UAE MEPI COUNTRY STRATEGY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ABU DHABI 003037

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/RA; NEA/PPD; ARP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO ETRD SOCI SCUL BTIO EAID PGOV
SUBJECT: UAE MEPI COUNTRY STRATEGY

REFS: A) STATE 126550; B) ABU DHABI 000325;

C) ABU DHABI 00497


1. SUMMARY: Following is the UAE's country strategy for MEPI,
which has been developed by PA and coordinated with POL and ECON.
This includes long-term goals, specific objectives, suggested
mechanisms by which goals could be realized, and a request for
funding for two UAE-specific projects. END SUMMARY.


2. Economic reform:

GOAL: Enhance the UAE's global competitiveness through support
for its integration into the global economy:

Objectives: Assist the UAEG to comply with its WTO obligations
and to actively participate in WTO fora; support trade-related
institution-building;

Mechanisms: Conduct targeted WTO seminars and training;

GOAL: Judicial Reform: Foster transparency and consistency in
legal proceedings and rendition of judgments;

Objectives: Educate UAE judges and prosecutors on more efficient
court administration and case management and sensitize them on
key legal issues, including prevailing norms on protection of
intellectual property rights;

Mechanisms: Encourage active participation by Ministry of Justice
officials and judges in the future Judicial Training Institute in
Manama; encourage attendance by high-level MOJ officials at the
upcoming Judicial Reform Forum in Manama; invite MOJ officials to
attend IV programs on court administration and case management;
engage with MOJ's Judicial Training Institute, Dubai Justice
Department's Judicial Training Institute and the UAE Jurists
Association on possible training or exchanges.

GOAL: Address looming problem of unemployment among young
nationals, which has negative implications for national
stability;

Objectives: Foster entrepreneurship among nationals, especially
women;

Mechanisms: Support existing and future programs to train
nationals for private sector employment; Support existing women's
business associations and programs that provide practical skills
training and foster entrepreneurship among women; establish Arab
Businesswomen or US-UAE Businesswomen network or mentoring
program.


3. Political Reform:

GOAL: Encourage broader political participation, particularly by
women, and strengthen civil society.

Objectives: Expand and strengthen the role of NGOs and the media
sector in the UAE; support training for members of the Federal
National Council (FNC) and the elected councils in Dubai which
will serve as the grassroots model for broader political
participation in the UAE; enhance the professionalism and
independence of both local and regional media in the UAE, which
is fast becoming a major regional media hub;

Mechanisms: We recommend initiatives, particularly regional
projects, directed to women and NGOS through such tools as
citizens' exchanges, International visitor programs, and programs
such as MEET. We also recommend that MEPI look to organize
training workshops for media. Post has conducted some recently
with great success. Journalists here welcome the opportunity to
improve their skills and professionalism. Dubai represents an
excellent location in which to conduct such workshops for the
entire region.

SPECIFIC PROJECT REQUEST: The appointed Federal National Council
has requested that we organize a visit to the US in October 2003
for eight persons, four FNC members and four staffers, to learn
about the operation of federal and state legislatures. This is an
unprecedented request and would provide an opening to strengthen
the role of the FNC as an advocacy body for public concerns.
Post requests that the MEPI office arrange for a US-based
organization to take on the logistical and planning arrangements
for this project. We note that this is an unprecedented
opportunity to effect some change in the traditionally static
FNC. A proposal will be sent septel.


4. Education Reform:

GOAL: Help the UAE modernize its education system and curricula.

Objectives: Train a work force with skills applicable to today's
job market; Help the UAE promote an atmosphere of tolerance and
moderation in its school curricula and system;

Mechanisms: Curriculum revision and updating; Teacher training,
including training for teachers on how to teach revised
curricula, how to employ critical thinking and IT in the
classroom; English language training for teachers in K-12;
Accreditation: how to set standards for accreditation. (NOTE:
Because of its multi-cultural population, the UAE has at least 16
different kinds of school systems. US accreditation standards are
of particular interest and importance here. END NOTE)

SPECIFIC PROJECT REQUEST: Post requests a grant of $41,000 to
award locally to Zayed University's School for the Professional
Development of UAE Educators to conduct workshops for UAE
educators to improve the teaching methodology of national
teachers in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. A more detailed proposal will
be sent septel.


5. COMMENT and REQUEST: As MEPI has begun to take shape, and we
have had time to reflect upon how we might best apply it here, we
have come to the realization that our strategy must be two-
pronged: both regional and local. Post will participate in the
many regional programs - both MEPI and P4L - now underway or in
planning. There are however, many opportunities which offer
themselves within the UAE which we cannot take advantage of
without access to direct and flexible funding. In the last six
months, we have reached out to a wide range of UAE institutions
to seek them as partners and stakeholders with us in implementing
MEPI projects. These include the universities, the ministries,
the Emirates News Agency, judicial training institutes, and
others. We seek to empower these local partners and to draw them
fully into the MEPI process, and they are eager to participate.
They alone have the expertise to reach deep into the local
community and engage a wider range of Emiratis. Post requests
therefore that a small-grants program be added to the MEPI
arsenal of tools available to us, grants of up to $50,000 or
$100,000 which can be awarded by posts through an agreed-upon
mechanism. All PAOs have grant authority which would allow them
to draft and issue grants at post. END COMMENT and REQUEST

WAHBA