About MEPI

The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), located within the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, supports efforts to expand political participation, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, empower women and youth, create educational opportunities, and foster economic reform throughout the Middle East and North Africa.  In support of these goals, MEPI works with non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and academic institutions, as well as governments.

Under the direction of the State Department’s Office of the Middle East Partnership Initiative and working through Regional Offices in Abu Dhabi and Tunis – MEPI funds programs that help put in place the building blocks for democratic reform.  In its seven year history, MEPI has devoted more than $530 million to over 600 projects in 17 countries and territories.  MEPI’s funding is in addition to the bilateral economic assistance the United States provides annually to the countries in the region.

Regional Offices

To better promote its objectives in the region by working directly with local partners on the ground, MEPI opened two Regional Offices (ROs) in the summer of 2004.  The Abu Dhabi RO is located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and covers the seven countries of the Arabian Peninsula and Jordan.  The Tunis RO is located in Tunisia and covers the countries of North Africa, as well as Lebanon, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.  MEPI is a U.S. policy initiative and, as such, the Regional Offices serve as liaisons between MEPI’s central office in Washington, DC, and the U.S. Embassies located in the region, as well as work directly with MEPI’s partners, program participants, and other reformers at the grassroots level.

Abu Dhabi RO

Housed at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the Regional Office administers MEPI programs in Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.  The Abu Dhabi RO has a staff of seven employees, including Foreign Service Officers and locally-engaged staff, with expertise in democracy programming, civil society development, public diplomacy, and financial grants management.  In addition to coordinating local grant projects with the U.S. Embassies throughout the region, the Abu Dhabi RO organizes conferences (such as the Business Women’s Summit and Student Leaders Alumni Conference), and facilitates training and exchange programs (such as the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship program and the Business Internship Program for Young Arab Women).

MEPI and Other Reform Efforts

MEPI is one of several democratic reform efforts taking place throughout the region.  Whereas MEPI is a U.S. government bilateral program that responds to governance, economic, educational, and gender challenges, the Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMENA) is a separate, multilateral program undertaken by the Group of Eight (G8) industrial nations.  Launched at the G8 Sea Island Summit hosted by the United States in 2004, BMENA supports several reform initiatives, such as the Forum for the Future and the Foundation for the Future.