Middle East and North Africa Program Highlights (2008)

Throughout 2008, governments of the Middle East and North Africa have been aggressive and methodical in their attempts to silence persistent public demands for more political space, participation, transparency, and accountability. New laws and regulations have been passed that limit independent media and tightly control NGOs.

In Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, and Yemen, security forces were frequently deployed to quell public protests, including those triggered by public resentment at rising food and fuel prices. Still, public criticism of government officials and policies increased as most political activists, journalists, and community leaders were not deterred by harassment and remained persistent in their demands.

Political and civic groups filled what political space they found and pushed for more. Regional and international networks extended their reach and supported advocacy efforts and regional cooperation among political reformers. With successful elections held throughout the region, Islamist groups pursued peaceful political participation.

Many political structures in MENA countries – including elections, parliaments, judiciaries, local governments, and political parties – demonstrated serious shortcomings and are in desperate need of reform and consolidation. NED increased its support to civic groups to enhance nascent political processes at the local and national levels, and help engage parliamentary committees and members of parliament with concerned civic groups.

NED also increased support to its core institutes to provide members of parliaments and political parties with training and technical assistance, including party development, policy formation, and constituent outreach.

NED supported projects in many critical sectors, such as:

• advancing civic participation,
• advocating public accountability, and;
• consolidating the role and functions of parliamentarians.

In particular, NED expanded its program to create more active roles for youth and women groups in public institutions, public oversight, policy development, and political processes. Despite progress in the area of women’s rights, significant social and political barriers continue to impede women’s full engagement as leaders or candidates for public office. As for youth, they are the most rapidly growing sector in the MENA region, but have been increasingly disengaged from the political process.

Throughout the region, NED supported local activists, civil society groups, and networks in developing effective cross border cooperation. In particular, NED support helped local groups organize forums, exchange information, share resources, and coordinate campaigns and networks.

Following the successful crackdown on Iraqi militias and political agreements with Sadrists in Baghdad and tribes in western provinces, the Iraqi government gained credibility, improved security, and passed critical legislation on de-Baathification and provincial councils. Energized by the new atmosphere, civic groups emerged as influential players. NED continued its critical support to viable and credible local civil society groups, distributed throughout most of Iraq’s provinces. In particular, NED focused on creative initiatives on conflict mitigation, including the establishment of the Iraq Leadership Academy, where models of conflict mitigation are being developed for Iraq. NED grantees developed a concrete strategy for collaborative efforts to support and monitor the country’s democratic transition.

NED supported coordination among grantees across ethnic and sectarian divides, focusing on civic education, human rights, capacity building, conflict resolution, and participation of women and youth. Through CIPE and the Solidarity Center, NED strengthened the capacity and infrastructure of Iraqi workers’ organizations and business associations and supported their sustained participation in policymaking, legislation, and public institutions. As the dispute over Kirkuk took on new dimensions, NED supported NDI to develop non-violent problem solving processes in Kirkuk for civil society organizations and political parties.

In Egypt, public confidence in the government and ruling party continued to waver due to a failure to meet public needs, a lack of accountability and transparency, and unclear presidential succession. Within this context NED provided support to the independent labor movement as well as projects strengthening citizen oversight of government. With NED support, the Solidarity Center worked closely with Egyptian labor support organizations to increase and improve their advocacy efforts. Another NED grantee, the Egyptian Democracy Institute, evaluated the performance of the Egyptian parliament and promoted accountability and transparency in the legislative process.

Palestine faced another challenging year and a series of setbacks, including outbreaks of intra-Palestinian violence and a resurgence in Gaza at the end of the year of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a result, this year saw significantly diminished public space for independent civic groups. Within this complex and restricted environment, NED assisted local organizations in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip to assert their roles in strengthening civil society’s advocacy abilities. This included enhancing independent unions; empowering business groups to engage on government accountability and corporate governance; and encouraging women, youth, independent media, and conflict resolution experts to lead these efforts.

The Moroccan political landscape continued to consolidate with the creation of the Modernity and Authenticity Party and the renewal of leadership structures within other major political parties. Parliament also approved legislation that will modestly increase the autonomy of local councils. NED continued to support Moroccan democrats as they promoted civic education, women’s rights, local political processes, and government accountability. The Mediator for Democracy and Human Rights, Morocco’s first parliamentary watchdog, monitored and reported on the performance of legislators on education policy. The Third Millennium Association for Development and Child Welfare fostered a dialogue between civil society groups and local councilors in the Errachidia region, and launched a national advocacy campaign to increase citizen input in local public policy.

Turkey‘s democratic progress slowed in 2008 due to political instability arising from the near closure of the country’s ruling party, on-going investigations of certain power-brokers on allegations of conspiracy, and intermittent unrest in the southeast. Combined with the economic downturn and delays in the EU accession process, Turkey’s geopolitical orientation is becoming less certain and its citizens both anxious and disillusioned. To help reverse this trend, the Endowment supported programs to bridge the accountability gap between the people and their leaders. NDI continued to foster deeper links between civil society organizations and parliament, while IRI-sponsored policy roundtables and parliamentary internships afforded forums for increased communication. The Human Rights Agenda Association trained lawyers to better integrate international human rights standards in defense of their clients, and recommend corresponding legal reform.

Security and political advances made in the initial years of Afghanistan‘s reconstruction have since regressed. Insurgent forces have made such significant gains that the government’s authority is receding nationwide, particularly in the country’s southern and eastern provinces. Rampant corruption and poor provision of social services undermined the legitimacy the government hopes to maintain.

The Endowment sustained programs to keep Afghans proactively engaged in political and civic life; enhance civil society organizations’ ability to organize and advocate; and raise citizens’ appreciation for pluralism, equality, and conflict resolution. NDI and CIPE connected parliamentarians with their constituencies while simultaneously strengthening the latter’s capacity to articulate their concerns. In the troubled east, Youth Educational Services organized after-school classes on human rights and civic responsibility for hundreds of students in rural Nangrahar province.