Microfund for Women (MFW) is a private, non-profit microfinance institution dedicated to empowering the entrepreneurial poor, especially women, to transform their lives through their own economic activities. MFW seeks to dismantle the obstacles that prevent them from creating their own success and building better lives for their families by providing collateral-free loans to start or strengthen their own businesses. Though typically very small, these businesses enable borrowers to accumulate assets, create jobs for others and work their way out of poverty.
In addition to its financial services, MFWs non-financial division provides needs-based training and social services to its clients. This holistic approach enables them to better utilize their loans, improve the well-being of their families, and grow their businesses into stable sources of income.
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty is an independent, non-profit, non-governmental organization that encourages and supports liberal democracy and human rights as well as the tenets of an open market economy and the rule of law.
The main goal of the Foundations work is to achieve worldwide recognition of the
principles of freedom and responsibility. Established in 1958 by Theodor Heuss,
the first President of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Foundations activities in the field of civic education involve seminars, conferences and publications aimed at promoting liberal values and principles.
Since 1981, the Amman Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, together with its partners in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, has implemented many activities that underline the principles of liberalism.
Jordan: Working together with organizations in Jordan like the Free Thought Forum (http://www.ftf-jordan.org), the Young Entrepreneurs Association (www.yea.com.jo), and the National Center for Human Rights NCHR (www.nchr.org.jo), the Friedrich Naumann Foundation aims at contributing to finding liberal solutions for the countrys socio-economic challenges and at enhancing civic and youth participation in public affairs.
Syria: The Friedrich Naumann Foundation has been active in Syria since 2002. Currently, the Foundations individual partners in Syria are actively involved in the Friedrich Naumann Foundations yearly Arab Economic Freedom Conference and the regional project on “Freedom of Association in the Arab World”.
Lebanon: In Lebanon, the Foundation – in cooperation with its with its Lebanese partners such as the Lebanese Transparency Association LTA (www.transparency-lebanon.org), the Lebanese Conflict Resolution Network LCRN and the Arab Centre for the Development of the Rule of Law and Integrity ACRLI (www.arabruleoflaw.org) – aims at contributing to building a state of law, fighting corruption, promoting good governance and to supporting participation in local politics through cooperation. Together with the Lebanese Economic Association LEA (www.leb-econ.org), the Foun-dation seeks to create reform plans for economic liberalization.
Iraq: The Foundation has been supporting political decision-makers in Iraq with legal consultancy, capacity building and conflict-resolution efforts since 2004. Over the years, the Foundation has supported Iraqs constitution drafting process, provided the platform for a constructive dialogue on federalism and is currently engaged in conflict prevention efforts in Kirkuk.
On Freedom and the Rule of Law: The year 2007 witnessed the beginning of an EU co-financed regional project on Freedom of Association in the Arab world, implemented jointly by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and its partners in the region under the umbrella of the League of Arab States, LAS. The project aims at strengthening democratic practices through creating minimum acceptable standards for laws regulating political parties, NGOs and labour union. It also aims at improving CSOs performance and image through the adoption of internal good governance principles. (www.arab-laws-reform.net).