The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), created in 2002 through a Presidential Initiative, supports economic, political, and educational reform efforts in the Middle East and champions opportunity for all people of the region, especially women and youth. MEPI strives to link Arab, U.S., and global private sector businesses; NGOs; civil society elements; and governments to develop innovative policies and programs to achieve this mission. MEPI is managed by the State Department in collaboration with other U.S. government agencies.

In four years, MEPI has devoted more than $293 million to 350 projects in 17 countries and territories. The Administration committed $29 million for pilot education, economic, and political reform projects in 2002. In fiscal year 2003, MEPI funded $100 million in programs, and worked to award $89.5 million with fiscal year 2004 funds. In the Administration's fiscal year 2005 budget, Congress provided MEPI with $74.4 million.

MEPI is structured in four reform areas:

1. Economic Pillar: Support region-wide economic and employment growth driven by private sector expansion and entrepreneurship. Areas of concentrations include encouraging foreign and domestic investment, entrepreneurships, and enhancing countries’ global competitiveness.
   The economic pillar allocated $6 million in 2002; $38 million in 2003; $32 million in 2004; $23 million in 2005, and $12 million in 2006.



2. Political Pillar: Develop institutions and processes that are essential to active citizenries and accountable, representative government. Programs bring non-government organizations, governments, and citizens together to push the boundaries of change with programs tailored to the specific needs of each country. The political pillar concentrates elections and political processes, civil society and reform advocacy, independent media, and rule of law.
   The political pillar allocated $10 million in 2002; $25 million in 2003; $20 million in 2004; $22 million in 2005; and $43 million in 2006.



3. Education Pillar: Support education systems that enable all people, especially girls, to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in today's economy and improve the quality of their lives and that of their families. The focus of the education pillar is on expanding access to basic and post secondary education for all people (especially girls and women), improving the quality of basic and post secondary education, and promoting the development of employable skills.
   The education pillar allocated $8 million in 2002; $25 million in 2003; $22 million in 2004; $14.4 million in 2005; and $25 million in 2006.



4. Women’s Empowerment Pillar: Supports local NGOs and women reformers across the Middle East and North Africa in their effort to achieve full participation in society. This targeted program aims to address the cultural, legal, regulatory, economic, and political barriers that women encounter in their daily lives. In this regard, MEPI concentrates on building strong judicial institutions that support women’s rights, increasing women's participation in building democratic pluralistic societies, assisting local reform efforts for women’s rights, and enhancing women’s economic empowerment.
   The women's pillar allocated $5 million in 2002; $12 million in 2003; $15.5 million in 2004; $15 million in 2005; and $15 million in 2006. Because of the cross-pillar focus of many MEPI programs, funding for women's empowerment is actually approximately equal to the other pillars.

Small Grants

In addition to larger grants given in response to specific solicitations, the Middle East Partnership Initiative provides a significant number of small grants each year directly to organizations working at the community level to advance reform. Small-grant projects promote greater freedom and opportunity for people in the region by helping local partners more quickly bring their innovative project ideas to life. These grants also are successful in expanding the role of civil society in identifying local challenges and finding the best solutions to them at the community level.

Applications for MEPI small grants should be submitted directly to U.S. embassies in the region. Small-grant projects, which must be completed in one year or less, usually range in cost from $10,000 to $25,000, but individuals and organizations are encouraged to write their budgets to actual costs. Funding decisions are made on a rolling basis, and applications are accepted in English, Arabic, and French.

MEPI in Jordan

In general, MEPI has invested approximately $40 million on projects in Jordan since the year 2002. Jordan has been actively involved in a number of local reform initiatives and regional projects in the MENA region, in addition to Jordanian participation in exchange programs and conferences.

Among the hallmark activities conducted under the auspices of MEPI in Jordan are: the establishment of a Human Rights Information and Training Center (political pillar); conducting the Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the United States - MEET U.S. (economic pillar); increasing the competitiveness of Jordanian small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and improves the ability of Jordanian banks to safely lend money to SMEs (economic pillar); supporting the development of the interactive, e-curricula for English and civic education under the Jordan Education Initiative (education pillar); building public-private partnerships to support women's progress (women's pillar); and developing a women’s legal network and reforming family law (women’s pillar).

USAID/Jordan manages the implementation of the $3.4 million, MEPI-funded INJAZ Arabia program. The program helps create partnerships between private sector and educators throughout the Middle East to help empower youth, introduce them to entrepreneurship, and provide them with new employment options beyond the traditional public sector. Participating countries include: West Bank, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Morocco, and Algeria.

Additional Information

For further information on the Middle East Partnership Initiative, please visit the Department of State MEPI web site.