Jordan MEPI Strategy

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 AMMAN 004038

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR STATE NEA ATTN. LIZ CHENEY,
NEA/PPD MACINESS, BOURGEOIS,
NEA/RA KWALKER, GGRAPPO, HPIERCE, BKEARY, MSPIRNAK;
NEA/ARN SZIADEH,
G/IWI
NEA/PI AROMANOWSKI, HPEIRCE, CBOURGEOIS, TSTASIUK, TWINCUP,
SFRANCESKI, RKAPLAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ECON EAID BTIO PGOV SOCI KWMN PREL KDEM SCUL BEXP PHUM KPAO XF JO ETRO
SUBJECT: Jordan MEPI Strategy

REF: A) State 126550 B) Amman 01650

C) State 145089 D) State 155970


1. Following per State 126550 is the post's integrated
MEPI strategy divided into the three MEPI Pillars: A)
Economic Reform and Private Enterprise b) Political Reform
and C) Education. Our approach is based on the good
governance and citizen awareness strategy outlined in reftel
B plus the Jordan Mission Program Plan and USAID's proposed
activities in education.

Economic Pillar (ECON)


2. Situation Analysis
King Abdullah has made economic reform his highest priority
and has taken key (and sometimes politically costly) steps
to institute reform. Beset by high unemployment and
population growth rates, modest per capita economic growth,
inadequate water and regional instability, Jordan is taking
energetic measures to attack its problems. The Government
has focused on increasing the role of the private sector and
improving the country's investment climate by pursuing sound
economic policies and trade and investment liberalization,
including a landmark Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.

S. that went into effect December 2001. GDP growth has
strengthened since 2000, yet high poverty and unemployment
rates remain significant problems.


3. Strategy: Economic Pillar

Jordan's efforts in confronting myriad problems hampering
economic growth and long-term prosperity are unique in the
region. Our support of Jordan's efforts seeks to strengthen
Jordan as a stable partner within the MEFTA. The ESF-funded
USAID program targets building economic opportunities,
health, population and education programs, and water
management aimed at bridging the hope gap and improving the
lives of the ordinary citizens, especially the youth. An
OES-supported regional environmental hub officer is based in
Amman. The above activities are underpinned by our ongoing
support for and encouragement of a sound, private sector
oriented economic policy framework that is conducive to
increased trade and investment flows between Jordan and the
rest of the world. This effort pays special attention to
encouraging greater transparency in government and private
sector exchanges, including under the U.S.-Jordan Free Trade
Agreement and through Jordan's accession to the WTO's
Government Procurement Agreement.


4. Specific Activities and Support Requested

a) Promote bilateral Trade and Investment in Support of
the President's MEFTA objectives.

--Encourage more effective IPR enforcement through
public awareness programs and technical assistance.
One large conference or two smaller workshops per
year at $ 40,000 per year over three years. Total:
$ 120,000

--Foster ties between U.S. and Jordanian business
associations through exchanges and meetings
sponsored by U.S. and Jordanian business community.

--Train over 20 local business associations in
public policy advocacy. Three conference/workshops
over three years, $ 40,000 per conference/workshop.
Total $ 120,000.

--Expose new Members of Parliament to key economic
issues and concepts, focusing on developing trade
relationships with the U.S. (See Democracy Pillar
below, part of Parliamentarian training.)

--Promote understanding of the benefits of modern
advances in agricultural science through PA-ECON
media activity.

--Support the growth of microfinance and access to
credit for new entrepreneurs in small and medium
size business, especially women and youth, through
on-going Mission programs in support of the
President's regional microfinance initiative.

b) Support Improved Access to Quality Health Care and
Adoption of Environmentally Friendly Agricultural and
Industrial Technologies and Regulations

--Provide training to new Ministry of Environment
staff to encourage efficiency and transparency,
especially in the conduct of environmental impact
assessments. One workshop per year over three years
at $ 40,000 per workshop. Five International
Visitor/Training trips to US: $ 75,000 Total
$195,000.

--Provide training for Ministry of Health officials
for implementation of a new national health
strategy, including training for Jordanian FDA
inspectors. Three workshops over three years at
$30,000 per workshop. Three International
Visitor/Training grants: $ 45,000. Total
$135,000.

c) Support Implementation of Sound Economic Policy
Framework Conducive to Sustainable, Private Sector-Led
Growth

--Modernize the national and Aqaba customs
authorities through technical assistance and
training.

--Strengthen basic economic education in Jordanian
schools through assistance to the Ministry of
Education in curriculum development and in
providing basic teaching resources.

-- Through the Fulbright and other academic
programs, support law and economic studies
instruction at local universities, to include
ethics and transparency components. Three
university linkage programs at $ 80,000 each. Five
scholarships for junior business faculty at $60,000
each. Total: $ 540,000.

--Support development of modern commercial and
corporate governance codes, including the
encouragement of regional best practices for
corporate transparency through on-going exchange
programs and support for local and regional
conferences and workshops.

--Increase the transparency of the commercial legal
framework and institutions through training of
legal personnel.

--Conduct workshops for GOJ officials, NGO's and
judicial personnel on anti-corruption and
transparency practices. Three workshops over three-
five years at $ 30,000 per workshop. Five
International Visitor/Training trips to US:
$75,000. Total $ 165,000.

--Support training of local economic journalists in
investigative reporting. See journalism training
under Democracy Pillar.

--Support capacity building and training for NGO's
dedicated to monitoring government performance and
contracting with the private sector. Grant to
local branch of Transparency International or other
NGO, amount to be determined.


5. Expected results and timeline

a) Trade and Investment promotion

2003: US-Jordan bilateral trade equals $900 million
2004: US-Jordan bilateral trade equals $1.2 billion
2005: US-Jordan bilateral trade equals $1.3 billion



b) Health and Environment

2003: Environment ministry formed; first meeting of
Joint Environmental Forum held.

2004: FDA formed and staffed, training of inspectors
begins.

2005: Jordanian food and pharmaceutical products
cleared by Jordanian and U.S. FDA for export into US
market at commercially significant levels.
c) Economic policy framework support

2003: Private sector complaints about contracting
transparency decrease.

2004: Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement signed
between Jordan and U.S.; IPR infringement cases are
brought before commercial courts, with commercially
significant damages awarded in appropriate cases. Our
major programs on population, health and water
management, as well as our region-wide environment
program, also look to our longer-term interests in a
stable, prosperous Jordan.

2005: Jordan accedes to WTO's Government Procurement
Agreement.

Political Reform Pillar (USAID)


6. Situation Analysis

Regional tension and continuing economic distress have
presented the Government of Jordan (GOJ) with difficult
choices in balancing public order with open expression.
Jordan has a history as one of the more open political
systems in the region, but many critics have charged that
the government has backpedaled since the beginning of the
Palestinian Intifada in September 2000. There are some
recent signs of greater liberalization, and we have
identified opportunities to strengthen democratic
institutions and attitudes. In June 2003, for example,
Jordan held elections for the Lower House of the Parliament,
reserving six seats for female candidates. While the
electoral process appeared to be clean and transparent,
critics complained that the legal basis for the elections
emphasized rural and tribal East Bank elements, which had
traditionally provided the strongest support for the
monarchy. In addition, the King, the Justice and the
Planning Ministries, and other officials have indicated
under the Jordan First campaign that they seek more open and
participatory government through reforms, which will
reinforce its legitimacy.


7. Strategy

The Mission's strategy aims to strengthen rule of law,
citizen awareness and activism through the legislative
branch, the courts and the public education system as well
as fledgling NGO and other community organizations. Given
the political realities of Jordan, it will be necessary to
cooperate closely with the GOJ, or at least keep it informed
of activities that could involve its agencies, realizing at
the same time that democratic change can only come from an
enlightened and empowered Jordanian people. Therefore we
must simultaneously support Jordanian efforts to reform
their official institutions while helping them raise the
awareness and participation of the people through NGOs
-especially women's and youth groups-- and other private,
civic organizations as well as the public and private
educational institutions. We will also support Jordanian
efforts to strengthen the newly elected Parliament, the
courts and the regulatory agencies and to raise the accuracy
and relevance of the news media while working to advance
journalistic freedom.


8. Specific Activities and Support Requested

a) Representative Government

--Train newly elected Parliamentarians,
particularly women MPs, supported by a strategy to
recruit and train staffers. $150,000 per year for
three-five years to include one major in-country
workshop plus travel for up to 12 MPs and staffers
each year. $ 300,000 for a possible Citizens
Exchange program to train a core group of
legislative staffers. Total $ 850,000.

--Provide Internet and other information technology
training and materials for the Information Resource
Center of the New Parliament plus ESL training for
some new staff. Estimated cost $400,000.

--Support future municipal and parliamentary
elections by training candidates, NGO's and
election administrators in campaign management and
public outreach. Also provide Election coverage
workshops for local media. Cost to be determined.

B) Rule of Law

--Judicial exchanges and training in case
management, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
and mediation to promote transparent and prompt
civil and criminal justice. Estimated cost for
five training sessions in the US for 12 judges
and/or other judicial personnel over five years:
$600,000.

--Assistance to Jordanian law faculties enabling
them to improve their instruction of ADR, human
rights and women's legal issues plus ESL for
faculty and students. Estimated cost for two
academic specialists plus ESL courses at the
American Language Center for law students and
professors: $ 200,000.

--Assist Human Rights organizations and NGOs
advocating freedom of expression, particularly
those involved in women's issues, through capacity-
building workshops, exchanges and other training
and support. (Amount to be determined)

c) Raising Civic Awareness

--Support new textbooks and teacher training
workshops to be conducted by the newly founded Arab
Civitas and other NGO's in cooperation with the
Education Ministry under its pilot "21st Century
Workplace Initiative." Send two groups of 12
principals and cived trainers of pre-school
children to observe U.S. best practices. Estimated
cost: $ 150,000 for three annual conference
/workshops plus $50,000 each year for assistance to
education faculties. $ 250,000 for the pre-school
visitors programs. Total $550,000 over three years.

--Support school-based activities such as the
Scholastic Book Reading Program (Reftel C) plus
volunteer activities aimed at developing leadership
and civic participation for students in cooperation
with parent-teacher associations. Engage
expert/trainers to work with public and private
schools and education faculties in designing
extracurricular activities. Estimated cost over
four years: $40,000 per year for visiting experts
plus materials. Send 20 parent leaders from local
PTA's on a Single Country International Visitor
program to observe U.S. counterparts, estimated
cost: $150,000. Total: $310,000.

--Annual summer exchange programs including prior
in-country ESL training, home-stays and class
participation aimed at exposing 24 Jordanian
highschool and/or university student leaders to
U.S. best practices in voluntarism, tolerance and
youth activities. Estimated cost $120,000 for two
exchanges each including 12 students for 4-6 week
visits. Total: $240,000 per year, $720,000 over
three years.

--Help establish the family protection program,
including regional centers to counsel women on
dealing with domestic violence and to raise
awareness among the citizenry and judicial
officials. (Ongoing MEPI-funded program)

--Hold a regional conference on domestic violence
with representatives from the MENA area. Estimated
cost: $100,000.

--Assist the General Federation of Jordanian Women
and the Women's Media Center in conducting a series
of 4-5 workshops for women leaders throughout the
country, focusing on leadership, media and
managerial skills and well as human rights
awareness. Suggested grant amount: $200,000.

--Expand the "Dialogue of Cultures" between
Jordanian, U.S. and other students by promoting
internet linkages through workshops for up to 100
school administrators per year. Estimated cost:
$100,000 ($50,000 per workshop, two each year).
Support the ongoing IEARN and Globe programs by
sending 20 of their students to the U.S. to design
websites and other joint projects with their U.S.
counterparts. Estimated cost $7,500 per student or
$150,000. Total cost: $250,000 for one year or
$750,0000 for three years
--ESL Training for 300 Teachers of Social Sciences
and Related Subjects per year. Cost: $ 1,000 per
teacher or $ 300,000 per year. Total: $ 900,000.

--Strengthening democratic awareness through grants
for advanced university study. Provide up to 6
scholarships per year for Ph. D. candidates in
political science, law, journalism and related
disciplines with local ESL training for the Ph.D.
candidates plus additional ESL courses for other
junior faculty. Estimated cost: $40,000 per year
for 6 scholars for four years: $960,000. Local ESL
training for 100 graduate students and junior
faculty: $100,000. Total cost: $1,060,000.

d) Democratic Media

--Conduct a series of workshops on ethics and media
skills, reinforced by media internships in the U.S.
Estimated cost: $80,000 for two workshops per
year; $15,000 for 6 internships. Total
$175,000 or $525,000 for three years.

--Conduct a workshop series on economic reporting.
Three to six workshops over three years: $ 120,000.

--ESL and professional skills training at the
American Language Center for 50 young journalists
over three years. Total cost $ 300,000.


9. Expected Results and Time Line

a. Representative Government
FY 2003: Parliament convenes, including successful
women candidates and examines backlog of draft
legislation. Women participate in clean and
transparent municipal elections.

FY 2004: Parliament improves constituent relations
and research on legislation through staff training
and regularized contact. Women MPs initiate
legislation, take active role in organizing
parliamentary activities.

FY 2005: Parliament improves its ability to draft,
debate and enact legislation, including on such
controversial subjects as the repeal/amendment of
leniency laws pertaining to honor killings, judicial
reform and support for civic education.

FY 2006: Opinion polls show enhanced confidence in
Parliament.

b. Rule of Law

FY 2003: Case management, mediation and Alternative
Dispute Resolution (ADR) training conducted for
judicial personnel.

FY 2004: Law schools introduce mediation and ADR;
pilot projects introduced in some courts. Human
Rights and Women's Issues NGOs raise awareness among
citizens of their legal rights.

FY 2005 and FY 2006: ADR and Mediation widely
accepted and practiced by legal community, private
sector and citizens. Courts begin actively
enforcing women's rights and other human rights
laws. Citizen groups such as the National Center
for Human Rights conduct public campaigns and raise
court cases in defense of civil rights and
governmental reform. Professional contact with
other countries' legal communities increases,
assisted by increased awareness of internet
resources and enhanced English skills.

c. Raising Civic Awareness
2003: Civic education classes and methodologies are
instituted in pilot schools; Citizen groups and NGOs
conduct awareness raising programs on human rights
and good governance. Cultural Dialogue programs
such as the Scholastic Book Reading program are
introduced into private and model public schools.
Schools expand Internet linkages to U.S.
counterparts.

2004: Civic education spreads to regional public and
private schools; the number of active parent-teacher
associations increases; Schools in Jordan and the
U.S. establish joint websites and Jordanians
introduce student newsletters dealing with civic
issues.

2005: Youth begin to participate in community and
other activities; parent-teacher groups begin to
effect major innovations in school administration.
Women begin to play a more forceful role in the
media, judicial system and in community
organizations and NGOs.

2006: Above activities continue. Political science
faculties, Sharia' Law and other departments
institute new democracy-supporting courses taught by
newly returned U.S.-trained Ph.D's.

d. Democratic Media

2003: Journalists expand their ESL capabilities,
ability to use Internet and other media skills.

2004: Print and broadcast media increase the
relevance of their coverage to citizens' concerns.
Journalists improve the quality of their coverage of
human rights, community issues, economic development
and business opportunity. The number of journalists
who speak and can do research in English increases.

2005: Journalists improve their coverage of
elections, women's issues, the parliament and other
democratic institutions. The number of lawsuits and
other legal measures against journalists' decline.

Education Pillar


10. Situation

Currently in Jordan, most teaching is done through rote
learning with the use of a broad exam in the final year of
secondary school for use in admission to post-secondary
school education. While the literacy rate in Jordan is
among the highest in the region at 89 percent, the
educational system does not produce the type of skills and
attitudes required in the global market.


11. Strategy

To address the most critical issues in education in Jordan,
USAID/Jordan, using bi-lateral ESF funding, will focus on
early childhood education and specifically the participation
of girls; development of an information and communication
technology education stream in secondary education, as well
as other school-to-work curricula; development of standards
and accreditation together with teacher training and
curriculum development; continuation and expansion of the
INJAZ program which raises business awareness among young
people; Junior Achievement-type activity; life skills
development for adolescents; and, civic participation.
USAID's assistance to the education sector will be part of a
multi-donor effort to support the Government of Jordan's
initiative to improve education throughout the country. The
specific areas in which USAID will work have been selected
in coordination with the Government and other donors.


12. Specific Activities will be determined after USAID's
country strategy is approved by the Mission and
USAID/Washington.


13. The timeline for the new USAID/Jordan education
strategy will be 2004 - 2009.