Foundation for the Future

"The international community should contribute to an appropriate independent and specific funding mechanism for civil society activities to support democracy and reform, reflecting a commitment to the principles of civic engagement and democracy. The mechanism would provide technical and financial support for civil society programs, in the transitional or aspiring democracies in the whole of the BMENA region . . . ."
--Final Declaration
Democracy Assistance Dialogue Workshop on Political Pluralism and Electoral Processes
Venice, Italy
July 23, 2005

"The Foundation will provide grants to help civil society strengthen the rule of law, to protect basic civil liberties, and ensure greater opportunity for health and education. But most importantly, the Foundation is a sign that citizens have to be trusted who are working for democratic reform in particular countries, and cities, and villages to use their grant money for the greatest good that they see fit."
--Secretary Rice at the Forum for the Future
Manama, Bahrain
November 12, 2005

Responding to calls from civil society for an independent foundation to advance freedom and democratic practices, the United States has joined governments from Europe and the Middle East to support the Broader Middle East and North Africa Foundation for the Future. The Foundation was announced at the November 12, 2005, Forum for the Future in Bahrain by Secretary Rice, the foreign ministers of other contributing governments, and civil society representatives.

Civil society groups from the broader Middle East and North Africa called for such a foundation to support civil society organizations. The Foundation for the Future supports the people of the region in their efforts to advance and strengthen freedom and democratic trends and practices. The foundation focuses on supporting free, fair and genuinely competitive elections; the rule of law; access to and transparency of information; freedom of association; independent media; access to civic education; the empowerment of women; and human rights. The Foundation for the Future draws on local reformers and their ideas and includes them in innovative approaches that nurture grassroots civil society organizations and their leaders. The foundation recognizes the creativity of governments as they encourage such organizations to join them in strengthening democratic processes and institutions.

Pledges to the foundation total more than $56 million.

For more information, you may visit the Foundation for the Future's Web site at www.foundationforfuture.org.

--06/08/06  Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor Agrees to Serve as U.S. Representative to the Board of the Broader Middle East and North Africa Foundation for the Future
--02/02/06  Bourqia, Amin, and Ibrahim to Assemble Board of Directors for the Foundation for the Future
--12/14/05  Foundation Charter Principles
--11/12/05  Announcement of the Foundation for the Future