Saya sehari suntuk di Amman Jordan kerana mempengerusikan mesyuarat Lembaga Foundation for the Future. Di sabelah pagi saya telah mengadakan perbincangan dengan Menteri Luar Jordan Adul Illah Khatib. Kami menyentuh beberapa isu termasuk perkembangan terbaru di Lubnan, krisis di Iraq dan mengulangi kenyataan bahawa sukar dileraikan masalah di Timur Tengah tanpa menjamin keadilan bagi rakyat Palestin.

Keputusan yang disepakati oleh kami adalah:

FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE

Amman, Jordan, December 4, 2006

The Foundation for the Future Examines Concepts for its First Grants

The Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Future met in Amman, Jordan on December 4, 2006 in the aftermath of the third Forum for the Future, held in the Dead Sea.

Board members met to review concepts submitted by Middle Eastern and North African civil society organizations for the first Foundation-funded programs. The Board authorized the elaboration of proposals in the areas of the empowerment of youth, independence of media, the establishment of an NGO resource center, and the creation of an observatory on democratic reforms, and welcomes submissions for full proposals for funding in these areas. These proposals will be reviewed for funding at the next meeting of the Executive Committee, which will be held in Geneva, Switzerland in February, 2007.

The meeting of the full Board was preceded by the first meetings of the Finance Committee and the Fundraising Committee. The Finance Committee began work on an operations and program budget and authorized expenditures. The Fundraising Committee devised and agreed on a strategy to provide for the long-term sustainability of the Foundation.

The Board of the Foundation expressed its gratitude to the founding donors who have fulfilled their commitments, and are encouraged by those other countries that have indicated interest in financially supporting the Foundation’s efforts. As a result of receiving these pledges, the Foundation now has the funds to begin awarding its first grants.

The Board elected to hold its next meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco in mid-April, 2007.

The members of the Board would like to thank the government of Jordan for hosting the event and for their continued support for this undertaking.