Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMENA)

The Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative (BMENA) is a partnership of G8 countries and 22 countries in the Middle East (Arab states, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey) that was established on the initiative of the United States. Its aim is to promote the region's economic, political and social development through joint projects. An especially topical issue is cooperation in the field of education. The third meeting of G8 and BMENA education ministers took place in Bonn from 20-22 November 2007.

---

The Middle East Partnership Initiative was launched in 2002 to encourage and promote reforms in the broader Middle East. Its priorities include improving educational opportunities for women, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and promoting free trade in the region.
 
The heads of state and government of the G8 countries issued a declaration on the "Partnership for Progress and a Common Future" at the G8 Summit in Sea Island in 2004. Since then, these partnerships have also been known as the "G8 Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative," or "BMENA Initiative" for short. With this initiative, the G8 are offering states and societies in Northern Africa and the Middle East (Arab states, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey) reform-oriented cooperation and dialogue.

A meeting of finance ministers was held in Lebanon as part of the BMENA Initiative during Germany's G8 Presidency in 2007; there were also plans to organize a meeting of education ministers in Oman as well as a meeting of ministers of foreign affairs in Yemen ("Forum for the Future"). Because of an environmental disaster in Oman, the co-Chairs, Germany and Oman, agreed to hold the third meeting of education ministers on the Petersberg in Bonn on 21/22 November 2007 instead.

The meeting focused on "Relevant Education," addressing issues such as compatibility, continuity and the optimization of development processes across the entire qualification, education and training landscape.
In preparation for the ministerial meeting, a Senior Officials Meeting took place on 20 November 2007, at which the following priority topics were addressed at working level:

• Basic education
• Literacy
• Vocational training and professional development
• Higher education

The web platform developed for the event offers detailed information on the programme and venue. It also includes background information about the participating countries and the G8 BMENA activities.