VZCZCXRO3072
RR RUEHDE
DE RUEHKU #4235/01 3011225
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281225Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7326
RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 1564
INFO RUEHMEP/THE MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KUWAIT 004235 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/PI, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD 
ABU DHABI FOR MEPI (HWECHSEL, MHOPKINS) 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL KMPI KPAO KU MEPI
SUBJECT: KUWAIT MEPIC 6 - FY06Q4: New Exchange Participants, 
Post-election Follow-up, and Civic Education Advances 
 
Ref: A) State 147848 - MEPI Small Grants 
     B) Kuwait 2824 
     C) Kuwait 1986 
     D) Kuwait 1224 
     E) Kuwait 605 
     F) Kuwait 540 
     G) Kuwait 436 
     H) 05 Kuwait 4144 
     I) 05 Kuwait 2732 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for internet distribution. 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  This MEPI quarterly report covers key MEPI 
developments in Kuwait during FY06Q4 and responds to questions posed 
in State 147848 (see paragraph 5).  In addition to addressing the 
progress made by Kuwaiti NGOs toward fulfillment of FY05 and FY06 
Small Grants projects, the report includes information regarding 
post's nominees and participants in MEPI and MENA exchanges 
programs, as well as the results of visits to post by MEPI 
representatives and partners and the status of in-country programs. 
End Summary. 
 
Continued Progress with Small Grants 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U)  The Embassy's MEPI activities in the fourth quarter began 
with monitoring of ongoing Small Grants Program projects and 
initiating new activities: 
 
Status of FY05 Small Grants Projects 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3. (U)  During the third quarter of FY06, members of the Embassy's 
MEPI team worked closely with grantees to encourage forward movement 
on ongoing and pending projects: 
 
a) CineMagic's civic-minded film project continued filmmaking 
activities through the fourth quarter of FY06.  The key element of 
the project was the film production process, which highlighted 
teamwork, gender parity, and democratic dialogue.  This had a 
positive impact on the 10 project participants who had never had the 
chance to participate in activities requiring teamwork and the 
mixing of young men and women.  Six students completed their 
civic-minded film projects during the fourth quarter.  Four more are 
expected to complete their short public service announcement films 
during the current school semester. 
 
b) The Lothan Youth Achievement Center (LoYAC) project on summer 
entrepreneurship training for youth began implementation in late 
June and early July, 2006.  LoYAC included the MEPI logo in its 
advertisements published in Kuwait's Arabic and English newspapers 
and in the organization's summer program brochure.  The project 
terminated successfully in August 2006. 
 
FY06 Small Grants Program 
------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U)  The following is the status of unresolved FY06 Small Grants 
Program proposals for the last quarter: 
 
a) LoYAC - The Regional Office presented recommended amendments to 
the applicant.  Requiring additional time to consider the 
amendments, LoYAC withdrew from the FY06 application process and 
will reconsider applying in FY07. 
 
b) Society for Study and Leadership - Amendments were suggested to 
the applicant and were accepted.  The project on women's leadership 
training was approved. 
 
c) Dr. Suad Al-Tararwah's proposal on family legal issues, which 
duplicated the objectives of another MEPI project already underway 
in Kuwait, was not approved.  The MEPI team recommended that Dr. 
Al-Tararwah submit an FY07 Small Grants application focusing on 
legal reform. 
 
Small Grants Program Suggestions 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U)  In response to ref. A, Post's MEPI team offers the following 
points: 
 
a) The ability for applicants to apply in Arabic and receive 
translation and review support from the Regional Office in Abu Dhabi 
has improved the application process; 
 
b) Some applications were deemed inappropriate because they were 
 
KUWAIT 00004235  002 OF 004 
 
 
submitted for ongoing programs.  Opening the Small Grants Program to 
 funding for existing or ongoing programs that meet MEPI goals would 
expand the base of organizations eligible to apply to the MEPI Small 
Grants Program; 
 
c) The most successfully implemented programs appeared to be those 
conducted by individuals or organizations with prior experience in 
performing NGO-type activities.  This limits potential applicants 
who lack similar experience.  Offering clarification of MEPI 
objectives, training on MEPI procedures, the grant application 
process and successful programming, as well as "start up" support 
for potential applicants would be beneficial. 
 
New Exchange Program Participants 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶6. (U)  Post's MEPI team solicited names in July for a nominee from 
Kuwait to take part in the second annual MENA Businesswomen's Summit 
scheduled for October 30-November 1, in Abu Dhabi, being organized 
by University of California's Beyster Institute. 
 
¶7. (U)  The following nominees traveled to the U.S. to participate 
in the MEPI Study of the U.S. Institutes for Student Leaders, held 
July-August 2006: 
 
a) University Students: 
-Mr. Khalifa Al-Azmi, Kuwait University, University of Delaware 
(Newark, Delaware) 
-Mr. Abbas Kamal, Kuwait University, Georgetown University 
(Washington, D.C.) 
-Mr. Mohammed Abdulsalam, Kuwait University, Montana State 
University (Bozeman, Montana) 
 
b) Recent High School Graduate: 
-Ms. Dalal, Al-Wzzan, Bibi Al-Salem High School, Benedictine 
University (Lisle, Illinois) 
 
¶8. (U)  On September 4, Post's MEPI team issued announcements to 
contacts and the Kuwaiti media about the third round of recruitment 
for the Middle East Entrepreneur Training in the U.S. (MEET U.S.) 
Program for entrepreneurs and executives from the Middle East and 
North Africa.  The Beyster Institute with support from the Embassy's 
Public Affairs Section is managing the 2006 recruiting efforts. 
 
MEPI Visitors Advance CivEd and Environmental Projects 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶9. (U)  On September 8-9, the Embassy hosted MEPI Regional 
Office-Abu Dhabi Education/Economics Specialist Mu'ayyad Mehyar who 
visited Kuwait to encourage the completion of Kuwait Environmental 
Protection Society's environmental awareness project proposal.  Jay 
Taylor of the Center for Civic Education joined Mr. Mehyar on 
September 10 to promote MEPI's civic education programs for Kuwaiti 
public schools at the Ministry of Education.  The visitors, 
accompanied by Embassy Public Affairs staff, met with MinEd official 
Yusra Al-Omar.  Ms. Al-Omar indicated the Ministry's interest in the 
Civic Education project and proposed that the Center for Civic 
Education conduct training exercises in Kuwait by December 2006. 
The aim of the teacher training is to introduce the civic education 
project into Kuwaiti schools as soon as February 2007.  Post is 
pursuing a formal response from the Ministry of Education. 
 
¶10.  (SBU)  MEPI Washington Program Manager Olivia Ricchi and 
Patricia Tierney, Program Director for the Women in Technology (WIT) 
program, visited Kuwait September 20 - 23.  In addition to meeting 
with representations of the Women's Network on hiring for and 
establishing the WIT program, they had meetings with Kuwaiti women 
lawyers on activities to strengthen the legal education of women and 
position them to become lawyers.  MEPI partner Dr. Rola Dashti 
proposed that the Women's Network host the proposed Gulf hub of the 
Arab Women's Legal Network.  Attorney and former law school dean Dr. 
Badria Al-Awadi and prosecutor Dr. Weam Al-Masri promised to be 
actively involved in the hub if Kuwait were selected.  Al-Awadi also 
stressed the importance of including in the hub a legal aid center 
to provide assistance to all women in Kuwait, not just Kuwaiti 
nationals.  They further stressed the importance of addressing 
discrepancies in family/personal status law, commenting that the 
women facing the most discrimination were expatriates and 
non-elites.  In a separate meeting, Dr. Al-Tararwah offered to 
organize a local or regional conference on women's legal issues if 
provided with the necessary resources and direction. 
 
¶11.  (SBU)  Ricchi also met with Dima Malhaus of Freedom House which 
is in the early stages of a project examinining family law.  Ricchi 
echoed Post's recommendations that Freedom House consult widely and 
enlist the assistance of Al-Awadi, Al-Tararwah, and Dr. Alanoud 
 
KUWAIT 00004235  003 OF 004 
 
 
Al-Sharekh who have all reviewed or done projects related to family 
law.  In previous meetings with Freedom House, Post also stressed 
the importance of the project over Freedom House's presence in 
Kuwait.  Other MEPI partners have proven times that it is possible 
to operate successfully in Kuwait without formal office space, and 
administrative tasks can be completed with the support of local NGOs 
or commercial firms. 
 
In-Country Programs 
------------------- 
 
¶12. (U)  An Embassy MEPI team member attended the one-day Media Law 
Reform Workshop held September 16 on the topic of Kuwait's new media 
law and the identification of priorities for media reform. 
Coordinated in conjunction with the Center for Defending the Freedom 
of Journalists (CDFJ) and the Kuwait Syndicate of Correspondents 
(KSC), editors-in-chief, reporters and media commentators as well as 
attorneys specializing in media law attended the workshop.  This 
practical and constructive conference helped Kuwait media identify 
two areas that they considered worth pursuing: 1) advocating for 
improved to information from public officials and ministry 
information officers, and 2) reform of the new press law to include 
greater protection for journalists and specifically reducing 
proscribed jail terms as outlined in the new law. 
 
¶13. (U)  Representatives of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) 
returned to Kuwait in mid-September to assess the impact of previous 
NDI activities and to develop a work plan for effective use of 
remaining MEPI funds.  The team met with some of the women who ran 
for Parliament, women political activists, and members of Post's 
MEPI committee.  All identified the need for continued civic 
education, especially for women living outside of Kuwait City, and 
educating women on how to lobby and build advocacy groups.  NDI is 
redrafting a strategy for Post and MEPI Washington approval. 
 
Alumni Activities 
----------------- 
 
¶14. (U)  Alumni USA: The Ambassador hosted the first networking 
event for all Kuwaiti participants in USG-funded exchange programs 
as well as select graduates of American colleges and universities on 
September 17.  MEPI participants in programs, projects, and 
conferences also were included.  This event attracted more than 250 
guests and encouraged cross-fertilization between USG-funded program 
participants representing a broad swathe of accomplished 
professionals and executives comprising Kuwaiti society. 
 
Training 
-------- 
 
¶15. (U)  Kuwait's POLChief and Cultural Affairs Specialist attended 
the "Program Officers Training Seminar" hosted by the MEPI Regional 
Office in Abu Dhabi from September 25-27, 2006. 
 
The Next Year of MEPI: New Targets, New Focus 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶16. (U)  As mentioned in the third quarter report, the Embassy will 
focus on the following six prime objectives for future MEPI 
programming: 
a) encouraging the development of advocacy programs to help women 
and youth get their messages heard by elected bodies, 
b) promoting civic education in the public school system in 
partnership with the Ministry of Education, which has begun looking 
at implementing civic education in the curriculum, 
c) establishing university linkages between Kuwaiti and American 
institutions of higher education through MEPI and other channels, 
d) supporting reform and training in the legal/judicial field and 
for parliamentarians and National Assembly staff, 
e) supporting education programs for youth, including supporting 
youth Parliament programs intended to encourage youth engagement in 
politics and to provide them with leadership skills, and 
f) continuing political training based on the elections results and 
lessons learned from the elections process. 
 
Recommendations 
--------------- 
 
¶17. (U)  As a result of IIP-sponsored speakers on gender and 
politics and interfaith dialogue who visited Kuwait in September 
2006, MEPI alumni participating in their programs proposed to 
EmbOffs and interlocutors future MEPI projects along the following 
lines: 
a) a business leadership training program for 10-14 women under the 
auspices of American University, 
b) a "collaborative classroom" interactive dialogue conducted by the 
 
KUWAIT 00004235  004 OF 004 
 
 
director of the Women and Politics Institute via DVC linking women's 
networks established at American University in Washington, D.C., and 
American University of Kuwait, 
c) a student political activism grant with the Youth Group 
Organization, 
d) a program promoting dialogue between American and Kuwaiti Muslim 
leaders on democratic principles and Islam. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
 
TUELLER