In the continued effort to strengthen the bonds between liberal political parties and enhance political dialogue, the Regional Office of Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) is continuing its sponsorship of educational and training programs of the Network of Arab Liberals (NAL). From March 11 through 14, 2009, a hands-on workshop for women leaders of NAL-member parties will be held in Cairo. Entitled "Women in Politics," the three day event is sponsored by the Liberal Democrats of the United Kingdom in cooperation with FNF. The workshop will bring together women politicians from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan, Palestine and the host-country Egypt. Just two weeks later, the leaders of the Arab liberal network will convene in Amman, Jordan for a workshop to discuss "Liberal Responses to the Global Economic Crisis". While in Amman, the NAL leadership will also assemble for its bi-annual Executive Committee meeting.

Meanwhile, the delegates from youth wings of NAL member parties are planning to hold the inaugural gathering of what has provisionally been termed the Union of Liberal Arab Youth (ULAY) in Egypt in late April 2009. The preparatory discussions for the establishment of this regional liberal youth network have been laid at a workshop in Beirut in October of last year.