Announcement of the Foundation for the Future

Broader Middle East and North Africa
Press Release
November 12, 2005

Governments of the broader Middle East and North Africa, other supportive democratic countries and institutions, and the United States, together with civil society representatives, announced today their political support and financial commitment to launch a Foundation for the Future.

The Foundation for the Future will work to promote freedom and democracy in the broader Middle East and North Africa. It will be an international, not-for-profit entity with a focus on providing financial and technical assistance directly to local non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, professional associations, and others in the region. The Foundation will be led by an international Board of Directors, with a Chairperson from the Broader Middle East and North Africa. No government officials will sit on the Board. The operational headquarters will be in the region.

To date, initial contributing Governments have committed over $50 million dollars to this initiative. Political supporters and financial contributors include Bahrain, Denmark, the European Commission, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Morocco, Jordan, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Qatar, Yemen, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The Forum will continue to seek political and financial support from governments, private foundations, and individuals for the Foundation.

Financial contributing partners and civil society supporters will meet in December 2005 in Jordan to discuss the Foundation structure and next steps. The first Board of Directors meeting will occur in early 2006.