Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03AMMAN1650
2003-03-19 06:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

MEPI: POST PLAN TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF GOOD

Tags:  EFIN ECON EAID PREL KDEM SCUL KPAO XF JO 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 001650 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STATE NEA ATTN. LIZ CHENEY,
NEA/PPD MACINNES, BOURGEOIS,
NEA/RA KWALKER, GGRAPPO, HPIERCE, BKEARY, MSPIRNAK;
NEA/ARN SZIADEH,
NEA/PPR SFRANCESKI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID PREL KDEM SCUL KPAO XF JO
SUBJECT: MEPI: POST PLAN TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND CITIZEN AWARENESS

REF: SECSTATE 15081

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 001650

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STATE NEA ATTN. LIZ CHENEY,
NEA/PPD MACINNES, BOURGEOIS,
NEA/RA KWALKER, GGRAPPO, HPIERCE, BKEARY, MSPIRNAK;
NEA/ARN SZIADEH,
NEA/PPR SFRANCESKI

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID PREL KDEM SCUL KPAO XF JO
SUBJECT: MEPI: POST PLAN TO SUPPORT GROWTH OF GOOD
GOVERNANCE AND CITIZEN AWARENESS

REF: SECSTATE 15081


1. POST'S INTERAGENCY MEPI COMMITTEE, CONSISTING OF USAID,
POL, ECON AND PA HAS DEVELOPED THE FOLLOWING STRATEGY OVER
THE NEXT YEAR TO ENCOURAGE GOOD GOVERNANCE IN JORDAN. OUR
PLAN AIMS TO STRENGTHEN CITIZEN AWARENESS AND ACTIVISM
THROUGH NGO'S AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH AND THE COURTS. GIVEN THE POLITICAL
REALITIES OF JORDAN, WE RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO
COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH THE GOJ, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE CAN ONLY COME FROM AN ENLIGHTENED AND
EMPOWERED JORDANIAN PEOPLE. CONTINUED PROGRESS IN THE OTHER
TWO MEPI PILLARS, ESPECIALLY ECONOMIC REFORM AND
DEVELOPMENT, WILL ALSO HELP CREATE A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT
FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE. FOLLOWING IS OUR OVERALL PLAN, AND WE
WILL REQUEST MEPI SUPPORT FOR SOME OF IT IN A "SCOPE OF WORK
PROJECT FORMAT". OTHER PROJECTS WILL BE FINANCED OUT OF
THE PASA AGREEMENT RECENTLY SIGNED AT POST BETWEEN PUBLIC
AFFAIRS AND USAID. OUR ABILITY TO CARRY OUT THESE
ACTIVITIES WILL, OF COURSE, DEPEND VERY MUCH ON POLITICAL
AND SECURITY CONDITIONS IN JORDAN.


A. ELECTION SUPPORT:
KING HAS DECLARED THAT ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD FOR LOWER
HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT ON JUNE 17, WITH MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS TO
FOLLOW IN JULY. MISSION WILL ASSIST CANDIDATES, CAMPAIGN
MANAGERS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS FROM A WIDE RANGE OF
POLITICAL PARTIES BY OFFERING THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT.

--ELECTION CAMPAIGN LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR CANDIDATES
AND CAMPAIGN MANAGERS, INCLUDING SPECIAL SESSIONS FOR THE 40-
60 FEMALE CANDIDATES EXPECTED TO RUN AND THEIR CAMPAIGN
MANAGERS (PART OF A PROJECT ALSO SUGGESTED BY PLANNING
MINISTER AWADULLAH - SPRING 03);
--WORKSHOPS FOR BROADCAST AND PRINT JOURNALISTS ON ELECTION
COVERAGE (SPRING 03);
--CREATION AND DISSEMINATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
INFORMING VOTERS ON ELECTION PROCEDURES IN COOPERATION WITH

GOJ AND MEDIA;
--SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT DOMESTIC OR INTERNATIONAL ELECTION
MONITORS, IF THEY ARE APPOINTED (SPRING 03);
--MISSION TO SUPPORT THROUGH LOCAL NGO (JORDAN NATIONAL
FORUM FOR WOMEN) A PHONE BANK FOR ALL FEMALE CANDIDATES
THROUGH WHICH THEY CAN CONTACT THE CONSTITUENTS (SPRING 03);
--SPECIAL ORIENTATION VISITS TO U.S. UNDER INTERNATIONAL
VISITOR AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR NEWLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
TO FAMILIARIZE THEM WITH U.S, LEGISLATIVE PRACTICES (SUMMER
03);
--ORIENTATION VISIT AND TWO-WEEK TRAINING PROGRAM IN THE
U.S. FOR NEWLY ELECTED FEMALE CANDIDATES (FALL 03);
--POSSIBLE CITIZENS' EXCHANGE PROGRAM AIMED AT DEVELOPING A
CORE GROUP OF LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANTS (FALL 03);


B. JUDICIAL REFORM
GOJ HAS MADE INCREASED CITIZEN CONFIDENCE IN THE JUDICIARY A
TOP PRIORITY BOTH TO INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN RULE OF LAW
DOMESTICALLY AND TO FOSTER A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR LOCAL
AND FOREIGN TRADE AND INVESTMENT. MISSION PLANS FOLLOWING
SUPPORT.

--RETURNED JUSTICE MINISTRY OFFICIALS TO DESIGN TRAINING FOR
JUDICIAL PERSONNEL BASED ON THEIR U.S. EXPERIENCE PROVIDED
THROUGH THE CITIZEN EXCHANGE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE
INSTITUTE FOR THE STUDY OF DEVELOPING LEGAL SYSTEMS (SPRING
03);
--PILOT PROGRAMS IN CASE MANAGEMENT AND MEDIATION TO BE
ESTABLISHED IN AQABA AND POSSIBLY OTHER JORDANIAN CITIES
(FALL 03);
--PROGRAM TO TRAIN JUDICIAL MEDIATORS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN
YARMOUK UNIVERSITY (FALL 03);
--JUDICIAL MEDIATION TO BE INTRODUCED AS PART OF THE CORE
CURRICULUM TO LAW FACULTIES THROUGHOUT JORDAN (FALL 04);
--ENGLISH AND INTERNET TRAINING FOR JUDICIAL PERSONNEL TO BE
EXPANDED (ONGOING);


C. WOMEN'S RIGHTS
POST WILL SUPPORT WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL LIFE,
PARTICULARLY THE ELECTIONS (SEE ABOVE),AND WILL ALSO
SUPPORT WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING
ACTIVITIES.

--HELP ESTABLISH THE FAMILY PROTECTION PROGRAM, SUGGESTED BY
MINISTER OF PLANNING AWADULLAH, INCLUDING CENTERS WHICH CAN
DEFEND WOMEN AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND RAISE AWARENESS
AMONG THE CITIZENRY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
(SPRING 03);
--ASSIST THE GENERAL FEDERATION OF JORDANIAN WOMEN IN
CONDUCTING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR WOMEN THROUGHOUT THE 12
GOVERNORATES FOCUSSING ON LEADERSHIP, MEDIA AND MANAGERIAL
SKILLS AS WELL AS HUMAN RIGHTS AWARENESS, ALSO PROPOSED BY
PLANNING MINISTER (SPRING THROUGH FALL 03);
--CONDUCT LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN PROSECUTING VIOLENT CRIMES AGAINST
WOMEN (FALL-WINTER 03-04);
--SPECIAL ESL AND COMPUTER TRAINING FOR WOMEN ACTIVISTS
(SPRING 03 AND ONGOING);
--CITIZENS' EXCHANGE AND TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN'S NGO'S
(SPRING THRU FALL 03);
--SUPPORT WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' RIGHTS AS A PRINCIPLE COMPONENT
OF CIVIC EDUCATION AT THE SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY LEVEL AS
PART OF MISSION'S CIVIC EDUCATION SUPPORT (SEE BELOW);
--SUPPORT THE WOMEN'S MEDIA CENTER, WHICH TRAINS AND
ADVOCATES FOR WOMEN JOURNALISTS, THROUGH TRAINING AND
EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (SPRING THRU FALL 03);
--SUPPORT PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S ASSOCIATIONS IN AREAS RELATED
TO INCREASING WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
(ONGOING);
--PROMOTE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN THE SMALL, MEDIUM, AND
MICRO ENTERPRISE SECTORS (ONGOING);
--ENCOURAGE THE EXPANSION OF WOMEN IN INFORMATION
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (SUMMER 03);
--PROVIDE BUSINESS EDUCATION TO YOUNG WOMEN (ONGOING);
--INFORM WOMEN OF FAMILY PLANNING METHODS, LEADING TO A
HEALTHIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE POPULATION THROUGH REDUCED
FERTILITY (ONGOING);
--SUPPLY WOMEN WITH HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE SERVICES
TARGETED TO UNDER-SERVED REGIONS (ONGOING);


D. FREE AND FAIR MEDIA
MISSION IS PROVIDING TRAINING AIMED AT RAISING THE
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL OF JORDANIAN JOURNALISTS AND ENCOURAGING
THE PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA TO PLAY A STRONGER ROLE IN
RAISING CITIZEN'S AWARENESS AND EMPOWERMENT. WE WILL
CONTINUE THIS EFFORT THROUGH THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES.

--CONDUCT IN-SERVICE WORKSHOPS AND WEB TRAINING FOR
BROADCAST AND PRINT JOURNALISTS (SPRING 03 THRU FALL 04);
--SUPPORT THROUGH GRANTS FOR TRAINING AND EXCHANGES THE
CENTER FOR THE DEFENSE OF JOURNALISTS, WHICH DEFENDS
JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN IMPRISONED OR CHARGED WITH
VIOLATIONS OF THE PRESS OR SECURITY LAWS (SPRING 03-FALL
04);
--SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BRANCH OF THE NEWLY
PROPOSED MIDDLE EAST TV IN AMMAN, WHICH WOULD GENERATE NEWS
AND CURRENT EVENTS PROGRAMS AND SERVE AS A MODEL FOR LOCAL
BROADCAST PROFESSIONALS, PARTICULARLY JORDAN TV AND RADIO
(SPRING 03);
--STRENGTHEN THE INSTRUCTION OF JOURNALISM AT JORDANIAN
UNIVERSITIES (FALL03-04);


E. TRANSPARENCY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION
THE GOJ HAS PUBLICLY COMMITTED ITSELF TO THE NEED FOR
TRANSPARENCY AND EQUITABLE CONTRACTING AND PROVISION OF
SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AS A MEANS OF ENSURING THE CITIZEN'S
CONFIDENCE AND FOSTERING A GOOD BUSINESS CLIMATE FOR FOREIGN
TRADE AND INVESTMENT. IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF ACCEDING TO
THE WTO'S GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT, WHICH WILL
REQUIRE REFORMS IN GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS THAT WILL
REDUCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRAUD AND ABUSE. THE MINISTRY OF
ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT PARTICIPATED DURING SUMMER 02 IN
MISSION WORKSHOPS ON TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT
AND WE PLAN TO FOLLOW UP THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS.

--IMPLEMENT E-GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES FOR THE GOJ, INCLUDING A
FULL BUSINESS PROCESS RE-ENGINEERING (ONGOING);
--TRANSFORM THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF AQABA INTO A
STREAMLINED, EFFICIENT, AND TRANSPARENT REGIONAL AUTHORITY
(ONGOING);
--MODERNIZE THE NATIONAL AND AQABA CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES
THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING (ONGOING);
--INCREASE THE TRANSPARENCY OF THE COMMERCIAL LEGAL
FRAMEWORK AND INSTITUTIONS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND
TRAINING OF LEGAL PERSONNEL (FALL 03);
--PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY WITHIN SIX GOJ AGENCIES AND
MINISTRIES THROUGH A "CENTERS OF EXCELLENCY" PROGRAM THAT
UTILIZES INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES IN PROVIDING PUBLIC
SERVICES;
--TRAIN OVER 20 BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS IN PUBLIC SECTOR
ADVOCACY (ONGOING);
--SUPPORT THE GOJ PLAN TO ACCEDE TO THE WTO'S GOVERNMENT
PROCUREMENT AGREEMENT, OPENING THE GOJ PROCUREMENTS TO
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION (ONGOING);
--SIMPLIFY INVESTMENT AND BUSINESS REGISTRATION PROCESSES
AT THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEVELS (ONGOING);
--SUPPORT PRIVATIZATION OF STATE-OWNED ENTERPRISES
(ONGOING);
--CONDUCT FOLLOW-ON WORKSHOPS FOR GOJ OFFICIALS, NGO'S AND
JUDICIAL PERSONNEL ON ANTI-CORRUPTION AND TRANSPARENCY
PRACTICES (SUMMER 03);
--SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF JOURNALISTS IN INVESTIGATIVE
REPORTING (SUMMER 03);
--SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING FOR NGO'S DEDICATED
TO MONITORING GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND CONTRACTING WITH
THE PRIVATE SECTOR (FALL 03-04);
--THROUGH THE FULBRIGHT AND OTHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SUPPORT
JORDANIAN LAW AND POLITICAL SCIENCE INSTRUCTION AT THE
UNIVERSITY TO INCLUDE A STRONG ETHICS AND TRANSPARENCY
COMPONENT (FALL 03-04);


F. CIVIC EDUCATION
BOTH THE EDUCATION MINISTRY AND JORDANIAN NGO'S HAVE SHOWN A
STRONG MOTIVATION TO REFORM EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES TO
ENCOURAGE TOLERANCE, RESPONSIBILITY, CIVIC CONSCIOUSNESS AND
INDEPENDENT THINKING AMONG YOUTH. WE WILL SUPPORT THEM
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS.
--THROUGH SPEAKERS, ACADEMIC SPECIALISTS AND WORKSHOPS,
STRENGTHEN THE NEWLY FORMED, PAN-ARAB NGO "CIVITAS," WHOSE
JORDANIAN MEMBER IS TRANSLATING A FOLLOW-ON TO THE "PROJECT
CITIZEN" CIVED TEXTBOOK SERIES FOR USE IN JORDANIAN SCHOOLS
(FALL 03-04);
--SUPPORT MINISTRY OF EDUCATION'S PILOT 21ST CENTURY
WORKPLACE EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS THROUGH
SEMINARS, EXCHANGES AND TRAINING BY VISITING U.S. EXPERTS
WHICH INCLUDE A STRONG CIVED COMPONENT (FALL 03-04);
--EXPAND THE "DIALOGUE OF CULTURES" BETWEEN JORDANIAN, U.S.
AND OTHER STUDENTS THROUGH THE IEARN, GLOBE AND OTHER WEB-
BASED EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (ONGOING);
--CONDUCT YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND
UNIVERSITY LEVEL, AIMED AT EXPOSING JORDANIAN STUDENTS TO
U.S. BEST PRACTICES IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT, VOLUNTARISM AND
YOUTH ACTIVITIES (SUMMER 03);
--SUPPORT TEACHER EXCHANGES AND TRAINING IN THE U.S. THROUGH
CITIZEN EXCHANGE PROGRAMS WHICH INCLUDE A STRONG CIVED
COMPONENT (SUMMER-FALL 03-04);
--ENCOURAGE THE STRENGTHENING OF PARENT-TEACHER PROGRAMS
THROUGH SPEAKERS AND EXCHANGE PROGRAMS (FALL 03-04);
--SUPPORT JTV'S NEW SESAME STREET SERIES (INTENDED FOR
CHILDREN AND ADULTS) AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS THAT ENCOURAGE
CIVIC AWARENESS (ONGOING);
--ENSURE THAT ESL ASSISTANCE TO THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
SCHOOL SYSTEM INCLUDES A STRONG CIVIC EDUCATION COMPONENT IN
THE CONTENT-BASED ESL MATERIALS, CURRICULA AND TEACHING
METHODOLOGY (ONGOING);
--INCLUDE A STRONG CIVIC EDUCATION COMPONENT IN THE SUMMER
TRAINING COURSE AT THE AMERICAN LANGUAGE CENTER FOR 250
SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHERS. (SUMMER 03)