UNDP-POGAR: Programme on Governance in the Arab Region: Resources/Weblinks

Note: These are the general resources (do not include country specific ones). You may view resources by country: .

The 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government offers plenary sessions, workshops and meetings, designed to contribute directly to the Millennium Development Goals by strengthening state capacity and improving the quality of governance.

This paper argues that the restructuring of MEPI should be part of a broader set of measures to establish a more visible, coherent institutional policy structure to pursue the critical goal of fundamental political and economic change in the Middle East.

A New Partnership for the Greater Middle East: Combating Terrorism, Building Alliance [English]. 2004. [brief description]

Senator Richard G. Lugar proposes the creation of a grant-making Greater Middle East Twenty First Century Trust. The Brookings Institution, Monday, March 29, 2004.

Abu Aardvark started in 2002 as a pseudonymous blog about Middle East politics, especially Iraq and the Arab media. In 2005, it was revealed to be the work of Marc Lynch, professor of political science at Williams College and author of Voices of the New Arab Public (Columbia University Press).

Access Democracy - National Democratic Institute for International Affairs [English]. [brief description]

The National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI) is a nonprofit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide.

This issue of Economic Perspectives aims to give readers an overview of the principles of corporate governance, current trends in U.S. and international policies affecting businesses and business managers, and the work that is being carried out by governments and businesses alike to create a more transparent and accountable corporate environment.

African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development [English]. [brief description]

CAFRAD is a Pan-African intergovernmental organization concerned with the revitalization of public administration and management in Africa

Final Statement of "Arab Reform Issues: Visions and Implementation," conference March 12-14, 2004, The Conference was held at the Bibliotheca of Alexandria. in collaboration with the Arab Academy for Science and Technology, the Arab Business Council, the Arab Women's Organization, the Economic Research Forum, and the Arab Organization for Human Rights.

American suggestion to create the Greater Middle East Development Fund [Arabic]. 2004. [brief description]

By Mohammad Khaled, El-Hayat, 31 March, 2004, based on Senator Lugar suggestion of Greater Middle East Twenty First Century Trust.

AMIDEAST is a private, nonprofit organization working to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the people of the Middle East and North Africa.

A World Economic Forum Roundtable that brings Arab business leaders and government officials discuss ways to enhance competitiveness in the region in order to foster growth.

This is a news service provided on the Arabic website of the United Nations Development Programme - Programme on Governance in the Arab Region (UNDP-POGAR). The Newsletter captures significant events that are reshaping Arab governance or reflecting new practices of the region’s 20 countries to regional and international initiatives for reform. The Newsletter reports, directly from Arabic news sources, on events as they relate to the themes of participation, the rule of law, and transparency and accountability.

The Arab Insight quarterly journal offers in-depth analyses and commentaries on issues pertinent to the region, including perspectives from individuals in the media, government, civil society and academia, allowing voices in the Middle East to be better represented in the marketplace of ideas and debate in the United States.

Excerpts remarks by President Bush and Presidents Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak from the Office of the Press Secretary, February 18, and April 12, 2004.

This is a specialized agency of the Arab League that operates from Tunisia. Essentially, this agency is concerned with developing and coordinating activities in the areas of education, culture and science across the Arab World.

This paper provides easily accessible baseline information about the political systems of Arab countries, with links to official documents and websites, and is frequently updated to provide information about reforms being introduced.

This special issue of the Arab Reform Bulletin, published by Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, December 2004, explores the role of Arab media in political reform.

Arab Reform Bulletin addresses political reform in the Middle East. The monthly offers analysis from U.S.-based and Middle Eastern political experts, as well as news synopses and annotated resource guides.

Established on the recommendation of the "Arab Reform Conference: from Rhetoric to Reality", held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina 12-14 March 2004. The conference was organized under the auspices of the Egyptian President with the participation of several Arab civil society organizations and the co-sponsorship of the Arab Academy for Science & Technology, the Arab Business Council, the Arab Women Organization, the Economic Research Forum and the Arab Organization for Human Rights. The "Alexandria Document", issued by the conference, crystallized a genuine Arab vision of reform and its priorities.

The Arab Reform Initiative is a network of independent Arab research and policy institutes, with partners from the United States and Europe. Its goal is to mobilize the Arab research capacity to advance knowledge and develop a program for democratic reform in the Arab World that is realistic and home grown. The Initiative also aims to produce policy recommendations that can help promote reform in the region.

Reform Forum – Alexandria Library: March 31-15, 2005. Conference papers dealt with several issues that included: youth employment, women empowerment, education, the environment, water, social solidarity, human rights, comprehensive and sustainable development, health, peace, political participation, culture and arts, and other specialized programs.

Arab World for Research & Development (AWRAD) is an independent research center. It works in social political and economic research and development through sound and rigorous policy and applied research. It helps provide a wider perspective on methodology and analyses.

The Arabist is dedicated to covering the politics and culture of the Arab world. It is published and maintained by Issandr El Amrani, a Cairo-based journalist, with contributions from journalists and researchers working in the region.

The Institute, dedicated to fostering democratic practice and effective governance, engages in a broad, global community in which knowledge is shared, by generating and supporting research and curriculum materials, and by highlighting exemplary government programs. The Ash Institute is part of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

The Assembly of Western European Union focuses mainly on the European security and defence policy and the further development of the European Union’s civil and military crisis-management capabilities. It also continues to scrutinize intergovernmental cooperation in the field of armaments and armaments research and development.

Best Practice Briefs are summaries of selected practices from around the world designed to provide an overview of how cities, people and their communities are solving critical social, economic and environmental problems.

BICC is dedicated to promoting peace and development through the efficient and effective transformation of military-related structures, assets, functions and processes.

The web site outlines the work of the British Council's governance program in advancing the debate, the knowledge and skills needed in the areas of governance, human rights and social inclusion.

Report on the Inaugural Assembly, New Delhi, India, February 14-17, 1999. The Assembly had three plenary sessions on democracy and development, democracy and diversity and challenges of democratic governance. The page provides condensed reports on many cases of democracy building, advocacy and coalition building, transparency and accountability, civic-education and democracy and others.

The Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships aims to foster innovative forms of cooperation between the public sector - at the municipal, regional, provincial and federal levels - and the private sector, for the benefit of all Canadians.

Canadian International Development Agency - Africa and the Middle East [English]. [brief description]

CIDA's Africa and the Middle East Branch promotes poverty reduction and peace and security through programs that support basic human needs, health and education, peace building, human rights, good governance and democracy, private sector development and economic reform, with gender equity and the environmental protection as integral part of these programs.

Canadian International Development Agency - Social Development Priorities [English]. [brief description]

The web site of CIDA's social development priorities for 2000-2005, which focus on four areas of social development—health and nutrition, basic education, HIV/AIDS, and child protection—with gender equality and promotion of human rights as integral part of these priorities.

The publications of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on political change and democracy in the Middle East, that assesses the political change and the U.S. policy in the region.

The Center (CCMR) provides graduate level education to foreign civilian and military participants. It is dedicated to strengthening democratic civil-military relationships and assisting other nations in making integrated defense decisions.

The Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI) was established as an Australian Government initiative. CDI responds to the needs of developing countries in the field of good governance and democratic institutions.

The Center for Liberty in the Middle East (CLIME) is a transatlantic initiative that promotes liberal democratic values in the Middle East.

The Center for the Institutional Reform and Informal Sector (IRIS) is a research and advisory center that aims to understand and facilitate economic growth and democratic development in poor and transition countries, focusing on the role of institutions — the formal and informal rules by which individuals organize economic, political, and social activity.

The Center for the Study of Islam & Democracy (CSID) is a non-profit organization, based in Washington DC, dedicated to studying Islamic and democratic political thought and merging them into a modern Islamic democratic discourse.

The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at Stanford University's Institute for International Studies (SIIS) seeks to promote innovative and practical research to assist developing countries and transitioning societies in the design and implementation of policies to foster democracy, balanced and sustainable development, and the rule of law.

The center aims to research and analyze political, religious, social and other developments within Islamic countries and Muslim minority populations around the world and to contribute to the development of American policy options and public diplomacy efforts within the Muslim world.

Civil Society in Arab Countries and Its Role in Reform...Reality and Expectations [English]. 2004. [brief description]

Closing statement issued by the workshop on the "Role of Civil Society in Reforms in the Arab World", held in Alexandria 21-22 June 2004.

Civility is a European programme of research, events and publications aimed at informing Western strategies for political reform in the Greater Middle East.

The Commission - an independent group of 28 public figures - was inspired by the belief that the end of the cold war offered opportunities to build a more co-operative, safer and fairer world. It presented proposals for improving the world's governance and better managing its affairs in a report published in 1995 - the year the United Nations marked its fiftieth anniversary.

The web site of the Comprehensive Development Framework (CDF) the World Bank's holistic approach to development. CDF seeks a better balance in policymaking by highlighting the interdependence of all elements of development - social, structural, human, governance, environmental, economic, and financial

The Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) is a professional organization for government agencies, organizations, and individuals with responsibilities or interests in governmental ethics, elections, campaign finance, lobby laws and freedom of information.

The Cranfield Centre for Security Sector Management, homed at the Cranfield University (UK) is dedicated to promoting the development and effective management of security sectors for enhanced peace and security. Among the main focus areas are security sector management, national security policy, and role of armed forces in security sector reform.

This paper argues that this is a dangerous moment for the Middle East, because the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon could easily escalate to involve the broader region. And that there are voices in the United States and Israel calling for a deliberate broadening of the conflict to Syria and Iran in an attempt to solve all the contentious issues of the region at once.

The Crisis Sates Research Centre is an international centre which deals with the issues of crisis and conflict. This website provides access to research, publications, events and resources.

The objective of the Delegation of the European Commission in Algeria was assigned to support the economical development and reforms taking place in the country. And, it aimed to reinforce the relations between the European Union and Algeria.

The demand for democracy is present in the Arab world today; what is lacking is a supply of broad-based political organizations pushing for democracy - political parties, social movements, labor unions, and large civic organizations. Unless such constituencies develop, the future of democracy remains extremely uncertain.

This is the web site of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which covers the themes of rule of law, elections and political processes, civil society and governance.

Democracy at large is a quarterly magazine designed for democracy-building professionals and people interested in democracy development worldwide. It is published by the International Foundation for Election Systems, an international, non-profit organization that supports the building of democratic societies.

National Democratic Institute's democratic governance program addresses four areas of democratic governance, constitutional reform, legislative development, local government and public integrity - ethics and anti-corruption.

GTZ is a government-owned corporation for international cooperation with worldwide operations. GTZ is a co-funder of a documentary film being prepared under the Gender/Citizenship initiative.

DEC is the largest online resource for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funded international development documentation. Access to USAID's documentation is made available by DEC Express is a FREE e-publication from the Clearinghouse that provides subscribers with the latest listing of USAID reports via e-mail every two weeks.

Created within the department of constitutional law, the Direct Democracy research centre (C2D) is dedicated to an interdisciplinary approach to the study of direct democracy.

Dissident Voice is an internet newsletter dedicated to challenging the distortions and lies of the corporate press and the privileged classes it serves. The goal of Dissident Voice is to provide hard hitting, thought provoking and even entertaining news and commentaries on politics and culture that can serve as ammunition in struggles for peace and social justice.

Economic Reform Priorities in the Arab World: A Private Sector Perspective [English]. 2004. [brief description]

The Arab Business Council of the World Economic Forum developed the following specific reform measures that are suggested to be undertaken by governments and civil society in the Arab world in order to realize the full potential of this region, and propel growth to higher and sustainable levels

The Economic Research Forum (ERF) is an independent, non-governmental, nonprofit organization; its mission is to initiate and fund policy-relevant economic research, to publish and disseminate the results of research activity to scholars, policymakers, and the business community, and to function as a resource base for researchers through its databank and documentation library.

ELDIS is a comprehensive guide to development information. ELDIS provides access to a variety of information sources, including online documents, organization's web sites, databases, library catalogues, bibliographies, and research project information. Eldis is hosted by the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex.

The European Union have granted to Jordan over the last ten years 570 million Euros under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The main priorities of EU co-operation with Jordan are trade enhancement and institutional building and regional integration, stable macro-economic framework and economic reforms, social reforms and human resources development, and development of infrastructures including regional co-operation.

Dr. Richard Youngs, the Civility Program Coordinator, the European programme of research, events and publications aimed at informing Western strategies for political reform in the Greater Middle East.

Barcelona Declaration, Euro-Mediterranean Conference 27, and 28 November 1995. The declaration is at the root of many European efforts to promote good governance in the Arab Countries of the Mediterranean basin.

The Partnership, which developed following the Conference of the EU and Mediterranean Foreign Ministers in Barcelona (27-28 November 1995), is marked by bilateral and multilateral or regional cooperation as outlined in Barcelona declaration. The "Partnership" process is referred to as the Barcelona Process.

European Union - European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Co-operation [English]. [brief description]

The MEDEA Institute is a non-profit association under Belgian law which was created in July 1995. It started its activities in April 1996. Its objectives are: to facilitate exchanges of information and ideas between politicians, academics, journalists and concerned NGO’s; to promote independent and objective analysis; to communicate research findings to opinion and political decision makers, in particular members of the European Parliament, in order to make a substantial contribution to co-operation, development and stability in the Mediterranean region and in Euro-Arab relations in general.

Overview of the EU-MEDA policy towards the Mediterranean region, which is governed by the global and comprehensive Euro-Mediterranean Partnership launched at the 1995 Barcelona Conference, between the European Union and its 12 Mediterranean Partners (hence called the Barcelona Process, bilateral and multilateral EU relations.

Evaluating Middle East Reform: How Do We Know When It Is Significant? [English]. 2005. [brief description]

This short paper launches the second set of studies in the Carnegie Papers Middle East Series. The first set, now also published as a book under the title Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East, examined the most important issues concerning democracy promotion and democratic change in the Middle East.

Final Statement of the Arab Summit, Algiers, 22-23 March 2005 [Arabic]. 2005.

The development priorities of the Ford Foundation to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement are pursued through a number of programs: asset building and community development, peace and social justice program, education, media, arts and culture.

FDI NET is a web portal that offers free country analysis and information - derived from business and public resources with World Bank Group analysis, on all things related to foreign direct investment in 175 countries.

The Center is a European think tank launched under the patronage of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair to develop a vision of a fair and rule-based world center. The Center develops, disseminates and promotes innovative policy ideas.

Foreign Policy In Focus (FPIF) is a think tank for research, analysis, and action that brings together scholars, advocates, and activists to advance and influence debate and discussion.

The web page “Forum for the Future” – of the U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Public Affairs- provides access to documents related to the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) initiative.

The Foundation is a non-profit charitable and educational organization qualified under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, March 1994.

The Foundation for the Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a nonpartisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that drive terrorism.

FH is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working to advance democracy and freedom around the world. FH has a number of international programs, some in Algeria and Morocco.

Freedom House's rating for evaluating political rights and civil liberties of most countries in the world annually ranked since 1972. Since 1995, the Index of Economic Freedom has offered the international community an annual in-depth examination of the factors that contribute most directly to economic freedom and prosperity. The methodology defines 10 dimensions of governance relevant to business and investment

"Stiftung" is the German word for "Foundation" is a private, non-profit, cultural institution committed to the ideas and values of social democracy and of the labour movement. The foundation promotes international development cooperation and provides advisory services in economic and social development, socio-political education and information, the media and communication.

From Pushing Reforms to Pulling Reforms: The Role of Challenge Programs in Foreign Aid Policy [English]. 2005. [brief description]

This paper considers what role pull instruments or challenge programs (such as the World Bank's Poverty Reduction Support Credits or the United States' Millennium Challenge Account) could play within the overall framework of foreign aid, asking how they could be designed to function as effective and efficient incentive instruments and how they could best complement other aid modalities.

The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) is an international foundation that was established in 1995 under Swiss law to "promote the building and maintenance of peace, security and stability".

The centre (DCAF) promotes good governance and reform of the security sector through working with governments and civil society to foster and strengthen the democratic and civilian control of security sector organizations. One of DCAF's focus areas is strengthening parliamentary oversight of the security sector

The Center DCAF, established by the Swiss government in October 2000, works with governments and civil society to foster and strengthen the democratic and civilian control of security sector organisations such as police, intelligence agencies, border security services, paramilitary forces, and armed forces.

Global Centre for Information and Communication Technologies in Parliament [English]. [brief description]

The Global Centre for Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) intends to strengthen Parliaments' role as institutions that promote good governance and democratic accountability through the effective use and integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in parliamentary processes.

The Forum contributes to the efforts of the international community to promote the private sector as an engine of growth, reduce the vulnerability of developing and transition economies to financial crises, and provide incentives for corporations to invest and perform efficiently, in a socially responsible manner.

The Global Development Network (GDN) is a worldwide network of research and policy institutes which provides perspectives to the actual development challenges. It aims at accelerating the pace of global development by conducting policy-relevant research at the local level in developing and transition countries.

Global Forum on Reinventing Government Toward Participatory and Transparent Governance [English][French]. [brief description]

The theme for the 6th Forum, "Toward Participatory and Transparent Governance" was chosen to reflect the increased need for effective, accountable and transparent administrative and management structures, based on collaboration and partnership among the key players (governments, business, and civil society) of the state.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is responsible of the bilateral grants of Japan's Official Development Assistance, which is focused on a number of global issues: WID/ gender equality, environment, population / AIDS, education, disability, poverty, and efforts pertaining to peace building.

GPF founded, in December 1993 by group of citizens from several countries, monitors global policymaking at the United Nations and promotes a more open, accountable and democratic policy process at the global level. GPF is based in New York City and has consultative status at the UN. GFP's objectives are: to strengthen international peace and human security; to insure financial resources for the UN's programs and to foster an environment of social and economic policy at the global level so as to win greater rights, equality and social justice.

GPPi is a non-profit think tank that focuses on global governance. GPPi advises governments, international organizations, foundations, NGOs, and companies and assists them in developing effective strategies for operating in the new governance environment.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme - Global Urban Observatory initiative responds to one of the most critical needs of urban policy - the need for better information on urban conditions and trends. GUO is focused on the generation, analysis and dissemination of global, regional and national urban indicators and statistics and in the process has developed a number of key urban indicators databases.

The Good practices database provides information for organizations interested in learning from the experiences of others working on gender equality issues.

The Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC) provides timely information to support international development project and programme planning, policy-making, and other activities in the field. The GSDRC was established by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) in 2005.

This is a governance location focused on corporate and board governance, ethics, development and social responsibility. Information is obtained from many sources for a wide range of information, opinion and debate.

This page contains the World Bank's latest updated composite governance research indicators for 175 countries, for six dimensions of governance.

The World Bank's Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues.

The Governance Resource Centre (GRC) Exchange is a new website sharing the latest information about governance in development. Hosted by the GRC of the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and compiled by leading international experts, the GRC Exchange provides a focal point for sharing ideas in governance.

GRC is an independent research institute located in Dubai, UAE. GRC seeks to provide politically neutral and academically sound research about the GCC countries and disseminate the knowledge obtained from such research as widely as possible.

Harnessing Trade for Development and Growth in the Middle East [English]. 2002. [brief description]

This report focuses on trade-oriented policy reform options that could be used by governments as part of a strategy to attain and sustain more vigorous growth.

The Harvard Institute for International Development (HIID) brings together the diverse resources and talents of Harvard University to assist developing and transitional nations in crafting polices to accelerate their economic growth and improve the welfare of their people.

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