Objectives of the Project:

The project aims at strengthening the rule of law and democratic process through creation of model laws governing civil society (NGOs, political parties, labour unions) that adhere to international standards and are promoted through Arab official bodies and networks as reform models from inside.

It aims at building partnership between CSOs and Arab governments on a national and regional level through promotion of an active ongoing dialogue focussing on the 3 model laws mentioned above.

In addition, it aims at improving CSOs performance, image and relations with the government and with their constituencies through the adoption of internal good governance’s principles and a Code of Conduct and an Arab Charter on Democratic Practices.

The specific objective is to strengthen the foundations of democratic development through new coalition between government and CSOs (including all ideological and political forces that adhere to democratic practices) as partners in development.

 On the national level, the project mainly targets political parties, labour unions, research centres, NGOs and government institutions, including moderate Islamic groups that play a leading role in society. On the regional level the project will involve Arab CSOs, Arab League institutions, Arab Parliament, NGO networks and research institutions; the local and regional media - especially the well-known satellite stations -; international organisations such as the International Federation of Human Rights IFHR, the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network, the International Labour Organisation ILO and the UNDP/ POGAR.

The activities of the project includes the development and production of model laws (these include the political parties’ law, the NGO law, labour unions law), promotion of those model laws through advocacy and local and regional pressure groups, as well as local and regional media, training of governmental bodies as well as CS actors in joint and separate workshops targeting communication with each other, media support in promoting this newly created dialogue between governments and civil society, development and production of Code of Conduct and an Arab Charter on Democratic Practices to govern the work of CSOs, promotion and adoption of the Code and Arab Charter on Democratic Practices within the Arab NGO sector and political parties and training of CS activists on Good Governance.

Duration of the project

36 months.

Countries Covered:

Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Syria with an outreach to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia.

 Estimated results:

• Model laws for political parties, NGOs, Labour Unions are drafted and widely discussed through intensive media campaigns motivating Arab governments to put the recommendations on their agendas.
• Improved capability of the governments to accept CSOs as adequate partners in the decision making process.
• Code of Conduct and Arab Charter on Democratic Practices to govern the work of the CSOs
• Improved capacity of CSOs in dialogue, advocacy and public information and communication with decision makers, authorities and public at large.
• women participation in civil society and politics will become more effective.

Main activities:

§  Development and production of model laws (these include the political parties’ law, the NGO law, labour unions law).

§  Promotion of those model laws through advocacy and local and regional pressure groups, as well as local and regional media.

§  Training of governmental bodies as well as CS actors in joint and separate workshops targeting communication with each other.

§  Media support in promoting this newly created dialogue between governments and civil society.

§  Development and production of Code of Conduct and an Arab Charter on Democratic Practices to govern the work of CSOs.

§  Promotion and adoption of the Code and Arab Charter on Democratic Practices within the Arab NGO sector and political parties. 

§  Training of CS activists on Good Governance