For more than a decade, the American Global Institute (AGI), in cooperation with American institutions and partner organizations abroad, has helped sponsor and organize congressional delegations to countries across the Middle East and Africa, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan, Israel, and the Palestinian territories.
These non-governmental educational programs have provided opportunities for Members of the U.S. Congress and congressional staff to gain firsthand knowledge of the countries and communities they encounter in their work as policymakers. Programs are organized in partnership with independent institutions and civil society organizations in host countries and are conducted in accordance with applicable congressional ethics requirements.
Typically lasting approximately three days, each delegation includes a diverse schedule of meetings and discussions with government officials, civil society and nonprofit organizations, universities and students, community leaders, opposition representatives, policy institutions, and other stakeholders.
The delegations encourage substantive dialogue on U.S. relations with the region, democracy, civil society, governance, economic and social development, and shared values. Equally important, they provide policymakers with opportunities to listen directly to a broad range of perspectives rather than relying solely on official or secondhand information.
AGI believes that effective policymaking begins with engagement, dialogue, and firsthand understanding. By bringing American policymakers into direct conversation with governments, institutions, civil society, and local communities, these delegations help deepen understanding, strengthen relationships, and provide participants with a more informed perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing each country.