The U.S.-Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) of the State Department offers assistance, training, and support to groups and individuals striving to create positive change in the society. MEPI works in 18 countries and territories, partnering with civil society organizations (CSOs), community leaders, youth and women activists, and private sector groups to advance their reform efforts. MEPI’s approach is bottom-up and grassroots, responding directly to local interests and needs.
MEPI has been active in the MENA region since 2002, contributing over $600 million to more than 1,000 grant projects administered by their offices in Washington, D.C. and the region.
Aiming to advance stability and prosperity in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) program supports governments and their citizens to achieve shared political, economic and stability objectives. In its fourteenth year, MEPI’s role in MENA region shifted in response to new challenges and opportunities.
The MEPI program responds to needs and emerging opportunities for citizens and organizations that target three core objectives: Participatory Governance, Economic Reform, and Educational Advancement. A cross cutting theme is the focus on government-citizen relations: empowering partnerships between citizens, non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and government institutions to promote shared solutions for the people of MENA.
Mission Statement: The U.S. Middle East Partnership Initiative’s (MEPI) mission is to empower partnerships between citizens, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and government institutions to promote common shared solutions for the people of the Middle East and North Africa.
Supporting Democracy Builders
MEPI projects directly respond to needs articulated by the region’s democratic reformers. MEPI's democracy projects address a myriad of key areas such as polticial participation, freedom of the press, and citizen engagement. Flagship exchange projects, like the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship, also bring young civic leaders, lawmakers, and professionals to the United States to learn about and practice the concepts of leadership and democracy.
MEPI also works with fast-growing civil society sectors, the lifeblood of civic participation, to support civil society organizations' (CSO) ability to serve their communities and advocate on their issues of concern. MEPI supports CSOs in the region through local grants that support their efforts and project that build their capacity.
Empowering Women
During this period of promise and uncertainty, MEPI’s Women’s Empowerment projects are helping women throughout the MENA region reach their enormous potential. MEPI projects assist women seeking greater political and economic participation, provide training to enhance women's capabilities to contribute to reforms and change, and build the capacity of civil society to secure equal rights and opportunities for women.
Inspiring Youth
MEPI prioritizes support for youth, who are often the strongest advocates for positive change in their societies. MEPI project support youths' political engagement through innovative projects empower young civil society activists to address issues such as gender equality, corruption, and freedom of expression. MEPI's exchange programs also bring over 100 MENA undergraduate students to U.S. academic institutions where they develop leadership skills and expand their understanding of civil society and the democratic process.
Fostering Economic Opportunity
Recognizing that economic growth and prosperity are cornerstones in democratic societies, MEPI’s economic projects promote entrepreneurship, job skills training, and economic advocacy to help cultivate broad-based opportunities for everyone. These projects are successfully helping start-ups and SMEs access capital, creating sustainable growth in the job market, and addressing regulatory issues towards better legal framework for business.
