International IDEA signs funding agreement with Germany

Press Release

International IDEA signs 400,000 Euro funding agreement with Germany for democracy promotion in the Arab World

Today in Stockholm (1 October 2002), the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Bernd von Waldow, and International IDEA's Secretary-General, Ms Karen Fogg, signed a funding agreement worth 412,000 Euro to implement a programme to promote dialogue for democratic development in Egypt, Jordan and Yemen.

"We see this agreement as token of Germany's willingness to work closer with IDEA, and the programme in the Arab World fits very well with Germany's foreign policy priorities, which are to promote dialogue both on cultural and political issues", said Ambassador von Waldow during the signing ceremony at the German Embassy in Stockholm.

The programme in the Arab World will start a carefully monitored dialogue aimed at deepening discussion and setting a pace for democratic reforms in the programme countries. One of the topics for dialogue will be options for reform of the electoral systems. Other issues such as the role of women in politics and political parties will also come into the dialogue. The programme design is built on the report "Democracy in the Arab World - Challenges, Achievements, Prospects" published by IDEA in 2000, which is available at www.idea.int

In practical terms, the programme will be co-ordinated from a project office in Beirut, in close co-operation with a Region-wide network of non-governmental organizations. "We will work closely with civil society organizations" says Mr Ziad Majed, Regional Programme Co-ordinator based in Beirut, "but the fact that IDEA is an International Intergovernmental organization gives us privileged access and ability to speak about democracy within the governmental milieu as well as with civil society."

Germany, although not yet a member of IDEA, is by this agreement increasing its commitment to the objectives and work programme of IDEA. Germany has over the last year been providing funding for IDEA's capacity-building programme around the future of democratization in Burma/Myanmar. Earlier this year International IDEA and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) have worked together on assisting good governance and democracy in Africa.

"I am very pleased that IDEA is able to continue and expand the work it commenced in the region in 1998 to 2000" says Secretary-General Karen Fogg, who took office mid-august. "Although there is some pessimism about the prospects of democratic development in the Arab World, not the least because of the shifting focus from prevention to hard security issues, we can definitely see opportunities for democracy that should be nurtured. We are particularly pleased to have the backing of Germany for implementing this programme".

For further information about IDEA's programme in the Arab World, contact

Martin Ängeby
Project Manager

or

Ziad Majed
Regional Programme Co-ordinator

For further information about IDEA, contact

Monika Ericson
Assistant Press and Information Officer