VZCZCXRO5003
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0193/01 0431512
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 121512Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8249
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KUWAIT 000193 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR NEA/PI, NEA/ARP, NEA/PPD, ABU DHABI FOR MEPI (HWECHSEL, 
MHOPKINS) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 
TAGS: PREL KMPI KPAO KU MEPI
SUBJECT: UPCOMING NDI PROGRAMMING IN KUWAIT 
 
REF: A. STATE 14306 
     ¶B. KUWAIT 174 
 
Classified By: ADCM Timothy Lenderking for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U)  Embassy Kuwait approves of the overall direction of 
the workplan set out by NDI for spending the rest of its 
funding.  The emphasis on building the political capacity of 
women, political associations, and youth works toward the 
USG's Freedom Agenda goals for Kuwait.  Post offers the 
following suggestions to hone the workplan and to determine 
next steps. 
 
Women 
----- 
 
¶2.  (C/NF)  The chairman of the parliamentary women's 
committee noted to us recently that women have not gotten 
involved enough in civil society (ref b).  He found it 
problematic that most NGOs and professional associations had 
very few if any women on their boards.  He felt that most 
women were involved in NGOs explicitly devoted to women's 
issues or saw politics and civil society only as a means to 
resolving personal bureaucratic problems.  Programming to 
increase general female civic involvement in existing 
organizations that can mobilize voters would therefore be 
useful. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Women complained during the last elections that 
they did not have enough time to organize their campaigns. 
Most of the women who are potential candidates in the next 
elections do not seem to be preparing in earnest.  Even if 
elections do not take place until scheduled in 2010, the 
planning process should begin now.  There is always the 
possibility of another snap election, which means women will 
need to be especially proactive in their organizational 
efforts. Ideally, programming in Kuwait would emphasize the 
importance of starting early, perhaps by setting benchmarks 
or other means of encouraging early preparations. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  The NDI focus on providing research about the 
issues that people actually vote on is especially important. 
Many, though not all, of the women who ran in the last 
elections have an elite social and educational background 
that makes it difficult for them to connect with many voters. 
 Post reiterates the importance of reaching out to women who 
may not have benefited from MEPI-funded programs in the past, 
and stands ready to assist NDI in identifying them. 
 
Political "Blocs" 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (C/NF)  In Kuwaiti politics, political "blocs" refer to 
the loose, undisciplined coalitions of MPs in the parliament. 
 A better term for the targets of NDI programming is 
political associations.  A key feature of Kuwaiti politics is 
that the Islamist groups are generally the best organized and 
most sophisticated in their outreach efforts.  It is 
important that other groups get the training and resources to 
compete on a level playing field.  The role of political 
associations in Kuwait is politically sensitive and great 
care must be taken in any USG-sponsored approach.  There are 
certain groups with whom we should not work, particularly the 
Salafis.  However, other Islamists enjoy great popularity and 
have demonstrated a commitment to democratic politics, at 
least for the foreseeable future.  Excluding them might 
delegitimize the entire project, and we will need to be 
sensitive to this. 
 
Youth 
----- 
 
¶6.  (C/NF)  Post suggests that more emphasis be placed on 
sustainability and follow-up in the youth-centered 
programming.  The suggested programming plans to work on 
"organizational structures, strategic planning, membership 
development, platform development, communication strategies." 
 These are worthwhile goals, but it might be useful to come 
up with more tangible short-term projects.  For instance, 
each youth group could prepare two small or medium-sized 
projects to complete within six months.  They would present 
their idea to the other groups for feedback.  A follow-up 
event could be held six months later to evaluate the status 
of the groups' projects. 
 
NDI Not Coordinating Activities in Kuwait Sufficiently 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶7.  (C/NF)  Post is unsatisfied with its communications with 
 
KUWAIT 00000193  002 OF 002 
 
 
NDI.  We have repeatedly requested to be kept informed of NDI 
activities in country, but are frequently surprised to learn 
that their representatives have been in country talking to 
various groups about U.S.-funded projects.  We have heard 
some complaints from Kuwaiti contacts about sporadic and 
disconnected NDI visits (of which the Embassy was unaware). 
 
********************************************* * 
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