Middle East Initiative (MEI)

In October 1998, Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) established the Middle East Initiative (MEI) in order to deepen and strengthen the Kennedy School's relationship with the institutions and peoples of the Middle East. Since that time, MEI has been engaging public policy issues in the Middle East by convening academic and policy experts, collaborating with regional partners, and developing the next generation of leaders.

Our Mission

The Middle East Initiative seeks to deepen Harvard Kennedy School's relationship with the peoples and institutions of the Middle East by sponsoring programs and outreach efforts that promote intensive engagement with the region by:

• Working with leaders in the government, civil society, and business to strengthen good governance and seek solutions to the region's most pressing public policy problems;
• Providing executive education for mid- and senior- level public policy officials, corporate executives, NGO leaders, educators, and leaders of civil society from the Middle East on issues including governance, leadership, negotiation, strategic management, and innovation;
• Supporting faculty research and fostering collaboration with scholars and institutions in the Middle East;
• Offering research fellowships to contribute to the body of knowledge on political institutions, social services, and financial and labor markets in the Middle East;
• Raising knowledge and encouraging policy discussions about the Middle East at Harvard Kennedy School and in other Harvard communities;
• Developing student-focused programs that support their development as young leaders;
• Serving as a connection to the burgeoning community of funders, alumni and policy makers concerned with the critical intersection of HKS-based research, teaching and policy discussions related to the Middle East.

Our Community

As the main interface between Harvard Kennedy School and the Middle East, MEI serves five constituents:

• Harvard students
• Harvard faculty
• Harvard community members and the general public interested in the Middle East
• Peoples and institutions in the region
• Young scholars