MEPI in Kuwait

Ongoing MEPI Programs

The following provides descriptions of ongoing programs in Kuwait, as well as a list of Regional Programs in which Kuwaiti organizations or individuals participate.

Kuwait Programs

Towards Significant & Competent Parliamentary Performance and Dr. Aisha Al Rasheed

Developing Women’s Political Leadership in Kuwait - With the assistance of an international expert, the Kuwaiti Center for Better Parliamentary Performance will:
--develop instructional materials on political participation and political leadership;
--deliver two training modules to Kuwaiti women, “Democratic Processes and Participation” and “Effective Political Leadership”; and,
--host an “Effective Political Campaigns” workshop, delivered directly by an international expert. 

The project will simultaneously address three needs for the effective development of women as political activists and candidates in Kuwait:  First, Develop a local capacity for basic political activism and leadership training. Second, provide an effective, local conduit for more advanced political training delivered by other international experts. Third, help ensure that when parliamentary elections are announced (which in Kuwait’s parliamentary system can be anytime) and campaign seasons are opened (which in Kuwait are very short) there is a cadre of women who have already received fundamental instruction in political leadership.

Dr. Ali Al Zuabi

Youth for National Unity:  A Vision for Kuwaiti Democracy - In collaboration with Student Forces, (an umbrella organization uniting more than 13 student groups), Kuwait University professor Dr. Ali Al Zu’abi will implement a project that is focused on the issue of strengthening national unity in the course of democratic development.  University students will participate in five different activities:

·seminars exploring the issues of national unity and democratic development; and the role of youth in simultaneously strengthening both;
·an essay competition on the same subject;
·training workshops on communication and public speaking skills;
·training workshops on leadership and civic activism;
·a public speaking competition on national unity and democracy.

All 150 students participating (in groups of 25) in the seminars will be invited to submit a short paper to an essay competition on the same subject.  Ten selected essay winners will be invited to receive leadership and civic activism training; communication and public speaking skills training; and invited to draw upon their essays and training to participate in a public speaking event organized on campus.  A panel of prominent Kuwaiti political personalities will choose the winning speech(es) and present awards for the winners at the event, which will be publicized in the local media. The texts of the winning speeches will be disseminated to newspapers, and the DVD recording disseminated to media outlets and via the internet.  Later, the winning speakers will also be invited to interview for inclusion in the 2008 Student Leader Summer Institutes in the United States.

Prime Corps 

Parental Engagement in Education through Parent-Teacher Councils - In 10 Kuwaiti schools, Prime Corp. will conduct a baseline analysis of the extent and impact of parental involvement in their children’s education; set up Parent-Teacher Councils (PTCs) at the 10 schools; train the new PTCs to improve parental engagement and involvement; assist in the development and implementation of PTC action plans; and facilitate the transference of the 10 participant PTCs’ experiences, best practices, and resources to 10 additional, new PTCs.  To help facilitate the introduction and sustainable development of PTCs throughout the Kuwait, Prime Corp. will produce a PTC replication and best practices manual, and conduct a public awareness campaign to garner attention and support for improved, organized parental involvement in their children’s schools via PTCs.

Cinemagic

Cinemagic Scholarship Program - This scholarship program assists students from marginalized groups or economically disadvantaged areas to express themselves through film. Project participants will create civic-minded films aimed at Kuwaiti youth on environmental and health. These films will be shown at a Kuwaiti cinema, and may be eligible for additional cinema screenings.

Kuwait Environment Protection Society (KEPS)

Raising Public Awareness on Environmental Rights - This project will support the development of two student-led environmental organizations at local universities that employ democratic practices. The student organizations will develop policy recommendations, conduct advocacy campaigns, and lobby on environmental issues of concern.

Martha Steffens, University of Missouri journalism professor, in partnership with the Kuwait Journalists Association

Parliamentary Elections Coverage & Reporting Effectively - Martha Steffens, facilitated by the Kuwait Journalists Association, provides training to media professionals through workshops to improve the ability of journalists and editors in Kuwait to report effectively and ethically on parliamentary campaigns and election day events.  A follow-up phase trains journalists on covering the activities of parliament and parliamentarians.  Samples of pre and post workshop reporting are compiled and used as instructional tools.  The project produces a manual for distribution to all participants and KJA members, and a journalist's code of ethics.

Society for Study and Training in Leadership Development

Kuwaiti Women Leadership Training - The Society for Study and Training in Leadership Development develops women’s personal leadership potential in professional and civic settings. The project trains women to assume leadership roles in university, professional, and civic life.  A series of six training programs and dissemination of training materials culminate in a publicized event launching a new network of Kuwaiti women leaders.

Regional Programs

Kuwaiti individuals or groups participate in the following programs, which take place in two or more countries in the region (Click Here to see descriptions of regional programs). MEPI reform pillars are listed in parentheses.

• ABA/CEELI - Arab Women's Legal Netwrok (AWLN) [Women]

• ABA/CEELI - Middle East Legal Development Initiative [Political]

• Academy for Educational Development and Sun Microsystems - G-8 BMENA Global Learning Portal [Education]

• Beyster Institute - Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the U.S. (MEET U.S.) [Economic]

• Booz Allen Hamilton - Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Technical Assistance [Economic]

• CEPPS - Parliamentary Assistance and Political Party Building [Political]

• Chugach - Middle East Finance Corporation Due Diligence [Economic]

• Chugach - Partnership Schools Due Diligence and Education Summit [Education]

• Civic Democratic Initiatives Support Foundation - Welfare Arab Reform Program [Political]

• CLDP - Commercial, Judicial, and Legal Reform [Economic]

• Freedom House - Reforming Family Law [Women]

• FSVC - Partnership for Financial Excellence Part II [Economic]

• ICNL - Middle East Associative Rights Initiative [Political]

• International Finance Corporation - G-8 BMENA Technical Assistance [Economic]

• IREX - Middle East North Africa Development Initiative Alliance (MENA Media) [Political]

• IREX - Media Sustainability Index [Political]

• No Peace Without Justice - Strengthening the Democracy Assistance Dialogue [Political]

• Junior Achievments - Economic Education and Job Skills Training in the Middle East [Economic]

• OECD - Middle East and North Africa Investment for Development Initiative [Economic] 

• Scholastic, Inc. - My Arabic Library [Education]

• The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars - Enhancing the Role of Arab Women in the Legislative Process [Political]

• UNDP -  Global Democracy Barometer Project [Political]

• University of Michigan - Global Democracy Barometer Project [Political]