to improve and expand programs that support the
region' s own efforts for democratization and public participation.
• The Literacy Working Group works to improve education and literacy, especially for
girls and women, in accordance with the literacy goals established by the region.
• The Foundation for the Future multiplies reform efforts in the Middle East region.
We also support multilateral approaches such as the G8’s Broader
Middle East and North Africa Initiative. Examples:
Commercial Law Development Program
Office of General Counsel
United States Department of CommerceCLDP
TEXT
IMPROVING THE LEGAL ENVIRONMENT FOR BUSINESS WORLDWIDE
The Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP), a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce, is uniquely tasked with providing technical assistance in the commercial law arena to the governments and private sectors of transitional countries in support of their economic development goals.
http://www.cldp.doc.gov
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
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Drawing heavily on the expertise within the US Government and CLDP’s team of lawyers and specialists with international experience and fluent language abilities (including Arabic and French), CLDP programs assist governmental, judicial and commercial leaders to augment their laws, policies and organizational structures.
CLDP works directly with International Organizations such as the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in order to promote international commercial law standards throughout the region.
How Does CLDP Improve the Legal Environment for
the Middle East and North Africa?
CLDPMEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNER
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International Commercial Law Standards
Countries in the Middle East, US and EU are developing laws based on international models, including for example, e-commerce laws. CLDP is assisting countries in the Middle East with the development of comprehensive e-commerce laws, including cybersecurity and e-signature legislative efforts.
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP
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CLDP Programs
Participation as governments adopt laws
Legislative and regulatory drafting
Experts who spend significant time executing long term projects
In-country and regional workshops
Major conferences that introduce large groups to new issues
U.S.-based consultations for small cadres of experts
Ministerial or departmental capacity building
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP
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CLDP Cooperation in the MENA Region
Legislative and Regulatory Cooperation: CLDP assistance has been instrumental in public procurement, investment, intellectual property, insurance, mortgage, lending, and a wide range of other legislative and regulatory initiatives in the MENA region.
Law School Curriculum Development and Continuing Legal Education: CLDP has worked with legal educators throughout the MENA region to develop law school curricula and continuing legal training that will prepare lawyers for international commercial transaction cases.
Judicial Capacity Building: CLDP has partnered with Ministries in MENA countries to present local and regional legal conferences on complex commercial transactions involving international trade and investment.
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP
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Morocco Intellectual Property Success Story
Moroccan Government sought to develop intellectual property laws consistent with the US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and international commercial law standards.
CLDP and the Moroccan Industrial and Commercial Property Office (OMPIC) organized a program in Morocco to educate intellectual property stakeholders in Morocco regarding intellectual property commitments made by the US and Morocco in the FTA. Through seminars and consultations, the program exposed potential concerns and obstacles regarding the FTA intellectual property commitments and garnered support for new intellectual property laws in Morocco based on international commercial law standards.
With the support of CLDP, OMPIC and the Moroccan Copyright Office designed intellectual property rights laws consistent with the US-Morocco FTA and international commercial law standards that were amenable to intellectual property stakeholders in Morocco.
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP
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CLDP Facilitated Legal Projects
Algeria: Intellectual Property Law
Bahrain: Company Law, Corporate Governance Code, Secured Lending Law, Electronic Commerce Law, Consumer Protection Law
Egypt: Electronic Commerce Law, Competition Law, Insurance Law
Morocco: Intellectual Property Law
Oman: Company Law, Electronic Commerce Law, Foreign Investment Law
Qatar: Company Law, Corporate Governance Code, Secured Lending Law, Foreign Investment Law
Tunisia: Intellectual Property Law
UAE: Competition Law, Consumer Protection Law
Yemen: Government Procurement Law
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP
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CLDP Regional Conference in OmanJanuary 2008
Judges and Lawyers from MENA countries
Current Legal Developments in MENA region
Company Law and Corporate Governance
Lending Law
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Law
Contract Law (including E-Commerce and Arbitration)
International Legal Experts
Case Studies
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP
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CLDP Contact Information
Middle East Partnership InitiativeUS Department of State
2201 C Street, NWWashington, DC 20520Tel: +1-202-776-8572Fax: +1-202-776-8445http://mepi.state.gov
Greg Howell, Foreign Affairs [email protected]
Commercial Law Development ProgramUS Department of Commerce
1401 Constitution Ave., NW Stop 5875Washington, DC 20230Tel: +1-202-482-2400Fax: +1-202-482-0006
http://www.cldp.doc.gov
James Filpi, International [email protected]
MEPI Contact Information
MEPI IMPLEMENTING PARTNERCLDP