Home » Regions » Middle East & North Africa

IFES - Middle East and North Africa

Middle East & North Africa

The MENA region has experienced a number of recent political changes, like the Israeli pullout from the Gaza Strip and the Lebanese protests that led to the Syrian withdrawal of troops from Lebanon. Transition to democracy can be a very slow process, but there is some evidence--for example, Egypt’s recent elections--of political liberalization in the region.

Current Projects

Project on Disability and Elections

IFES is working in Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Yemen to assist disability organizations become more active and visible in their country's elections. Under this 30-month program funded by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, IFES will help position disability groups to conduct civic and voter education campaigns, election monitoring and assessment efforts, and to advance ideas for election reform.

Promoting the Rule of Law and Integrity in the Middle East and North Africa

Funded by the UNDP’s Programme on Arab Governance and Reform, IFES is working to create analytical frameworks describing the key steps needed to build governing systems grounded in the rule of law and integrity.

Strategy for Election Support in the Middle East and North Africa

After conducting a series of five country studies, IFES has developed a multi-year strategy for election support in selected countries in the Middle East and North Africa.