The Senate is proposing new assistance and investment in the Middle East and Central Asia.
The purpose of the Act (S 2305 IS) is to authorise assistance for political freedom and economic development, particularly through private sector development, in the Greater Middle East and Central Asia, including contributions to and participation in three new entities: a Trust for Democracy, a Development Foundation, and a Development Bank.
Here’s the complete text. While I certainly am a fan of the small and medium business support provisions, it’s the democratization stuff that most interests me:
CREATION OF TRUST FOR DEMOCRACY- The President is authorized to establish, together with other donors and private sector and nongovernmental leaders from the Greater Middle East and Central Asia, a multilateral, public-private Trust for Democracy to support grass-roots development of civil society, democratic reform, good governance practices, and rule of law reform in the Greater Middle East and Central Asia. Private foundations shall be encouraged to participate in the Trust through the provision of matching funds.
Sure, there are no specifics, and I’m sure there will undoubtedly be changes made, but the extra $5 billion for 2005-2009 is very welcome.
This post was written by...
Nathan Hamm – author of 2973 posts on Registan.net.
Nathan is the Founding Editor and Publisher of Registan.net, which he launched in 2003. He was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan 2000-2001 and received his MA in Central Asian Studies from the University of Washington in 2007. Since 2007, he has worked full-time as an analyst, consulting with private and government clients on Central Asian affairs, specializing in how socio-cultural and political factors shape risks and opportunities and how organizations can adjust their strategic and operational plans to account for these variables. Nathan is currently seeking research, analysis, and consulting opportunities. He can be contacted via Twitter or email.
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