10 December 2011

Foundation for the Future concluded its 9th Board of Directors Meeting on December 6-7, 2011 in Amman, Jordan.



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November 29, 2011




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“Please allow me to strongly praise the political change that is sweeping through our region and peoples’ determination to make their voice loud and clear; No More Repression, Corruption and Favoris

November 28, 2011


Co- Chaired by Kuwait and France, the 8th Forum for the Future started its meeting on Tuesday November 21st, 2011 at Al Bayan Palace in Kuwait with an address by Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabaah, the Amir of Kuwait, followed by Mr. Alain Juppe, The French Minister for Foreign Affairs.





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24 November 2011


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FFF and ICTJ issue a Report on the Gender Dimension in the Transitional
Justice Process in Morocco 

 October 31, 2011



The Foundation for the Future (FFF) and the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ) have recently issued a report on the gender dimension in the transitional justice process which took place in Morocco following the Years of Lead. This 20-year period indeed saw the quasi-systematic repression of political opponents, human rights activists and their families by state authorities. Morocco consequently set up a commission, the Instance Equité et Réconciliation (IER)[1], dedicated to studying the means to evaluate and compensate people for past breaches in human rights in order to bring societal peace to the country by fostering national dialogue and reconciliation.

The joint FFF-ICTJ research sought to analyse how the chosen transitional justice responses and focuses, whether judicial or extra-judicial, have incorporated and addressed gender inequality and violence targeting women especially. It indeed appears that women have been little represented in the process, with only 27% of them in public hearings and none in private hearings. Furthermore, offences targeting women in particular have not explicitly been addressed or included in the recommendations of the IER. 

The findings of the report show that although gender issues were not an initial specific objective of the process, awareness of the importance of gender eventually appeared in the transitional justice process and became, to some extent, part of its measures. Some interesting elements have also surfaced from the research. One is that the IER unfortunately never sought the input of a gender expert while looking into past breaches of human rights. Staff training on the topic should hence be recommended as the least measure to put into practice for further TJ processes. Furthermore, an official gender report was eventually produced which underlined the differences in which women and men were affected by violence. However, the report was not properly integrated to the IER work. A general recommendation could therefore be made about educating women activists to able them to advocate for gender dimensions to be included in transitional processes throughout the MENA region.

Finally, this report shows that although a lot still remains to be done for gender issues in transitional justice mechanisms, Morocco made interesting steps in the path to gender equality which could be recommended to other countries seeking transitional justice approaches. They are, for instance, the rejection of religious tradition in treating compensation and the use of non-discriminatory principles with respect to women.

When reflecting on the impact of this report, ICTJ’s Anne Massagee argues that comparative cases and reports can often be helpful for other countries, including, she adds, the less successful ones. She points out the fact that Morocco is the first ever example of a state in the MENA region establishing a formal transitional justice process. She insists on the fact that: “In the MENA context, we sometimes hear comments that transitional justice is a ‘Western concept’ or a ‘South African concept’ or some other limiting framework”. Yet the case of Morocco, she argues, discredits this theory.

It could be concluded then, that a gender approach should be used as one of the basics to establishing meaningful transitional justice in the MENA region and elsewhere, for societal peace can hardly be reached without women.

To read the report, please click English or French.

[1] Equity and Reconciliation Commission

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Foundation’s Representative Observes Tunisian Elections

26 October 2011

 

Click here to read the original text, in French.


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On the October 23, Tunisia is holding its first free elections in 53 years. FFF offered its expertise on the fate of women in those elections, their representation and the voice they want to be given in the future to express their longing for women’s rights. It appears that women are not well represented in the transitional processes in Egypt and Tunisia and only  very few have a chance to get elected to the Tunisian National Assembly. These women will however be true and motivated representatives, in opposition to the ones oppointed under the previous regimes.


The Foundation also produced an analysis of the major political parties engaged in those elections. It was underlined that the outcome is difficult to predict but that the lead of the Islamic parties in the polls is of concern. It is a crucial time for Tunisia since it is the holding the first free elections since the Arab Spring. It is also the time for the Tunisian people to decide what sort of future they aspire to as they elect the representatives who will decide on the new constitution.




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The Foundation Congratulates Yemeni and Arab Women for Nobel 

Peace Prize Winner, Tawakkul Karman

9 October 2011



Ms. Tawakkul Karman, known to many activists as the Mother of the Revolution in Yemen, won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011 last Friday. The prize was awarded to three influential women from Africa and the Middle East. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first elected female president in post-colonial Africa, peace activist Leymah Gbowee, also from Liberia, and Tawakkul Karman, a leading figure in Yemen’s populist revolt this year who inspired thousands of women to rise up in a region and fight for their rights.

Shortly after the Arab Spring started with the Tunisian revolt in January of this year, Tawakkul Karman took the streets of Yemen and camped in a tent at the main square downtown Sanaa where she launched an uprising in Yemen pushing for similar change in her home country. Nine months later, residing at her tent she received the news of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2011. 

In 2005, Karman established “Women Journalists Without Chains” organization and started producing annual reports about freedom of journalism in Yemen detailing the violations against press freedom. Known for her steadfast against violations of human rights and courage to tell the truth, Karman has long called for a culture of dialogue and political reform.

Karman is the first Arab woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize and the fourth Arab after Sadat, Arafat and El Baradei. The 33 years old journalist from Taiz is the youngest recipient of the award worldwide. This prize came as recognition for the Arab women’s huge role in the protest across the region and "for their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women’s rights to full
participation in peace-building work". Karman called the award “a victory for our revolution, for our methods, for our struggle, for all Yemeni youth, and all the youth in the Arab world — in Tunisia, in Egypt, everywhere.”



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Foundation for the Future Monitors Tunisian Elections!

October 23, 2011


While Tunisians are heading to polls on this day, FFF is participating in monitoring the October 23rd, 2011 elections. FFF liaison officer in Tunisia is an observer in a polling station in Sidi Bouzid, central Tunisia. She will report on her monitoring on Monday.

Stay tuned for details on this historical day!



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In an interview to Spanish online media euroXpress, Foundation President Nabila Hamza discusses the role of women and the Arab Spring, and the challenges still to overcome for their fuller and larger integration to the democratic and transitional process. 

To read the interview

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6 October 2011



The Foundation for the Future is following with deep concern the recent political developments in Bahrain that have taken a new path in penalizing medical professionals for abiding by their humanitarian professional oath for providing necessary treatment to those injured during the ongoing unrest regardless of their religion, race or affiliation as stipulated in all international Human Rights declarations. 

The Foundation had earlier on called upon the Bahraini government and opposition to engage in a true and genuine dialogue for reform. The spectrum of Bahraini citizens should be all represented in the new parliament through ensuring free and fair elections with no sectarian prejudice.

In spite of all humanitarian petitions, the Bahraini Military Appeal Court has endorsed last week a decision to sentence 21 medical professions and civilian activists, as well as teachers to life imprisonment for reasons in relations to the peaceful protest for freedom that has started in the Gulf kingdom over the past few months. The Foundation for the Future is stunned by such an act, which violates the basic principles of democracy and Human Rights against civil society groups and members who have paid a heavy price in their legitimate demand for larger freedoms in Bahrain.

The decision is the latest in a series of court hearings since June 2011, in which several activists and citizens have been sentenced to imprisonment. Among them not only doctors and nurses who have given medical aide to wounded protesters, but also bloggers, journalists and prominent Human Rights activists. Detainees are entitled to have all due procedural guarantees to defend their rights and access justice. The Foundation is profoundly alarmed over the arbitrary conditions of detention and trials, which are found to frequently contradict with the principles of fair and free hearing.

The Foundation strongly believes the decision on retrying medics in the country's highest civilian court instead of the military as lately stated by Bahrain's attorney general is not enough. However, it maintains that immediate release of all political detainees is crucial and reiterates its appeal to the Bahraini authorities to ensure that all parties engage in an inclusive dialogue for reform, while hoping that the recently declared state of emergency will terminate soon.

At a time political changes are underway in the whole Arab region, the Foundation hopes that Bahrain will allow the citizens’ calls for freedom and democracy to prosper in the foreseeable future.


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Thank for Arab Women in Cairo, Egypt

4 October 2011


Cairo-based women network Karama, in partnership with the Swedish Institute of Alexandria, organized the 4th Think Tank for Arab Women Meeting on October 1-3, 2011.  The focus of this 4th session was: “From Electoral Processes to Incomplete Revolutions: Women and the Arab Revolts, Eight Months On.”

The meeting brought together scholars from the Arab World, Europe and the U.S, as well as NGO leaders and women’s rights activists from the Arab region to reflect on the main obstacles posed to the equal participation of women in political sphere and decision making process and determine ways and means to enhance their participation in the upcoming elections in Tunisia and Egypt as candidates and voters. Indeed, women face several and serious obstacles when it comes to politics and holding positions of power, including discriminative legislatives, gender stereotypes, psychological and traditional barriers, inequalities in education, lack of training and resources. With the objective to inform and shape the views of emerging female political leaders, the session also focused on the role of women in ongoing conflicts that have not yet resulted in full regime change, such as in Yemen or Libya.

Discussions also approached issues such as  gender and democracy in Egypt, Tunisia and Palestine (both at parliamentary and local council levels) with interesting contributions from speakers on important and emerging topics including Arab women and political parties; female voting patterns;  civic education in a context of democratization; and international and regional cooperation to support women’s roles during transitions.

The meeting was also attended by high ranking personalities such as Mirvet Tallawy ( Former UN Under – Secretary – General),  Malin Karre (Swedish Ambassador to Egypt), Charlotta Sparre (Ambassador of Sweden to Jordan), as well as scholars from the Arab countries  such as Hana Al Majid (Associate professor, Kuwait) and  Dr. Islah Jad (Birzeit University, Palestine) they all gave well-noticed presentations on gender issues in the region.

On her side, Ms. Nabila Hamza, president of Foundation for the Future, presented the Tunisian case as a laboratory and learning experience for engendering electoral frameworks and enhancing women’s political participation to the decision making process. “Creating a democracy based on a total equality between women and men is one of the most important challenges in the current Arab world transition.” she said, before continuing “During the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, women were not only present in the demonstrations, but also on blogs and through social networks. Women were and are still demonstrating in Bahrain, Syria and Jordan…Everywhere, women have proved their commitment at being part of the change and the advent of a democratic State. Their struggle represents a flagrant denial of the degrading image of Arab women as passive victims of the culture or the Islamic religion”. There has been wide-spread mobilization and debates that have resulted in the transitional authorities voting a text on total parity between men and women on the electoral lists in the coming elections.  This is, for me, a historical decision”.

Ms. Nabila Hamza also shared her views on the ‘new Tunisian civil society’, and insisted on the necessity to make the transition process inclusive. In particular, she commented on the necessity to protect and enhance the political participation of women and stated that “even though the decision recently taken regarding absolute parity for political representation is important, unique and first-of-its-kind in the region, it is only an obligation of means, not an obligation of results. It should not hide the fact that the gains of past decades need to be preserved, and that much remains to be done for women to have their due place in public and political life”.

Arab women from the region debated for two days major elements affecting Arab women today and the best strategies to ensure that women are not left behind during these historical changes taking the region. Recommendations were made for the next phase of ongoing revolutionary struggles and political transitions to provide for an equal role for women.

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Women in Saudi Arabia will vote for the first time in 2015

26 September 2011

This will however not come into force before 2015, and comes as part of the 'cautious reform' outlined by the King in his speech while acknowledging the contribution of women to society and Islamic history. Although women will not be voting for another four years, they will be invited to take part in the next Shura Council, a governing body that supervises legislation drafting.

In October 2004 the Saudi Minister of Interior has declared that women will not be allowed to vote in the country's municipal elections held in February 2005. This led many campaigners for women's rights to advocate even stronger for a substantial breakthrough for Saudi women’s rights. In recent months, some of them have even been seen driving cars, in brave opposition to a law which forbids them to do so. When, on September 25th, King Abdullah announced that women will have the right to vote and run for office in municipal elections, a door seemed to finally open up, bringing new hopes to end a long history of oppression, discrimination and inferiority for Saudi women.

This will however not come into force before 2015, and comes as part of the 'cautious reform' outlined by the King in his speech while acknowledging the contribution of women to society and Islamic history. Although women will not be voting for another four years, they will be invited to take part in the next Shura Council, a governing body that supervises legislation drafting.

“This announcement is a significant breakthrough for women and for their right to be equal citizens” says Foundation President Nabila Hamza, before adding that “there is still a long way to go for Saudi women. Their being allowed to vote should not overshadow the fact that constraints, restrictions and discriminations in their daily life still are a reality”. Indeed, Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that actually denies women the right to vote by law, or be elected. In addition to the deprivation of political rights, women are prohibited from driving, attend schools for “male specific” fields, or participate in sports. They face the strict consequences of the guardianship laws. The World Economic Forum 2009 Global Gender Gap Report ranked Saudi Arabia 130th out of 134 countries for gender parity. At the time, Saudi Arabia was the only country to score a zero in the category of women political empowerment.

The Sultanate of Brunei, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates are the other three countries in the world where women face partial or total restriction from their voting rights. With Saudi Arabia soon to be taken off that list, it is a new perspective for women’s rights and gender equality that is emerging, an illustration that there can be no democratic development without the full and unrestricted participation of women.


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Foundation Witnesses Beginnings of the “We Love Sousse” Network during Meeting in Tunisia

26 September 2011

In October 2004 the Saudi Minister of Interior has declared that women will not be allowed to vote in the country's municipal elections held in February 2005. This led many campaigners for women's rights to advocate even stronger for a substantial breakthrough for Saudi women’s rights. In recent months, some of them have even been seen driving cars, in brave opposition to a law which forbids them to do so. When, on September 25, King Abdullah announced that women will have the right to vote and run for office in municipal elections, a door seemed to finally open up, bringing new hopes to end a long history of oppression, discrimination and inferiority for Saudi women.This will however not come into force before 2015, and comes as part of the 'cautious reform' outlined by the King in his speech while acknowledging the contribution of women to society and Islamic history. Although women will not be voting for another four years, they will be invited to take part in the next , a governing body that supervises legislation drafting.

The Foundation for the Future has recently been invited to meet with an emerging civil society network in Sousse, an important urban center on the north-eastern Tunisian coast. “We Love Sousse” is in the process of being established and is representative of the dynamism of Tunisian civil society and the level of civic engagement since the January 14 Revolution. The creation of this network comes as a result of a youth exchange workshop co-organized by the Foundation for the Future and IREX in May 2011, and the Foundation is particularly please to be a privileged witness of the emergence of such initiatives in Tunisia.

The first “We Love” network was created in Tripoli, Lebanon, in 2009, by civil society member Taha Naji. Mr. Naji was one of the consultants and trainers during a May 2011 capacity building workshop organized by the Foundation for the Future and IREX in Tunis, and this was the occasion to present the ‘We Love’ concept to young Tunisian civil society activists. Among them was Anis Boufrikha, a young Tunisian professional who was already engaged with several civil society groups but was keen on replicating the “We Love” concept to his native town, Sousse. “I wanted to initiate a flexible citizenship project or institution, and I liked the idea and objectives behind ‘We Love Tripoli’. So, I went and found partners in Sousse – friends, students, and groups from the local universities” explains Anis.

The “We Love” concept is simple but innovative: it consists of a federation or network of local and community-based organizations who want to coalesce on a common identity and belonging to the same town, with the objective to enhance its development and foster local citizenship. It is a new type of informal mobilization, which allows for coalition and solidarity to emerge at the local level. In recent months, no less than 9 such networks have been created in Tunisia and other countries in North Africa and the Middle East: We Love is now in Ariana, Kairouan, El Jam, but also Casablanca, Marrakesh, Cairo, Alexandria, Jerusalem and Amman.

“We Love Sousse” has already been joined by 8 local associations, with a majority of youth-led organizations and students associations. Members are all below 30, and are highly motivated to bring a new perspective on citizenship. The network is organized in various thematic committees, and the sharing of human and financial resources, as well as a common set of values, gives the opportunity to amplify the outreach and impact of common initiatives.

The network should soon expand with new members from the field of women’s rights, youth empowerment, environment, culture and the Arts. Although it is not yet formally registered, the network has already coordinated several initiatives, such as training sessions on community mobilization, communication, and advocacy. Humanitarian assistance actions have also been organized, for the benefit of hospitalized children. Network members have also recently taken part in the Tunis Forum organized by the Anna Lindh Foundation, in order to present their ideas and projects.

One of these recent projects was the “Shoot as you walk” action: network members, with video cameras in hand, walked across the old city of Sousse in search for anecdotal or unusual images, and then placed their videos online. “We want to bring a new vision about Sousse; we want people to see it with new eyes. With our videos, the spectator gets this opportunity to discover a new Sousse, as if he or she was walking through the old city”, says Anis Boufrikha.

Challenges are many for such initiatives in Tunisia. The first hurdle is the law itself: the civil society law does not allow officially for the creation of networks. Moreover, the coordination involved in getting various organizations to work together requires more time, greater availability from members and more conciliatory efforts. “We Love Sousse” will bring these issues and many others on a common platform of discussion with other “We Love” networks in November, during its formal inaugural workshop.

“As a strong support of civil society development, the Foundation for the Future has a direct interest in maintaining dialogue and observing the development of initiatives such as the ‘We Love’ networks” explains Audrey Rojkoff, Liaison Officer for Tunisia, who attended a meeting with ‘We Love Sousse” on 18 September. “The Foundation is encouraging the densification of civil society throughout the Arab world, and the creation of networks is a way to achieve this. In Tunisia, it is particularly important to support networks, as it means that civil society can have a stronger voice in the new political context”. Indeed, the civil society landscape in Tunisia has completely changed since January: between 400 and 1300 new organizations have initiated a registration process according to various sources, the majority of these organizations being small and without stable resources or third sector experience. Sharing experiences, sharing ideas and sharing efforts can break the isolation and relative weakness of new civil society groups in the country. “What we observe with interest is that the networking efforts are happening across governorates, and brings a new sense of solidarity and common belonging. It also values the concepts of volunteering, and it is reassuring to see young Tunisians so genuinely engaged in building the future of the country, in local communities and one step at a time”, add Ms. Rojkoff. In the context of democratization in Tunisia, this is all the more crucial.


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22 September 2011

The 8th Forum for the Future 3rd regional workshop was convened in Marrakesh, Morocco on September 17-18, 2011 with the participation of 100 representatives from BMENA civil society organizations. 

The Forum for the Future is an annual gathering of BMENA and G8 representatives – governments, civil society as well as the private sector. Earlier this year, two regional workshops had already been convened; a first one on Gender Equality, in Kuwait, and a second one on Economic Development in France. The regional workshops are traditionally an opportunity for the Forum co-organizers to consult with civil society on issues of particular relevance in the BMENA region.

The third and last of the 3-workshop series of 2011 shed light on a very timely and important topic: "Building democracy: role and involvement of youth and civil society". Indeed, the social and political inclusion of youth has become a key challenge for countries across the region: The Arab Spring demonstrations were fundamentally organized by young people and were to a large extent a consequence of their frustrations and socio-economic disenfranchisement. Youth in the Middle East and North Africa are the largest segment of the population, representing up to 75% of the citizenry in certain countries.  What they have been voicing since the beginning of the year is their claim to be equal citizens and take part in the democratic reform dialogue.

In this regard, civil society has a key role to play, and the Marrakesh workshop was the opportunity to highlight the possible role for CSOs in good governance, economic growth, human development, social cohesion and public policy-making. Some of the sessions of the regional workshop specifically discussed the changing dynamics of social and political participation in the region, with new youth groups and new forms of mobilization emerging.

The Foundation for the Future, closely associated to the Forum for the Future process in 2011 in particular, appreciated the thematic choices made by the organizers. Represented by its President, Ms. Nabila Hamza, the Foundation took the opportunity to remind participants of the importance to focus on core issues of political and democratic development, at times when the region is undergoing historical transformations. Ms. Hamza chaired the session on “Inclusion of youth and civil society in the public space”, and strongly highlighted the role that youth have taken in the recent political changes in the region. “A new generation of Arab citizens and new forms of civic engagement are emerging” she said, before reasserting the willingness of the Foundation to support these efforts of young citizens to create and bring about change.

Other civil society and media representatives who participated in the Marrakech workshop included Kuwaiti journalist Ibrahim Al-Mulaifi (head of the Kuwait Graduate's Society), Youssef El Bouhairi (Moroccan Association of Human Rights), Ghassan Sarhan (President of Bahrain Democratic Youth Society) and Mustafa Bushashi (Head of the Algerian League for the Defense of Human Rights).

Participants made a series of recommendations in the final workshop declaration. They called for further integration of youth in political action and for support to enhance their capabilities in this regard, through the creation of capacity-building centers. They also expressed the need to set up a fund to support youth initiatives, and to develop mechanisms to encourage and guarantee interaction and exchanges. The recommendations will be shared with the Ministerial delegates and should be reflected in the agenda for the 8th Forum for the Future to be held in Kuwait, on November 21-22.

The final recommendations of the Marrakesh workshop are available in English, French and Arabic 

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Foundation for the Future Deplores Six Months of Violent 

Repression of Citizens’ Claims for Freedom in Syria

15 September 2011

In mid-March 2011, thousands of Syrian citizens started taking to the streets to express their demands for freedom, justice and democracy. From Daraa to Hassakeh, Aleppo, Homs, Damascus, Idlib or Hama, they have been raising a voice for freedom and democracy. Inspired by the revolutionary uprising across the Middle East and North African region since the beginning of the year, they have continued since then to demonstrate and peacefully voice their claims.

The past six months have however been a long and intolerable series of tragic events for the Syrian people, with authorities and security forces showing an unacceptable and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protesters. UN Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has confirmed earlier this week a death toll of at least of 2,600 victims. Local and international human rights groups are courageously reporting on acts of intimidation aimed at preventing the holding of peaceful gatherings; acts of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances of political activists; acts of harassment of human rights defenders and retaliation against their relatives; acts of torture and ill-treatment. The Foundation for the Future deplores the widespread, systematic and violent repression against civilians.

The courage and perseverance of the Syrian people and civil society in this context is truly humbling. Despite the isolation of their country, they persevere in unity, across religious, ethnic and social boundaries. Their claims must be heard and respected. Authorities have to concretize their promises regarding the true end of the state of emergency, the instauration of a multiparty system, and a respect for freedoms. So far, there has been no genuine sign of change on these issues.

The Foundation for the Future calls for:

a halt to exactions against civilians
- the immediate ending of any form of repression against peaceful demonstrators
- the prompt start of the independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the repeated and serious crimes committed since the beginning of the year, and follow-up from the conclusions and demands from UN fact-finding missions and UN Human Rights Council principled resolution. 

A true dialogue for reform and a transitional agenda towards a truly democratic and inclusive Syrian State must start without further delay. Fundamental freedoms and basic human rights must be restored. The popular and overwhelming movement for freedom spreading across the Arab world should not be stopped at the Syrian borders.

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 Foundation Speaks at XVI School of Volunteering International Meeting in Madrid

17 September 2011

On 8-9 September, the XVI Autumn School of Volunteering International Meeting has gathered in Madrid hundreds of representatives of volunteer organizations, non-profit organizations, international cooperation agencies and donors. The School of Volunteering is an annual gathering organized since 1996 by the Spanish Volunteering Platform (Plataforma de Voluntariado de España - PVE), an NGO created in 1986 to coordinate the promotion and dissemination of volunteering and solidarity action. The event was of particular importance this year, with PVE celebrating its 25th anniversary in the backdrop of celebrations for the European Year of Volunteering (EYV 2011) and the 10th Anniversary of the Un International Year of Volunteering (UN IYV+10).

Leaders and personalities such as Leire Pajin (Spanish Minister of Health, Social Policy and Equality), Soraya Rodriguez Ramos (President of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation, AECID) and Martijn Pakker (Director of the European Volunteer Center and representative of the NGO Alliance for the European Year 2011) delivered keynote addresses highlighting the need to foster the recognition of volunteering as a social agent, and its importance for a critical and active citizenship. Activists and specialists also presented various models of social participation at the international level.

The Foundation for the Future, represented by Ms. Nadia Moussa (Grants Officer for North Africa), took part in the inaugural panel session entitled “Volunteering: a key for the twenty-first century citizenship”. Acting as a promoter of civil society engagement in the Arab world, the Foundation presented an insider perspective on volunteering in the region, its characteristics and challenges, with a particular focus on Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Jordan. According to Ms. Moussa, “volunteering and citizen engagement are closely linked to civil society development […]. Volunteerism is an effective tool to develop the spirit of citizenship and active participation of the youth which is what strengthens the capacity of civil society. It also means promoting the quality of life in a community, through both political and non-political processes”. As explained by Ms. Moussa, “volunteerism is deeply ingrained in the Arab and Muslim culture, where there are traditional forms of charity giving and volunteering. However, the Arab world still lacks the social and legal institutionalization that will be an incentive to modernize and amplify volunteering activities”. Ms. Moussa went on to describe several projects supported by the Foundation for the Future and aiming at strengthening the volunteering and civic engagement movement – among youth in particular – across the region.

The event was also the occasion for the Foundation to present to a European audience the dynamism and prospects for civil society development in the Arab world, a crucial element to consider when donors and decision-makers envisage options for democratic development in the region.

More information can be found at www.plataformavoluntariado.org
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September 5, 2011

The balance of power in Libya has significantly evolved in recent weeks, giving hope that transitional change will soon materialize in the country after four decades of an erratic and autocratic regime. The Foundation is a committed observer and supporter of the historic movement for freedom that is at play, and of the admirable determination demonstrated by the Libyan people over the past six months, albeit at a very heavy price.

The Foundation for the Future strongly hopes that the transitional phase ahead will hold the promise of democracy in Libya, allowing for fast and tangible progress towards establishing the Rule of Law and enhancing potentials for good governance, human rights, women empowerment and youth participation at the time when new voices are given the chance to be heard.

Obstacles are many: decades of oppression have undermined the capacity of independent voices to contribute to the national dialogue, and serious challenges still threaten national unity, peace and security. The horrifying findings recently made in illegal detention and torture centers are only the latest illustration of the tragic heritage that the Libyan people will have to overcome in order to bring about transitional justice and a culture of human rights in the country. In this context, the emergence of local civil society groups is encouraging and will be critical in pursuing claims of dignity, freedom, and citizenship.

In the coming months, the Foundation for the Future will explore avenues to contribute to building the new Libya. The Foundation is willing and ready to cooperate, within its capacity, to build and develop Libyan civil society. There will be citizens to educate, judges and police forces to train, institutions to reform, laws to be drafted, elections to be held and a nation to reconcile. The challenge starts now.  
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11 September 2011 


The Italy-based international news agency Inter Press Service (IPS) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) organized on 7-8 September 2011 a high-level meeting on “Cooperation with the Arab world: a new scenario for communication”. Held in Madrid, the meeting gathered several Spanish officers, media professionals and experts from the Mediterranean region to reflect on the possible effects on development policy of the recent events and changes that are shaking and reshaping the Arab world.

The meeting focused particularly on the role that communication tools and professionals can play in building bridges of understanding between people of the different countries. The Spanish Development Cooperation devotes 20% of its overseas development assistance (ODA) – around 600 million Euros in 2009 – to countries of the Southern and Eastern mediterranean shore, which is a clear illustration of the vested interest for Spain to be an active observer and supporter of the changes and challenges facing the Middle east and North Africa region.

Personalities such as Soraya Rodriguez Ramos (Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation), Aiman Zoubir (Al Jazeera correspondent in Spain and Morocco), and Gioconda Belli (Nicaraguan Writer, author of The Inhabited Woman or Infinity in the palm of her hand) gave well-noticed presentations on the general issues at stake, and what could be the new framework for development cooperation with Arab countries.

The meeting was also the opportunity to explore new roles and new prospects for civil society and citizen participation, two key aspects of cooperation and democracy promotion. While presenting on behalf of the Foundation for the Future at the panel on “Communication, civil society and participation in the Arab world”, Ms. Nabila Hamza particularly focused on the situation of women in the Arab world in a context of transition and the necessity to shed light on their cause – a role that media professionals should embrace according to Ms. Hamza. “There is a lot at stake when one thinks about the connection between women in the Arab world and media. First, for weeks and weeks we have seen women taking an active role in the street protests and popular uprisings against autocratic regimes in the region, which undermines numerous stereotypes […] present in western media, of an ignorant, passive and submissive Arab woman. […] We have also seen women investing the social media and online communication space to accelerate the pace of change”, Ms. Hamza added, giving the example of Tunisian blogger Lina Ben Mehni. She concluded by saying that in spite of all this, “women still have difficulties in making their voice heard” and should benefit from the support of media and communication professionals in their long march to freedom and equality.

In addition to her role in this session, Ms. Hamza took part in a live radio Program (La Nube) of Radio Nacional de España (RNE) and gave several interviews to the Spanish press, highlighting further the particular context emerging in the MENA region and the role that organizations such as the Foundation for the Future can play in supporting civil society development and democratic reform.

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Ramallah-based RCHRS has recently published the conclusions of a public opinion poll conducted in July in the West Bank and Gaza.


http://www.rchrs.org/index.php?limitstart=4


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A Survey of Egyptian Civil Society and Transition

31 August 2011

The post-revolutionary situation in Egypt is particularly challenging. The energy and passion of the Egyptian people that culminated in the Revolution has not yet waned and it is still unclear whether that will result in a viable democratic state.  Understanding that civil society organizations are often closely connected to the populations they target, and on the front lines of transitions, the Foundation wanted to give the floor to civil society organizations and activists, to hear their take on recent events and controversies surrounding the formation of the new government.  Six months into the transition, it was time to pause and reflect with them on the future of Egypt.

In nearly five years of working with civil society in Egypt, the Foundation has got to know over 300 CSOs – NGOs, local community groups, research centers, advocacy and human rights groups, etc.  In July, 369 organizations have been contacted and invited to take part in an online perception survey whose structure had been designed by the Foundation.

Questions ranged from their operations since the revolution, their confidence in political transition and their hopes for the future of their country.  The questionnaire was administered through an online survey software between 25 July and 7 August.  71 valid submissions were considered in the sample of respondents; select respondents were contacted to gain further insight into certain answers.

The study does not aim at providing with an authoritative point of view of Egyptian society as a whole, but instead with valuable insight into Egyptian civil society as it works for the betterment of its country during this historical period of transition. 

The study finds that civil society in Egypt is cautiously positive about the transition that has been happening in Egypt since the January Revolution.  After taking part in the demonstrations that eventually led to the first free vote taking place in Egypt for decades, positivity seems to be the only correct response.  However, the signs of uncertainty are undeniable: demonstrators are still occupying Tahrir Square on a regular basis, the country is still under military law, and a reliable date for elections has yet to be agreed on.  These signs have not gone unnoticed by CSOs, who seem to have not yet fully claimed victory.  They are slow to state an end to government oppression, and even slower still to say that a viable democratic state has been created. 

Beyond the very public signs of uncertainty, many members of civil society have their own personal reasons to display caution.  For some, the situation has not improved markedly.  They are still experiencing censorship, and fear public defamation and harassment at the hands of authorities.  Nearly 10% of the respondents have declared to have been unlawfully arrested or imprisoned since January.  While the situation has improved, it is still not the point it must get to in order for civil society to take its rightful place in an open, stable democracy. 

Most clear among civil society’s concerns is the need for a new government to be secular in nature.  Survey results showed overwhelming support in favor of steps to be taken to mitigate the influence of political parties based on faith and religion on the drafting of the constitution and the formation of the new government.  Civil society is in favor of a secular state in which religion has no direct influence on law and governance.  The majority believes that every religion should have equal rights, and citizens from all religious backgrounds should have the right to run for president.  However, CSOs seem more willing to claim the need for religious freedom than they are to make a strong statement against the involvement of Islam in governance. 

Given the civil society stance on democracy and religion, and the remarkable turnout of Egyptians for the national referendum vote, one can assume that civil society as a whole is more liberal and progressive-leaning than the Egyptian population at large.  77% of voters in the referendum chose in favor of holding parliamentary elections before the drafting of the new constitution, while CSOs are overwhelmingly against this timeline.  They also responded consistently with a liberal leaning, showing openness the idea of a female president and political parties of mixed-religions. 

Most heartening perhaps of the findings is that civil society still feels more capable than ever to enact change for the betterment of Egypt.  This is the most important point.  The details of transition may still be uncertain in Egypt, but as long as the people of Egypt continue to push for their rights and freedoms, the process of democratic transition will continue.  As this happens, civil society will continue to step in its important role towards the establishment of a new democratic state of Egypt.

Click here to access the full report.

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August 12, 2011


Lack of freedom of expression.  Soaring youth unemployment.  Violations of human rights.  These were the issues raised by the youth of the Middle East when they began to take to the streets in the first weeks and months of 2011 in what would later be dubbed the Arab Spring.  Representing nearly 2/3 of the population in the region, these youth, when united behind a cause, provided the driving force to the revolutions that resulted in the ousting of 2 presidents from power, and an awakening of civil discontent, especially among youth, across the region.  However, the Arab Spring is only a beginning.  The issues that fueled youth discontent are still present across the region and will require a significant and sustained effort by governments and civil society to find a solution.  The youth bulge has placed the region at a major crossroads.  If the issues facing youth in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) today are not addressed, the result could have adverse effects on these countries’ economies, social services, stability and security.  However, if the energy and passion of the younger generations is harnessed, it will have the potential to drive economic growth, open up societies, and transform countries for the better.  

On August 12, 2011, the international community celebrates International Youth Day, marking the end of the International Year of Youth.  On this occasion, the Foundation would like to highlight a group of its grantees that are working in the BMENA region to address the challenges facing youth, empowering them to become a voice of positive influence in their countries.  From Algeria, to Yemen, to Pakistan, these organizations are addressing region-wide issues of freedom of expression, economic empowerment, and human rights advocacy with a country-specific sensitivity.

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Etoile Culturelle d’Abou Creates Spaces of Expression in Northern Algeria 

Youth in Algeria share similar grievances with their counterparts in countries across the region.  With 70% of the population of Algeria below 30 years of age, and 30% of youth unemployed, frustrations related to unemployment and a persistent sense of hopelessness run deep in the population.  However in addition to these considerable challenges, youth in Algeria are unique in the region in that they also must grapple with the aftershock of the Algerian Civil War.  Like youth in any country of the world, the youth of Kabylie show signs of having the necessary passion and potential to play a positive role in their country.  Unfortunately, due to the unique history of their country, their potential has been cut short.  The Blood Decade, as the violent period that took up the majority of the 1990s has been called, resulted in an entire generation of youth growing up in a country divided by violent dispute.  Even as the bloodshed has subsided, they still live in a limbo, with the legacy of the war having destroyed traditional identity structures and created taboos that make self-expression difficult.  In the northern wilaya of Kabylie, this issue is compounded by a history of alienation of the Berber people who populate the region.  In the wake of the Blood Decade, few positive outlets for youth and a lack of public structures made youth easy targets for fundamentalist groups that taught a doctrine of violence.  As a result, the common channel of expression in Kabylie became violent protest, earning the wilaya a reputation of one of the most violent regions of the country. 

One organization, Etoile Culturelle d’Abou (the Cultural Star of Akbou-ECA) decided to tackle this issue head-on.  At the heart of their mission is the belief that by creating of new areas of expression for the youth, and offering them a hope for the future, they will decrease the attractiveness of violent protest, teaching youth to communicate frustrations peacefully and effectively.  ECA has three main focuses: creating spaces of communication, getting youth back in school or keeping them in school, and better preparing the professionals that work with youth.  In order to create new spaces of expression, the organization is developing programs that introduce 5000 youth to new forms of expression that interest them, such as theater, music, and production of short films.  Other spaces of expression are being created in schools by facilitating debates and youth councils, impacting 550 students in total.  In order to alleviate the soaring school drop out rate, ECA will provide 30 students with workshops on academic success, as well as a “School of the Second Chance” designed to get youth back into school once they have dropped out.  Finally, ECA will work to train facilitators and educators to be prepared to make a difference in the lives of the youth they work with.  This includes trainings on positive management on conflict, critical thinking, techniques of intervention, and networking with other programs that target youth.  With these programs combined, ECA is successfully contributing to the issue of youth in northern Algeria, teaching them new modes of expression, and creating a brighter hope for the future.

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The Yemen Education for Employment Foundation Offers Alternatives to Extremism

Unemployment across the BMENA region has sky rocketed in recent years as a direct result of the growing young population.  In a region where civil service jobs are a coveted mainstay, governments simply cannot afford to provide enough jobs for the burgeoning numbers of youth flooding the job market.  As a result, youth are waiting years between graduation from university or trade school before they find work.  This has significant implications for youth in terms of their ability to gain independence from their families, to marry, and to develop an identity and hope for the future.  Besides the obvious economic instability caused by large portions of populations unable to contribute to economic production, youth unemployment causes a chain reaction of issues that can threaten the security and political stability of a nation.

In Yemen, 45% of the population is youth, with 30% of them suffering from unemployment.  The deep-seated feelings of discontent and dissatisfaction among youth make them vulnerable to be targeted by extremist groups that use violence to meet their needs.  The Yemen Education for Employment Foundation (YEFE) is currently implementing a project funded by the Foundation that will help mitigate youth vulnerability to the threat of extremism by tackling unemployment.  The project, entitled Anchoring Democracy, Economic Development and Labor Rights in a Youth Job-Oriented CSO, will target 150 Yemeni youth from disadvantaged backgrounds to receive market-relevant job training.  This training, entitled the Pioneers Program, includes modules on English language, workplace success, information technology, and gaining an edge in business.  200 participants will then undergo a separate training on their rights as employees.  Once they have worked with participants to ensure their levels of employability, YEFE will build partnerships with the private sector in order to place participants into relevant employment positions.  Representatives from CSOs in Yemen will also participate in trainings so as to be able to pass on the information that they have learned with other CSO members.  In a region plagued by youth dissatisfaction, and a country with soaring unemployment, YEFE can be credited with taking steps to address the issue, one youth at a time. 

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The Sindh Community Foundation Trains Youth on Human Rights in Pakistan

A good government protects its citizens against human rights violations, and provides channels of recourse for its citizens when they occur.  This has been one of the main grievances raised by protesters, and it is one of the central messages that the Sindh Community Foundation (SCF) of Pakistan is spreading amongst youth.  For far too long governments across the BMENA have favored stability over human rights.  Whether by overlooking violations so as to avoid confrontation, or by carrying out violations themselves so as to crush opposition, governments have failed to protect their citizens from such grievous violations.  In the province of Sindh, the most common human rights violations are usually against the most vulnerable members of society.  These usually include crimes against women and marginalization of youth.  The flood of 2010 that affected 20 million Pakistanis worsened the situation, as it hit hardest in the region of Sindh and compounded the vulnerability of women and youth.  Even a year later the numbers of internally displaced persons and extremely vulnerable persons is still extremely high in Sindh.  The problem is amplified by a lack of youth engagement, as youth in the country often feel marginalized and powerless to enact change, especially through government channels.

These issues did not go unnoticed by SCF, and they decided to take action to engage youth in the battle against human rights violations in the province.  Their program began by selecting 36 youth from across the Sindh to participate in a leadership-training workshop.  Selected participants were trained on the basics of human rights, the rights of Pakistani citizens under their constitutions, and international human rights conventions.  However, SCF did not stop with just making participants aware of their rights.  They went on to provide youth with advocacy tools to channel human rights grievances through the proper governmental institutions.  Training then focused on democracy good governance, and the necessity of youth engaging in democracy to advocate for human rights.  Finally, two youth forums were held with expert speakers sharing their thoughts.  The first forum focused on human rights and peace specifically in the Sindh region.  The second focused on the media’s role in demanding good governance and protection of human rights.  Throughout these trainings and forums, youth were continually challenged to think of human rights in Sindh province through the lens of democracy and the governmental provisions for handling grievances.  In a region with one of the worst human rights track records globally, SCF is working to engage youth to eradicate these violations through peaceful, effective means. 

On the occasion of International Youth Day, the Foundation is proud to be one of the many organizations globally that are making a contribution to empower youth.  

Please click here to read the Foundation’s most recent newsletter about youth engagement in the BMENA region. 

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Board approves 30 new projects

7 August 2011

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Future recently concluded a meeting in Tunis, in which 30 new projects were endorsed, for a total amount exceeding US$ 2.185 million. This brings the total of approved projects to 170 since the inception of the Grant Program in 2007, illustrating the position of the Foundation as a leading grant-maker in the Broader Middle East and North Africa region.

"The final short-listing and selection has been a difficult exercise” says Francesco Rosa, Chief Operations Officer (COO), considering the overwhelming influx of proposals submitted to the Foundation by civil society organizations throughout the BMENA. Indeed, 329 eligible applications had been received for the concluded grants awarding round. This had eclipsed the 2010 record by over 33% and marked the fourth year in a row in which the number of grant applications set a record.

Facing the challenge of a selection process that is increasingly competitive, the Grant Committee of the Board of Directors factored in a series of principles and criteria in order to screen through a shortlist of the most pertinent and deserving initiatives. Criteria usually applied include, inter alia: a direct and strong match with one or more of the Foundation’s six programmatic priorities; an effort to present innovative approaches and methods, and/or to deal with unaddressed or under-addressed issues; a foreseeable, tangible and high impact towards socio-political transformations; a strong encouragement and incentive given to effective citizen and civil society engagement; a sound project management capacity and a careful estimation of the cost efficiency of the project. Moreover, in light of the new social and political context emerging in the MENA region, the Committee was also concerned by the political pertinence of the projects, which were expected to demonstrate a timely relevance to the most pressing needs in a context of powerful political transformations.

The final list of new projects reflects both the needs of the Arab world at historical times of democratization, and the Foundation’s continuous commitment to seize opportunities to accompany responsively the political changes that the region is undergoing. Indeed, out of 30 new projects, 5 are from Tunisia and 4 from Egypt for an estimated US$ 846,000, i.e. over 21% of the total value of the selected projects. The Foundation was particularly pleased to notice that the vast majority of the selected projects were directly pertinent to a context of transition, which “is the sign that civil society in the Arab world is willing and capable to take a leading role in the agenda for democratic change. Civil society organizations will be involved in election and political education, youth participation, and national campaigns for social participation and political representation of women, which are key issues of the democratization and transition agenda” said Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation, during a press conference convened at the end of the Executive Committee meeting.

In these two countries that are leading the movement for freedom and reform in the Arab world, the Foundation is proud to support projects initiated by prominent and well-established organizations (such as the Cairo-based Egyptian Center for Women’s Rights, or the Tunis-based Arab Institute for Human Rights and the Association des Femmes Tunisiennes pour la Recherche sur le Développement – AFTURD) as well as nascent civil society groups (such as Images et Paroles de Femmes in Tunisia), as an illustration of its efforts to embrace the diversity of civil society in the region.

Beyond Tunisia and Egypt, the Foundation is also extending its support to civil society organizations in countries where the coming months will be crucial for the attainment of political change, such as Palestine and Yemen, where the demands addressed by CSOs is strong, growing and timely. For example, the Board of Directors has endorsed, for the first time, projects based in Gaza and East Jerusalem, which should shed light on key human rights issues such as housing and property rights, and women’s right to inheritance. 

The Board of Directors has also discussed and rewarded the capacity of BMENA civil society to address emerging needs or under-addressed issues such as labor rights and trade unions (Egypt), bonded labor (Pakistan), women entrepreneurship, decentralization and participatory local governance (Jordan, Egypt), and the protection of marginalized minority groups (Yemen).

An approval by the Board of Directors is an essential but not self-sufficient criterion for a project to be awarded a grant. Some selected projects sometimes fail to come to realization due to change in the context or unforeseeable circumstances. Therefore, and in order to secure all chances of implementation, the selected projects still have to undergo a series of administrative steps aimed at confirming further their feasibility and modalities prior to signing an agreement.

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26 June 2011


On June 20-22, Deutsche Welle (DW) – Germany’s international broadcaster – convened its annual international conference, the Global Media Forum (GMF). The 2011 edition specifically focused on human rights, with the chosen theme being ‘Human Rights in a Globalized World: Challenges for the Media’. Over 1,500 participants attended the three-day gathering in Bonn, from media users and producers, scientists, conflict prevention specialists, policy makers, human rights activists to civil society representatives. Keynote and guest speakers included Thorbjoern Jagland (Secretary General of the Council of Europe), Eric Schmitt (New York Times correspondent), Wolfgang Schüssel (former Chancellor of Austria) and Markus Löning (German federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid).

The Global Media Forum serves as a vast platform of exchange and dialogue on issues pertaining to media development in contemporary societies, and in particular the ways for media to better meet the increased demands to deliver information, analysis and evaluation of global interaction. The thematic focus on human rights for the 2011 GMF is a timely coincidence: “2011 has already become the year of human rights in my eyes”, said Erik Bettermann, DW Director General. “The whole world is monitoring the ‘Arab spring’, trying to anticipate what is to come”.

The 44 workshops of the Forum gave ample occasions to highlight under-reported issues such as labor migration, human trafficking, social and cultural rights, indigenous peoples’ rights. A strong focus on Sudan, Egypt and the Arab world in general was also given to the Forum through the workshops and the fact that two awards were given to bloggers from the region: blogger Lina Ben Mhenni (Tunisia) received the DW International Blog Award, and Esra’a Al SHafei (Egypt) the Special Human Rights Blog Award.

The Foundation was honored to facilitate an entire workshop, entitled ‘Promoting Democracy and Human Rights in the Arab Region’, and have the opportunity to advocate for a genuine understanding of the transformation process currently spreading in the Middle East and North Africa. Foundation Board members Amal Basha and Andreu Claret, along with Foundation President Nabila Hamza, could share observations derived from observing changing political realities in the region since the beginning of the year. The fourth panelist was Mrs. Barbara Wolf, Director of the BMENA and Euromed Division at the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ms. Basha and Mr. Claret gave appreciated presentations regarding media development in Yemen and Egypt respectively, with a specific focus on the necessity to voice the concerns and situations of marginalized groups – youth and women in particular. In both countries, media are being epitomized as ‘change agents’, which does not go without challenging the role that they can play in Arab societies.

Ms. Hamza reasserted the Foundation’s commitment to supporting media freedom and media development in the BMENA region, citing several initiatives undertaken through the Foundation’s Grant program in Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt and Yemen for example. In her concluding remarks, Mrs. Hamza stated that “media are essential guarantors of democratic progress and governance. They are the tools of the peoples’ and citizens’ right to know, and of the enhancement of a culture of freedom of opinion and expression. They can be the relays of transparency and accountability, and participate in the balance of power”. It is particularly important to underline this role in the new emerging political framework in the Middle East.

More information can be found on GMF webpage 

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21 June, 2011

On 23-26 June the Tunis Exchange Forum will gather in the Tunisian capital around 150 cultural and media operators, CSO representatives, young activists and experts for a Euro-Mediterranean encounter and debate on citizenship, democracy and intercultural dialogue in a context of democratic transitions and social change. The event is part of a broader initiative launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation and entitled ‘Believe in Dialogue, Act for Citizenship – Exchanges Practices on Participation and Democracy’, to which the Foundation for the Future is proud to extend its support.

The Tunis Exchange Forum will be developed according to the country context and the evolving needs of Tunisian civil society, focusing on its role in the democratization process. Discussion panels will focus on the role of culture and arts in facilitating the expression of citizens’ demands and needs; the role of global and social media in promoting dialogue and citizenship; the tools and avenues for civil society development and the strengthening of democratic values. The Exchange will consist of the presentation of best practices, project ideas, available resources and tools for democracy promotion and successful methodologies for intercultural citizenship.

Personalities such as Amr Moussa (Secretary General of the League of Arab States) and Stefan Füle (EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy) will deliver keynote addresses during the opening session plenary.

The Foundation for the Future is inviting several of its grantees and partners to participate in the three-day event and join this platform of experience sharing and networking at a regional level. In particular, Mouloud Salhi, from the Association Etoile Culturelle d’Akbou (Algeria) will share his experience in peer education initiatives towards non-violence, as a means to empower and engage citizens, and build sustainable societies. Association Initiative Urbaine (Morocco), another of the Foundation’s grantee, will present its project linking youth civic participation and local governance in Hay Mohammedi, an under-privileged neighborhood of Casablanca.

For the Foundation, partnering with the Anna Lindh Foundation on an initiative that timely addresses issues of citizenship and democracy is an important step in offering to civil society organizations the opportunity to learn tools and methods that they could successfully implement. By doing so, civil society could enhance and accompany the historical movement towards freedom and democracy that is spreading throughout the MENA region and that started precisely in Tunisia.

Click here to download the programme for the Tunis Exchange Forum

21 June, 2011On 23-26 June the Tunis Exchange Forum will gather in the Tunisian capital around 150 cultural and media operators, CSO representatives, young activists and experts for a Euro-Mediterranean encounter and debate on citizenship, democracy and intercultural dialogue in a context of democratic transitions and social change. The event is part of a broader initiative launched by the Anna Lindh Foundation and entitled ‘Believe in Dialogue, Act for Citizenship – Exchanges Practices on Participation and Democracy’, to which the Foundation for the Future is proud to extend its support.The Tunis Exchange Forum will be developed according to the country context and the evolving needs of Tunisian civil society, focusing on its role in the democratization process. Discussion panels will focus on the role of culture and arts in facilitating the expression of citizens’ demands and needs; the role of global and social media in promoting dialogue and citizenship; the tools and avenues for civil society development and the strengthening of democratic values. The Exchange will consist of the presentation of best practices, project ideas, available resources and tools for democracy promotion and successful methodologies for intercultural citizenship.Personalities such as Amr Moussa (Secretary General of the League of Arab States) and Stefan Füle (EU Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy) will deliver keynote addresses during the opening session plenary.The Foundation for the Future is inviting several of its grantees and partners to participate in the three-day event and join this platform of experience sharing and networking at a regional level. In particular, Mouloud Salhi, from the Association Etoile Culturelle d’Akbou (Algeria) will share his experience in peer education initiatives towards non-violence, as a means to empower and engage citizens, and build sustainable societies. Association Initiative Urbaine (Morocco), another of the Foundation’s grantee, will present its project linking youth civic participation and local governance in Hay Mohammedi, an under-privileged neighborhood of Casablanca.For the Foundation, partnering with the Anna Lindh Foundation on an initiative that timely addresses issues of citizenship and democracy is an important step in offering to civil society organizations the opportunity to learn tools and methods that they could successfully implement. By doing so, civil society could enhance and accompany the historical movement towards freedom and democracy that is spreading throughout the MENA region and that started precisely in Tunisia.Click here to download the programme for the Tunis Exchange Forum

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June 6, 2011

The Foundation for the Future received a record high of 329 eligible applications for its 2011 mid-year Grants awarding round. The Request for Proposals (RfP) was opened until February 28, with specific and extended deadlines for Tunisia and Egypt due to the political transformations taking place in these countries. This eclipses the 2010 record by over 33% and marks the fourth year in a row in which the number of grant applications sets a record.

The project proposals were submitted by organizations based in 14 different countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa, with a large proportion of proposals originating from Palestine, Egypt, Yemen and Jordan – four countries where the Foundation has already established a solid presence and experience. The Foundation was pleased to receive for the first time proposals from Syria, Oman, and also from Gaza and East Jerusalem.

Interestingly, over 71% of applicant organizations are approaching the Foundation for funding for the first time – a ratio that remains comparable to what was achieved in previous years. This high number of new applications reflects the Foundation’s efforts to constantly renew its operational mandate and identify new partners, including ‘start-up CSOs’ or groups operating in remote or isolated areas. It is also a testament to the rapid growth of civil society organizations that are leading initiatives for change in the region.

“We are gratified by this overwhelming demand expressed by civil society throughout the region. It was certainly beyond our expectations to receive such a large number of proposals; we understand it as a pledge of trust and a reward of the efforts we have taken on the ground to increase the outreach and scope of our Grant program. But most importantly, we know that this demand is the sign that civil society in the Arab world is willing and capable to take a leading role in the agenda for change”, explains Francesco Rosa, Chief Operations Officer at the Foundation.

The Foundation is particularly proud of being able to spark off a dynamic demand from Egypt and Tunisia, and henceforth seize the opportunity to accompany responsively the political changes that these two countries are undergoing: more than 1 in 3 projects from Tunisia and Egypt is directly related or specifically focused on the democratization and transition process.

The thematic diversification observed in 2010 is confirmed in 2011: CSOs take up the challenge of targeting under-addressed needs or new themes for the region, such as workers’ rights, transitional justice, protection for victims of torture, decentralization or participatory budgeting, to name just a few examples.

The unprecedented number of applications received by the deadline of the RfPs consequently makes the selection process even more competitive and rigorous. All the proposals received are being screened against a specific set of criteria, including the following main ones:

• A direct and strong match with one or more of the Foundation’s six programmatic priorities, namely Civic Participation, Women’s Empowerment, Human Rights, Democratic Governance, the Rule of Law and Media Freedom

• A timely relevance to the most pressing needs identified in the locations envisaged for project implementation; for this round, the relevance of the project in a context of strong political transformations is crucial

• An effort to present innovative approaches and methods, and/or to deal with unaddressed or under-addressed issues

• A foreseeable, tangible and high impact towards socio-political transformations

• The encouragement and incentive given to effective citizen and civil society engagement

• A careful estimation of the cost efficiency of the project

Through its country-based Liaison Officers, the Foundation has been carrying out over 100 organizational capacity assessments (OCAs) in order to judge on the capacity for implementation and sound management of those organizations whose application scores well in terms of inherent quality.

In a next stage, the Foundation’s Grant Committee, composed of various Board members, will establish a final shortlist to be reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors on June 28.

Since 2007, the Foundation has overseen 140 grants in 16 countries spanning all four sub-regions of the BMENA . The new batch of grantees that will emerge from the 2011 mid-year selection will reflect the socio-political diversity of the region and the expansion of the operational outreach of the Foundation’s Grant program.
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Throughout the region, women have taken an active part in the protest movements and popular uprisings; however, the issue of their rights, participation and representation is sidelined in the overall process of democratization. In order to open this necessary debate, the Foundation for the Future organized in Amman, on 9 June 2011, a roundtable discussion entitled “Women rights in democratic transition in the Arab world: challenges and prospects”.

For the Foundation, such an event is a direct illustration of a commitment to enhance the women’s rights movement in the region. The Foundation has so far dedicated over 21% of its grant-making funds to projects aiming at furthering women’s political participation, civic engagement, rights and empowerment. Such initiatives are supported in nine countries of the Broader Middle East and North Africa (Morocco, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Libya, Yemen, Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, and Pakistan).

Four speakers were contributed to the discussions:

- Ms. Roudha Gharbi, Human Rights activist from Tunisia
- Ms. Azza Solaiman, Director of the Center for Egyptian Women’s Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
- Ms. Amal Basha, President of the Sister Arab Forum for Human Rights in Yemen and board member of the Foundation for the Future
- Ms. Leila Hamarneh, Project director of the Arab Women Organization (AWO) in Jordan
- Ms. Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation, gave a keynote presentation introducing the roundtable.

The event comes in furtherance of the Foundation’s efforts to support civil society initiatives that aim at promoting democracy and human rights in the BMENA region, and to advocate for an inclusive role for women in the process of democratization that have already been engaged in several countries.

The roundtable discussion brought together more than 100 participans from government officials, civil society activists, local experts, diplomats and foreign delegates.

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May 31, 2011

Foundation for the Future President Nabila Hamza recently attended a meeting entitled “Europe and its Neighborhood: Towards a Renewed Partnership for Democracy”.  The meeting was held from 25-26 of May, 2011 in Brussels, Belgium, and was hosted by the nongovernmental International Steering Committee of the Community of Democracies, the Council for a Community of Democracies and the European Partnership for Democracy.  Along with officials from the European commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and members of the European Parliament, speakers and participants represented various international organizations such as the International Center for Democratic Transition (ICDT), The Open Society Institute, and Human Rights Watch. Keynote presentations were given by Mr. Robert LaGamma (Council for a Community of Democracies) and Heidi Hautala (Human Rights Committee of the European parliament), among others. 

The sessions focused on the current political climate of revolution and democratic transition in the Middle East and elsewhere, and the specific implications that this has for the role of the European Union.  The first day of meetings highlighted representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that had valuable insight into countries undergoing democratic transition, specifically Egypt, Tunisia, and Belarus.  Ms. Hamza sat on a panel of experts during a session entitled “Tunisia: Originator for a Wave of Change in the Broader Region,” which highlighted Tunisia as the first country to undergo revolution in the region, and discussed the positive role the European Union might play in Tunisia during this time of transition. 

The second day of sessions focused more specifically on the European Union.  Experts spoke of the period of restructuring that the European Union is currently undergoing, and its implications in the broader international context.  They asked the question of how the European countries might take this opportunity to change their role in the Middle East and elsewhere, becoming catalysts for change and positively influencing what might become the fourth wave of democratization internationally.  The conference closed on an encouraging note, with attendees leaving optimistic about the possibilities facing both the European Union and the Middle East during these periods of transition. 
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Foundation for the Future President, Nabila Hamza attended a launch event on May 25, 2011, hosted by the Canadian Ambassador to the European Union, Ross Hornby, in Brussels, Belgium.  The event was organized to commemorate the launch of the Arabic version of the Diplomat’s Handbook, commissioned by the Council for a Community of Democracies in partnership with the International Center for Nonviolent Conflict, Freedom House, the U.S. Department of State, the Government of India, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) of the Government of Canada. The Handbook was written to help diplomats engage with civil society organizations (CSOs) in their host countries in order to support democratization and human rights.

While speaking at the event, Ms. Hamza emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the Handbook, noting that “for most democracies, the days are past when their embassies were concerned only with maintaining good relations with the host government, irrespective of its character, when human rights were not high in the hierarchy of embassy priorities.  Indeed, bilateral relationships and strategic engagement, even with authoritarian regimes, can be put to use to support the rights of civil society and democracy advocates in the host country.”  She also praised the timeliness of launching the Diplomat’s Handbook during a period of unprecedented political developments and processes of democratization in the Middle East.  She rightly noted that while the sudden collapse of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia or Egypt should be attributed to the efforts of the people, not an intervention by the international community, diplomats now have the opportunity to play a major role in the building up of civil society in these countries in the coming months and years, ultimately helping these countries to become stronger democracies.

The Foundation for the Future anticipates the positive effect that the printing of this Handbook in Arabic will have in the region.  The impact of empowering Arabic speaking diplomats to be more sensitive to CSOs cannot be underestimated.  As diplomats working in the Middle East become more aware of the powerful roles that they can play in fostering human rights and a democratic culture, CSOs will benefit, and the impact of the Handbook in the region will be greatly expanded.  This project is directly in line with the Foundation’s mission of developing the capacity of BMENA civil society organizations and supporting their initiatives in advancing the principles of human rights in a motivating democratic culture. 

The Foundation for the Future was honored to partner with esteemed organizations such as the Council for a Community of Democracies and the National Democratic Institute to make this project a success.

The Diplomat’s Handbook can be downloaded here in Arabic.

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Foundation for the Future President Nabila Hamza recently attended the third annual meeting of the La Pietra Coalition, held in Florence, Italy from May 28-31, 2011.  The Coalition has brought together Nobel Laureates, leaders in business, media, academe, civil society, government and elected officials.  They are all united by the common mission of advocating for conditions that will allow women to make a larger economic contribution to communities, nations, and businesses.   In light of recent research connecting economic growth to inclusion of women, the Coalition asserts that, simply put, “investing in women is smart economics”.

Besides a strengthening of the coalition through networking and building better clarity of upcoming goals, the Coalition also held specific discussions based on issues pertinent to the current global climate and events that will affect the international community and the status of women at large.  Specific focus was given to the recent G8 summit in France, and the ways in which the Coalition can engage the G8 Nations and encourage them to give a specific gender focus to financial inclusion efforts.  One session was also specifically devoted to the MENA region entitled “Propelling Women's Economic Opportunity in Democratic Transition.”  Ms. Hamza joined a panel of experts for this discussion, highlighting the roadblocks which women have faced during recent democratic transitions, and sharing ways in which advocates can continue to place women’s issues on the table for discussion during such transitions.  “We can’t have democracy without women’s rights,” Ms. Hamza stated before offering valuable insight concerning how women have been overlooked in the aftermath of revolution, and calling on the international community to refocus their attention to the need for a stronger female voice in the reconstruction efforts. 

The Coalition meeting drew to a close with a session summarizing strategies and next steps that members can take to meet the specific goals of the meeting.  This was followed by a dinner hosted by Matteo Remzi, Mayor of Florence.  Ms. Hamza returns to the Foundation optimistic about the goals set out by the Coalition to further the cause of women both in the region and internationally.

The Coalition grew out of a gathering in Florence in October 2009, convened by Vital Voices Global Partnership and New York University (NYU) with the support of the Paul E. Singer Family Foundation at NYU’s Italian campus, Villa La Pietra, which gave the coalition its name.  Coalition Members include, among others, Muhammad Yunus (Founder, Grameen Bank), Sheryl WuDunn (journalist and author of the NY Times Bestseller Half the Sky), Mabel Van Oranje (CEO, The Elders), Helene Gayle (President & CEO, CARE USA), and Amartya Sen (Harvard University, Nobel Prize Laureate).  More information.

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In collaboration with GIZ the Foundation for the Future organized training workshop at the Tunisian city of Sbeitla in the governorate of Kasserine during 16- 20May 2011. The workshop came as part of the Foundation’s goals to build the capacity of civil society organizations in the countries that are going through democratic changes in the Broader MENA region with the specific focus on the nascent CSOs. Board members and staff from 24 Tunisian associations in different regions attended the training, which centered on the priority subjects of good governance and all the technical details pertained to the various stages of project management cycle including project planning and proposal writing. The following regions of Tunisia: Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid and Siliana were included in the workshop. 

The training workshop was a valuable opportunity for young CSO members to upgrade their knowledge and skills and at the same time enhance their perception of CSO good governance including internal management and problems identification with causes and effects, and develop appropriate interventions to resolve and tackle all related issues. The training, which was facilitated by the Foundation’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer together with an external trainer, provided the participants with the necessary technical know-how for writing skills, and the hands-on exercise in results-based management.

This training comes as part of the Foundation and GIZ ’s endeavors to provide technical assistance and support to the region’s endogenous nascent organizations and promote the creation of networks within its thematic priorities, specifically in the promotion of democracy and citizenship education. This is bearing in mind that these nascent CSOs have realized the importance of building their capacities and positioning themselves as effective and influential actors and stake holders of the Civil Society institutions in their respective countries. 

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The 14th International Forum Réalités concluded on April 29th a three-day gathering of experts, decision-makers and activists who shared opinions and experiences on “The Tunisian Revolution, the Stakes of Transition to Democracy and the Role of Civil Society”. The Forum is hosted every year by Tunisia-based news magazine Réalités, whose conviction is – as stated by its President Taieb Zahar – that media outlets and professionals have a responsibility in reflecting changing political and social realities during extremely crucial times for the country.

Participants included several ministers, international donors and civil society activists, but also personalities who have themselves been shaping contemporary history, such as Nobel Peace Prize and ex-Polish President Lech Walesa. Mr. Walesa praised the courage and determination of the Tunisian people, but also warned against the danger of divisions and rivalries at such important moments of the country’s history.

Participants have engaged in heated discussions about the lessons learned from the Tunisian revolution and the foreseen opportunities, challenges and priorities. The Forum consisted of three panels, several lectures and workshops.

There was a unanimous voice to acknowledge the role that civil society organizations are playing and should continue to play in the future, but with a legitimate concern about the transformation that civil society itself needs to operate after decades of oppression and politicization of the sector. Another major challenge for civil society is to succeed in engaging youth and the new generation of activists in shifting from “street mobilization” or “online activism” to concrete actions and expressions of civic engagement. This only one of numerous challenges for the Tunisian transition to democracy: the need to prioritize expectations and actions; the challenge of a large-scale political education of the population in a very limited timeframe; a context of economic crisis, preoccupying unemployment and social injustice; the frantic and uncoordinated development of parties and political agendas; the fear of radicalism and extremism, with the Algerian experience being on everybody’s mind. The heaviest pressure for the Tunisian democratization process would certainly be the “historical responsibility of Tunisia vis-à-vis other Arab countries” as mentioned by a panelist.

On behalf of the Foundation for the Future, Mrs. Nabila Hamza shared her views on the ‘new Tunisian civil society’, and insisted on the necessity to make the transition process inclusive. In particular, Mrs. Hamza commented on the necessity to protect and enhance the political participation of women and stated that “even though the decision recently taken regarding absolute parity for political representation is important, unique and first-of-its-kind in the region, it is only an obligation of means, not an obligation of results. It should not hide the fact that the gains of past decades need to be preserved, and that much remains to be done for women to have their due place in public and political life”.

The Foundation was pleased to notice the commitments that the European Commission will take in Tunisia in the coming months and the strong assertion from EC representative Adreanus Koetsenruijter that civil society is a new partner in political life and political development and should be supported as such. The engagement and support from European partners will be crucial in accompanying and sustaining the democratization process in Tunisia, as well as the movement for reform throughout the North African and southern Mediterranean region. In this regard, the reframing of the European Neighborhood Partnership Policy would be seminal.

Click here to download and read the complete report (in French) of the discussions and debates that took place during the Forum

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The 8th Forum for the Future has made a promising start with the first thematic workshop held in Kuwait on 4-5 May. The 2011 edition of the Forum is co-presided by France and Kuwait. The Kuwait workshop on Gender Equality in the BMENA region is the first of three thematic civil society workshops to be held during the year, and follows a preparatory seminar with civil society organizations that took place in Paris on 7 April.  Civil society organizations from France, Kuwait and the BMENA region participated in the workshop.

The Foundation was pleased to notice the commitment of the co-presidents to make the Forum a more inclusive platform of dialogue. As stated by Mrs. Nabila HAMZA, President of the Foundation and active participant in the workshop, “the 8th Forum for the Future is being prepared in the backdrop of an unprecedented series of events in the region. The protests have shed light not only on the need to move faster from words to action when it comes to reform, but also on the emergence of new actors in the political dialogue for reform. The Forum has to reflect accurately the political developments in the region through meaningful and constructive discussions. The frank, well-argued and non complacent discussions about gender equality in Kuwait are a promising start”.

Several of the participants in the Gender Equality workshop (among them, several of the Foundation’s grantees) were for the first time involved in the Forum process, bringing more diversity and a renewed dynamism to the event.

The workshop was the occasion to discuss thoroughly the obstacles preventing women from participating in public and political life, as well as several discriminatory practices and legislations obstructing the exercise of their civil and social rights. Participants expressed specific concerns over the ineffective or unimplemented CEDAW-related national legislations, and condemned the repeated attempts to infringe women’s rights, and the temptation by extremist groups or authorities to overturn or question the already limited social and legal achievements gained over the past decades in the region. Mrs. Hamza commented that “the transformation of political regimes and societies in the region will have to include a formal and broader role for women through gender-sensitive constitutions and legislations, political participation, civil and political rights, economic empowerment. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to discuss what is at stake for women in the process of democratization and reform”.

Major recommendations from the workshop form the ‘Kuwait declaration on Gender Equality’ and included: the request to review national laws within two years to promote and strengthen gender equality; the demand to lift all reservations on CEDAW and ratify the optional protocol; the proposition to implement a minimum quota of 30% of women at the legislative, executive, judicial and administrative decision making levels; and the call to speed up the establishment of the Gender Institute. Participants also expressed their wish to be fully engaged and associated in the preparation of the Forum and the follow-up of the workshop.

At the end of the gathering, participants urged stakeholders and governments to “continue their financial support to the Foundation for the Future – the only tangible outcome of the Forum for the Future – which has a major role in supporting the projects of civil society organizations in the region, especially in light of the current circumstances and the requirements of democratic transformation in our region”.

Click here to download the Kuwait Declaration on Gender Equality and visit www.forumforfuture.com for more information about the 8th Forum for the Future.
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On May 23rd, the Foundation for the Future has officially crossed the symbolic benchmark of US$ 10 million disbursed to projects implemented throughout the BMENA region by local civil society organizations. The grant program of the Foundation is operational since December 2007, and has already approved 140 projects in 16 countries.

“The Foundation has been created in 2005 as a response to repeated calls from CSOs of the region to establish a regional mechanism channeling financial and technical assistance to civil society. Achieving this result less than four years after the beginning of the grant program is something we are proud of” says CFO Suha Zakkout. “We receive an increasing number of proposals, and it is of importance to us to match financial performance and operational growth by continuously improving our disbursement ratio and at the same time maintain the necessary financial rigor”.

The grant program represents over 80% of the investment made by the Foundation in support of civil society development; the financial performance of the program is therefore seminal in the overall objective of the Foundation to strengthen civil society capacity and role in the region. This flexible and demand-driven funding has empowered local groups and encouraged successful initiatives at a critical time for change and citizens’ rights across the region.

In order to pursue its efforts in providing financial support to civil society at a very critical and transformative time for the MENA region, the Foundation is striving to secure additional resources despite persistent signs of economic downturn around the globe and a subsequent apprehensive frailty amongst the donor community.
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The Coalition grew out of a gathering in Florence in October 2009, convened by Vital Voices Global Partnership and New York University (NYU) with the support of the Paul E. Singer Family Foundation at NYU’s Italian campus, Villa La Pietra, which gave the coalition its name.  This year 50 participants from the private sector, government and civil society will gather again in Florence, among them Bethaina Kamel, political activist and Egyptian presidential candidate and also Kah Walla, candidate for President of Cameroon.

“The world can no longer afford to ignore the talents and potential of women who have proven they can be a stabilizing force in their societies and meaningful contributors to economic growth when given the opportunity. Our mission is to bring about change that opens doors for women to achieve their full potential in society and we will be reaching out to key leaders, including those of the G-20 and other global organizations,” said Ms. Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation.

Last fall the Coalition partnered with the Economist Intelligence Unit to develop the first Women’s Economic Opportunity Index that rates 113 countries on their provision of economic opportunity to women. The Index highlighted the issues of labor policy and practice, access to finance, education and training, and legal and social status as most critical to achieving the goal of expanding women’s economic opportunities. The Coalition now has formed working to focus on specific strategies to pursue change in each area. 

For more information on La Pietra Coalition.

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Engaging Civil Society in the Transition Process: 

Foundation Concludes Capacity Building Workshop in Tunis

As part of the ongoing commitment to support the transition to democracy in Tunisia, the Foundation for the Future conducted a capacity building workshop entitled “Elections Capacity Building Program for CSOs”. The workshop was held in Tunis, from 16 - 19 May, 2011, and had been organized in collaboration with the MENA unit of IREX, the US-based NGO.

The workshop gathered 33 young civil society representatives from Tunis and various other locations such as Tataouine, Sousse, Le Kef, Metline, Gafsa, and Sfax. “Our main objective was to equip Tunisian civil society organizations [CSOs] with tools, techniques and skills to understand what is at stake during the transition and the upcoming elections for the Constituent Assembly. We believe that provided they are well-informed and well-prepared, CSOs can play a key role in leading initiatives that build political awareness of the population. This is one of the major challenges for Tunisia in the months ahead” explains Nadia Moussa, Program Manager for North Africa at the Foundation. More specifically, experts and resource persons from Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon trained participants on topics such as: the general political system, election monitoring, women’s political participation, youth mobilization, and ‘civic journalism’.

The workshop was a combination of lectures and practice sessions on topics such as the use of social media and techniques to organize and facilitate community meetings. Community meetings were organized in the last two days of the workshop in Hay Ettadhamen (a disadvantaged suburb of Tunis) and Gafsa (in the mid-west of the country) in order for the participants to have a direct experience of putting into practice the concepts and tools presented during the training. “We feel this is where we need to reach out: in popular areas, where the expectations are high but political awareness about upcoming elections is low. We need to engage people at the grassroots level, and include youth and women if we want an open democratic process” explained Achwar and Fatma from Tahadi, an organization active in Hay Ettadhamen.

Participants have formed an informal network and decided to meet monthly to share experiences about the community meetings or political awareness initiatives that they will organize. Some of them have already decided to join forces for an election monitoring project. These are all examples of the level of engagement and commitment that characterizes post-revolution Tunisian civil society. Salem, a participant from Tozeur, summarized the spirit of this new generation of engaged citizens: “This workshop has given me the breath to act for the benefit of my country; I want a free and independent Tunisia, and I know now how I can contribute”. Another participant, Wissem, from Siliana, also expressed an anxious concern of civil society activists: “we have to preserve the gains of the revolution but also be active during this delicate transitional period that should lead us to democracy”.

“We are impressed by the energy and engagement of these young civil society representatives” said Nadia Moussa. “This workshop was one of a series of capacity building initiatives that the Foundation has been taking in Tunisia since April. We intend to support and accompany civil society in this crucial moment for the country and for the region, and the response from this particular workshop will be an encouragement to do more in the future”.

The program of the workshop (in French) can be downloaded here.


To see the Wall of Quotes from participants, click here.

Participants have formed two Facebook groups to continue informal exchange of information and encouragements: “Votez! Pour la Tunisie” (laconstituante@groups.facebook.com) and “Raconte-moi la citoyenneté”

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On World Press Freedom Day, Grantees Share Views and Experiences on Media Freedom in MENA

Media are essential guarantors of democratic progress and governance; they are also very special components of civil society. Journalists and media professionals can be the tools of the peoples’ and the citizens’ right to know, and contribute to the advancement of a culture of freedom of opinion and expression, hence participating in a broader equation of balance of power. However, infringements and violations to media freedoms in the region are severe and widespread: in 2010, there were still four MENA countries among the 15 lowest-ranked countries in the various international press freedom indexes, with particular concerns in the case of Iraq, Palestine and Syria. Recent protest movements across the region have reminded with accuracy the dire need for more press freedom in the region, and have exposed with evident clarity the coercive methods that media have been facing over the years.

Ma’an Network (Ma’an) – I would share the opinion that the situation shows signs of deterioration, though for obviously different reasons in Palestine. In general, journalists in Palestine have a much greater ‘editorial’ freedom than their colleagues in other countries in the region, they can choose which issues they want to cover and how they intend to cover it without much censorship.  But journalists in Palestine are also confronted with significant challenges  such as overt repression and all the obstacles that a situation of occupation and weak governance structures can generate. These threats are actually on the rise, with frequent reports of physical abuse, arrests, arbitrary detention, confiscation of equipment, media bans, and so on. And it is important to highlight here that these violations of media freedoms are perpetrated by both Israel and the Palestinian authorities, whether in the West Bank or in Gaza.

At the same time, there are a number of structural challenges that are impeding media development. The majority of media outlets remain financially and/or editorially tied to authorities, factions, or influential individuals (…).Media organizations face the same economic fragility as most enterprises in Palestine, and the occupation adds prohibitive costs and barriers, for example in terms of access, permits, imports and lack of infrastructure.

SKF – The issue of financial and editorial independence of media in Lebanon can also be summarized in similar terms. The ‘objectivity’ or ‘independence’ of certain media institutions is at times questioned, considering the increasing occurrence of self-censorship and the control of certain media institutions by influential businessmen and political parties.

Ma’an – Self-censorship is also a feature of the media landscape in Palestine. This is one of the major obstacles to the development of challenging and investigative reporting, going beyond the reactive and safe to the proactive and ground-breaking.

AMFED – My experience is probably slightly differing, because the recent uprising and political events in Egypt have obviously and positively impacted media freedom, with certain forms of ‘liberalization’. The political situation in Egypt has always ‘shaped’ the experience of journalists, bloggers and media professionals in general. This is not to say that all forms of media freedom violations have vanished in post-Mubarak Egypt! There are still serious threats and attacks affecting freedom of expression and let’s not forget that it was last month only that blogger Maikel Nabil was sentenced to three years of imprisonment for criticizing the ‘lack of transparency’ of the military on his personal blog! I am still convinced that media freedom in Egypt is a goal that remains attainable despite the current legal and technical challenges and obstacles. Removing Mubarak was just one of the steps on the path towards true freedom and democracy, but not an end in itself.

“Social media” are new features in the media landscape of the region in the past decade, and have impacted freedom of expression and freedom of information. In your opinion, do they compete with or complement traditional media? Can they threaten processes of democratic transitions in the Middle East?

Ma’an – Social media have done a big favor to traditional media, not only by providing new tools for media organizations to reach out to larger audiences, but by providing a new stream of information that competes for audiences’ attention, and therefore has forced many from the traditional media sector to look at ways of incorporating citizens’ voices. This being said, I don’t consider social media to be “competitors” to traditional media: they have different mandates, outputs, challenges and opportunities. What is new about social media is mainly speed and access. This does not remove the need for the models of traditional media developed over centuries.  But certainly there are ways to bridge the gaps and combine the comparative advantages of both sectors.

SKF – In my opinion, there are actually two phases to consider here: initially, “social media” came to fill in some gaps that traditional media couldn’t fill and opened a wide door for citizens to express their opinions. Then, later on I believe that social media started to compete with traditional media in the sense that they could take advantage of looser control and surveillance whereas traditional media were still strongly censored.

AMFED – For me, Egypt is probably the archetype of the role that social media can play, and I believe they are more of an adjuvant than a competitor to traditional media. In 2004, Egypt counted hardly 40 registered blogs. They are thousands now, and they have been instrumental in creating a new medium for the diffusion of ideas and coordination of actions that ultimately led to the January 25th protest movement.

SKF – Absolutely. It cannot be denied that social media played an important role in the democratic transitions in the Arab world.

Ma’an – Yes, undoubtedly. But there again, like all media forms, social media are just a means and process for channeling information and comment, and this can be used to support democratic processes, and also undermine them. It depends how media tools are used, or abused. So far, we have mainly seen a suppressed democratic will and unity of purpose in countries such as Egypt, being galvanized and supported through information exchange using these types of media. But the democratic will and unity of purpose was the prerequisite for the subsequent events there. I would say that it is the same logic for the upcoming transitions to democracy: social media per se are neither a menace nor a promise.

AMFED –Rather than a threat to democratic transitions, I think social media are an incubator for such processes and can contribute to public transparency and accountability, and it is no coincidence that authorities specifically targeted the internet and cell phones when the protest movement was becoming a real threat to the regime.

I would just like to mention here some figures that are self-explanatory about the outreach and impact that social media can have in Egypt. At the beginning of 2011, the number of Facebook users had already grown by more than 12%, with 632,120 users in the country. By February 1st, when the internet was ‘turned back on’ after several days of black-out, 100,000 new users were registered! And in the week between January 24th and January 30th, over 1.3 million of Egypt-related Tweets had been posted!

Media, including satellite news channels, are playing a role in activist organizing and citizen mobilization in recent uprisings. Observers have even stated that media have played a widening role in the protest and dissent movement. Do you share this opinion?

AMFED – This makes no doubt to me. The political transformation in Egypt was viewed or commented – through social media, as I said before - instantly and continuously by millions of people around the world. I am convinced that this helped in mobilizing the youth in particular to join the movement and demand social and political change.

SKF – I agree, the media played a widening role in the protest and that was obvious in the recent uprisings.

Ma’an – Well, here again, I want to repeat that media are a means and process for channeling information; thus they may widen and mobilize, but the credit for activism should be given to the activists! Satellite news channels have had a huge impact on media consumption and information sharing across the Middle East and North Africa, and we saw through recent events how channels that have built up a reputation for being challenging to the status quo are filling a large information gap that national broadcasters have ignored for decades! But before we get too breathless about the role of media in the revolutions, it pays to take a look at national broadcasters and press - they too were a target of protests as they represented and worked alongside the establishments that had so repressed the populations. The difficult processes of democratic transition now underway will have to include root and branch reform of these media players if they are to play a socially responsible role in the new political dawn in the region.

The ‘media boom’ that took place in MENA countries in the past decade has also been marked by politicization and “opinion journalism”. You have all insisted on the lack of ‘editorial’ independence of media in the region. How to ensure integrity and professionalism in this new context, and restore the confidence of viewers and readers?

SKF – First of all, media professionals have to be well aware of the role that they play in society. They can be change drivers, but at the condition that due respect is paid to the obligation of maintaining neutralism and professionalism.

Ma’an – There are many measures that must be taken to foster integrity and professionalism in the media. To name just a few of those: investment in professional skills, self-regulation bodies, editorial codes of conduct, transparency, readers’ editors or ombudsmen, including proper complaints processes.

AMFED – I believe that media have a larger role to play in contributing to transparency and the obligation for governments and officials to be accountable. They have to ensure that citizen have access to such information. They also need to be given a legal framework that will genuinely protect their freedoms and independence from various influences and manipulations.

The protection of media freedom is an essential pillar of democratic societies. What role do you see for the journalist in Arab societies?

Ma’an – The journalist in the Arab world, as in any society across the world, is responsible for presenting information of public interest, while minimizing her or his own personal filters to the greatest extent, to reach the greatest number of people who would benefit from this information.

SKF – I would agree, and also add that the journalist also has a role to play in advocating for and defending media freedom itself.

AMFED – I would concur with the opinion that Arab editors and journalists have a role to play in encouraging public transparency and exposing matters of corruption. This is even more important in a post-revolution context. Media also have a role to play in promoting opportunities for citizens to understand and participate in democratic processes. In order to do this, both social and traditional media should reflect the social and political diversity of each society. I would even say that journalists in Arab societies should stand on the side of the people!


AMFED is receiving a grant from the Foundation for a project implemented throughout 2011, and developing media monitoring tools and analysis in the context of the upcoming elections in Egypt. For more information, click here [project abstract] 

Ma’an is a grantee of the Foundation since 2011, and is implementing a project aiming at empowering citizens, civil society organizations and media professionals in Palestine to advocate for better accountability and governance in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (oPt). For more information.

Samir Kassir Foundation is a grantee of the Foundation since 2007, and has been implementing various projects and activities with a regional focus and outreach, including the establishment of the Middle East Media Centre. For more information, click here [project abstract] 


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 In its efforts to build the capacity of civil society organization in the Broader Middle and North Africa and to support the nascent CSOs in the Countries where democratic changes have been taking place, the Foundation for the Future organized a training workshop for board’s members of 25 Tunisian associations, with a majority of women participation (65%).

This workshop , was held in Tunis between 16th and 22nd April, 2011, with the aim of building the capacity of board members and staff of nascent associations with focus on CSOs’ good governance and the respective stages of the project management cycle. This included steps and analysis of project planning and proposal writing. Thus equipping these young members with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the basics of CSOs’ management and problems identification, their causes and effects, and develop interventions to resolve and tackle all related issues. The participants were also exposed to the technical writing side of the process, and were provided firsthand experience in the articulation of expected results and objectives, as the training was delivered by the Foundation’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer and an external trainer.

This training comes as part of the Foundation’s endeavors to provide technical assistance and support to the region’s endogenous nascent organizations and promote the creation of networks within its thematic priorities, specifically in the promotion of democracy and citizenship education. This is bearing in mind that these nascent CSOs have realized the importance of building up their capacities and positioning themselves as effective and influential actors and stake holders of the Civil Society institutions in their respective countries.
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On May 1st, more than 80 countries around the globe celebrate the International Workers’ day, or Labor Day, in commemoration of various achievements and strife for more protective labor laws and working conditions, including shorter workweeks, minimum wages, paid holidays, health and safety protection. But, as the world pays tribute to the long legacy of labor rights movements, how much is said and done for migrant workers’ rights? At the occasion of the Labor Day, the Foundation reflects on these pressing issues in the Middle East with Linda Al-Kalash, director of Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights, one of the Foundation’s grantees in Jordan.

Images of migrant workers caught in the crossfire of the upheavals in Bahrain and Libya have made the headlines of news channels reports in recent weeks and have given a new occasion to open the debate on migrant workers’ rights and protection in MENA countries. An estimated twenty million migrant workers reside in the region and are increasingly vulnerable to abuse, mistreatment, exploitation and trafficking according to reports from international agencies and human rights activists.

Since 2007, the Amman-based NGO Tamkeen is striving to promote and enforce human rights principles in Jordan, and ensure that vulnerable groups such as migrant workers have equal access to justice. Linda Al-Kalash, Tamkeen’s director, has a communicative strength in her quest for social justice and shares with the Foundation her views and opinions about migrant workers’ situation in Jordan at the occasion of Labor Day.

When we talk about migrant workers in Jordan, who are we exactly talking about?

In Jordan, there is no “typical” profile of a migrant worker, as migrations are segmented by sector of activity. Migrant workers are employed in sectors such as services, domestic work, construction, agriculture, fishing, garment and textile industry and the free-trade zones called the “qualified industrial zones” or “QIZ”. According to the estimates published by the Ministry of Labor, the number of migrant workers in Jordan exceeded 298,000 in 2010. This figure only accounts for documented workers, and it is unofficially estimated that a similar number of undocumented workers reside and work in the country. This means that migrant workers comprise approximately for nearly one third of the workforce in Jordan, a clear indication of the need to address seriously and comprehensively the issue of their rights.

Which are the main countries of origin of migrant workers?

It is often taken for granted, but it is good to remember that the vast majority of migrant workers are nationals of other MENA countries. There are for example over 200,000 Egyptian nationals working in Jordan! The other workers are usually from Asia, and particularly from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines. With the development of QIZs, an increasing number of workers from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and even China, are now coming to Jordan.

In recent years, several reports from international agencies or human rights NGOs, or local media, have been highlighting the preoccupying situation and severe violations faced by migrant workers in MENA countries. What is your analysis about the situation in Jordan?

Migrant workers in Jordan are also exposed to repeated and grave violations. The situation of domestic workers is in particular of great concern for Tamkeen. Domestic workers are often confined in their employers’ homes, and it is more difficult for them to speak out and seek help. In less than two years, Tamkeen has dealt with almost 800 cases, with violations ranging from withholding of passport, unpaid salaries, inhumane working conditions, refusal of access to health care, psychological harassment or even physical and sexual abuse. Many of the workers who come to us work more than 15 hours a day, no rest day, for a meager 110 dinars a month. For me, these are clearly cases of exploitation!

The problem is vast and extremely serious, and the solution will have to include awareness campaigns towards employers and recruitment agencies. It is still a common attitude to mistrust migrant workers and not consider them as mature adults.

My views on the situation in Jordan are becoming more positive, as I see the impact of the capacity-building initiatives that we do with judges and prosecutors. Tamkeen has recently been informed that two cases filed in court will be treated under the anti-human trafficking law! It is comforting for us to observe that there is an increasing willingness to give to the issue importance and due consideration.

How does the question of migrant workers’ rights connect more generally to human rights?

Advocating for migrant workers’ rights is obviously raising the issue of human rights. Many of the principles that we strive for are fundamental human rights as mentioned in international conventions such as the UN Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: freedom of movement, prohibition of forced or bonded labor, respect for the inherent dignity of the human person, due process of law, …

Migrant workers’ rights are not only a matter of implementing labor laws. It is also – and I would say it is primarily - a matter of equality, prevention of human trafficking, prevention of degrading and inhumane treatment, protection against discrimination, and the prohibition of violence against women.

The paradox that I observe in Jordan is that several legislative or regulatory provisions, including deportation rules, are conflicting with some of the international human rights conventions signed and ratified by Jordan.

The Jordanian government has actually taken several initiatives to tackle the issue in the past decade, and several international conventions exist to list and protect migrant workers’ rights. So why progress is still hindered, and what are the stumbling blocks?

In 2003, Jordan was the first country in the region to introduce a standardized working contract for domestic workers and in 2008, it was again the first country in the region to amend the Labor laws to include domestic workers. The following year, an anti-trafficking law was passed. These were very important steps, undoubtedly! However, many of these texts remain in contradiction to international conventions, as I was mentioning earlier. And there still are frequent contradictions between the law and the rules and regulations enforcing it, a typical example being the question of work permit and overstay fees. The law places the responsibility on the employer, and the regulation, on the worker. Our experience shows that the laws and regulations should be harmonized and strengthened, with, for example, mechanisms of immediate compensation and the possibility to waive the overstay fee for workers who are bringing a case to court.

In my opinion, the major difficulty is still with the implementation of rules and regulations. The number of inspectors is insufficient, and none of them is specialized on migrant workers’ rights, for example. Another example is sometimes the absence of translator when a case is heard in court! If it was not for the work of CSOs, many of the legal provisions would not be enforced.

Civil society must surely have a say and a role in the response to the issue or protecting migrant workers’ rights. How does the Jordanian civil society engage on this matter? What more could be done?

Unfortunately, only a handful of CSOs are active in Jordan on migrant workers’ rights and even fewer engage in a comprehensive strategy to combat abuses and violations. Most of the efforts are targeted towards direct assistance to workers themselves but even though this is essential in terms of access to justice, efforts are also needed to coordinate and strengthen advocacy initiatives. I was however pleased to see the increasing involvement of workers’ associations and unions, particularly in the QIZ areas and the textile sector. Such initiatives are very important to protect the rights of workers to fair working conditions, as well as health care.

The media are now also very sensitive and responsive on the issue. They are very supportive when it comes to shed light on a particular case to raise awareness of public opinion in Jordan. I have been very pleased to observe that some journalists follow up cases from A to Z!

What more could be done?

Civil society in Jordan could and should engage more on the matter. At our level we try to organize roundtable discussions, and build a network of partners. But there is still a lot to do to raise awareness, advocate for legislative changes and encourage public authorities to take more responsibilities in protecting the rights of migrant workers. We would like other organizations, and particularly the human rights CSOs, to join our ongoing campaign to advocate for a better usage of fees collected through work permits application; this could be an opportunity to deploy more resources towards monitoring the implementation of laws and regulations in place.

What strategies and approaches has Tamkeen developed over the past years to promote and protect migrant workers’ rights?

We strongly believe that on issues such as migrant workers’ rights, the condition for an effective and efficient work is to have a holistic approach and this is what we are trying to do. We provide directly legal aid services to migrant workers, which can include mediation, representation in court or litigation on the issue of overstay fees for example. We also try to raise the awareness on this issue in Jordan, and we have advocacy campaigns. At the moment we are preparing a campaign to request that the Jordanian government takes on the responsibility to create shelters and a national center for migrant workers, where all services could be available. The evidence-based research studies that we do are extremely helpful in guiding the focus and the targets of such campaigns. Our next research study will be on undocumented workers.

Tamkeen also believes in engaging all stakeholders on such matters. This is why we provide services to victims themselves, but we also have close collaboration with officials of the Ministry of Labor, with recruitment agencies and with employers.

How migrants themselves are aware of and associated to the various campaigns and initiatives to protect their rights?

Migrant workers have a role to play in Tamkeen’s work. It was a very gradual process but now we feel we have built a bridge of trust with them, and we are proud of this achievement. The “word of mouth” system is now very efficient to refer cases to us! So, we definitely try to involve workers in our work and in the campaigns.  We are at the moment preparing with their help a brochure that would be distributed to newcomers to inform them about their rights, and it will be available in several languages. We are also studying at the moment which media migrant workers consult, so as to target these media as a way to communicate with migrant workers’ communities and make them aware of the support system that exists in Jordan.

What motivated you personally to become an activist on human rights in general and migrant workers’ rights in particular?

Well, I had never predicted that I would be a human rights activist! In fact, I am an archeologist by training! And working at Tamkeen has been my first job! It was my interest and concern for women issues that led me to read a lot about this subject. I was surprise not to see much explained about domestic workers, who are very vulnerable women in the country. So, I did my own research and met with a number of these workers, and was convinced that I should get engaged in defending their rights. I founded Tamkeen, and it has been extremely rewarding to be able to contribute to improving the situation in Jordan. 

I have always kept a profound sympathy for migrant workers. I often feel that their case is my cause. I continue to be extremely upset when I hear certain stories. Most of the men and women that I meet go through terrible hardships to come and work here, and sacrifice many a times their personal and family life. It is their right to be respected and seize the opportunities that they long for.

Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights is receiving a grant from the Foundation for the Future and the Open Society Foundations to implement a project aiming at protecting migrant workers’ rights and combating trafficking in persons. Activities and services provided through the project include direct legal assistance, redress and litigation for migrant workers, and large awareness and advocacy campaigns targeting the Jordanian legal practitioners, Government institutions and general public. For more information, click here [project abstract] 

click to download TAMKEEN’s 2010 Annual Report
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During the last year, the Foundation for the Future  made several breakthroughs in order to instigate dialogue on the country’s political situation among different segments of the Yemeni people, mainly through supporting the Yemen Center for Civil Rights (YCCR). As a result, and with the aim of advancing democratic practices and people’s political participation in Yemen, YCCR has engaged political party members, representing the ruling party and the opposition parties, alongside academics, intellectual, community leaders and youth in panel discussions under the title: “Political Reform in Yemen; National Discussions on Initiatives of Unity” to enhance various relevant issues and initiatives. These panel discussions have thus far covered seven governorates in the country.

The last of such panels was held in a tent at Taghyeer (Change) Square in Sana’a to discuss “The Prospect of an Institutional Democratic State in the Yemeni Youth Revolution”. The event was attended by over 100 academics, young men and women, tribal representatives and journalists, who were briefly introduced to the concepts of an institutional democratic state, followed by debuts on the attainment of conditions needed for such a state in the Yemeni revolution, and on the obstacles likely to face the its establishment in Yemen. This panel was concluded with the notion that an institutional democratic state is the only option sought by all factions in the Taghyeer and Tahreer (Liberation) Squares in the different Yemeni cities, where lessons should be drawn from previous experiences of Arab and Islamic countries in the establishment of democratic civic states and development of reflecting constitutions.

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The tragic events of the last days in Syria, particularly on Friday and Saturday, are absolutely unacceptable. Syrian security forces and military are using live ammunition against peaceful demonstrators.

The killing has to be stopped without delay. The Foundation for the Future, which is supporting civil society in its struggle for human rights in the BMENA region, reiterates its firm condemnation of the behaviour of the security forces depending from the new Syrian Government.

It is the responsibility of each Government to respect international legal obligations and to accept peaceful protests. All use of violence has to be halted.

One cannot tolerate the repeated serious violations of human rights in this context.

Dialogue has to be searched in order to implement needed reforms.

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The Foundation for the Future Condemns Threat Against its Board
Member from Yemen, Ms. Amal Basha

Amman, 21 April 2011. The Foundation for the Future strongly condemns all forms of actions and threats that are launched against civil society activists in Yemen. Among those is the Foundation’s Board Member Ms. Amal Basha who, according to sources of Amnesty International, has received a threat from an anonymous caller who said Yemeni security forces believe that she briefed the UN Security Council about the current situation in Yemen, thereby “internationalizing” the country’s problems. In a statement by Ms. Amal Basha, she emphasized that she has not provided any such briefing to the UN.

We urge the Yemeni authorities to immediately investigate this threat against a leading human rights activist and take steps to ensure that those responsible for planning any action against their lives, and particularly Ms. Amal Basha’s are known to the public and brought to justice.

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Following events and political developments in several countries of the Middle East and North Africa, the real progress towards democracy in some nations is strongly overshadowed by setbacks with serious violations of human rights, there where civil society is advocating progress in the path of democratization.

The FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE has already expressed publicly preoccupation for developments in Libya, Yemen, Syria and other countries of the region.

Today the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation wishes to draw attention to the very serious situation in BAHRAIN, where there was hope for a true and genuine dialogue between the Government and the opposition, that could have led to reforms in the political system. On the contrary, resorting to violence and heavy use of force against peaceful demonstrators, with outside military and non-military interference, has very seriously exacerbated the situation. The violation of basic rules of human rights by Government forces has to be strongly condemned.

The FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE which has the objective to work with civil society to enhance the respect of human rights and the path to democracy in the region calls all the parties concerned to return to a peaceful dialogue and to respect human dignity of all inhabitants of the Kingdom.

Dr Sommaruga also recalls the RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT agreed 2005 by the UN Summit, which commits each individual Government to protect its own population; if this is not the case, the international community has the responsibility to act. In this respect consistency is required; double standards have to be rejected.

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The Foundation for the Future strongly urges all Bahraini parties involved in the current events to engage in a true and genuine dialogue, which should lead to a realistic reform in the political system. The Government should restrain from the indiscriminate use of force and the mass punishment against innocent civilians, and to remove any restrictions on provision of medical care to injured civilians. We strongly urge all the concerned parties to adopt more peaceful and democratic approach for the aim of reinstating the respect for human rights in the country.

The calls for further democratization and ensuring free and fair elections by the Bahraini people, ultimately resulting in a representative parliament, should not be perceived nor painted by a sectarian inclination, thus diverting the issue of civil rights to a sectarian confrontation between the people of Bahrain.

The Foundation for the Future robustly opposes any external military or non-military, interference in Bahrain’s internal affairs, unless internationally mandated, aside from such involvement aiming at constructing dialogue and bridging the gaps between the government and the opposition. This is bearing in mind that any ill-intentioned interference will only exacerbate the problem, which is strongly condemned by the Foundation.

Insisting on dialogue and conciliation between the concerned parties  as the only path for the advancement of Bahrain in all walks of life, the Foundation for the Future is deeply saddened and feels for the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate events of violence. 

Tunisia opts for Gender parity in its first democratic elections since independence.

Men and women will alternate in the lists for the Constituent Assembly.

The Foundation for the Future is very pleased to note the approval of the principle of gender parity between men and women in the membership of the new National Constituent Assembly in Tunisia, as stated by the decree law voted by the large majority of the High Authority for the Achievement of the Revolution Objectives, Political Reform and Transition to Democracy. 

The constituent Assembly, which will be elected in July 24, will be responsible for drafting a new constitution, with therefore a high percentage of women deputies.

This is an unprecedented step in the Tunisian history becoming the first country ever having real gender balance in the Assembly charged with one of the most important responsibilities in the preparations for the second republic in Tunisia, the new constitution.

Such a development is stressing the status of women in the law to be able to strongly contribute in the transitional phase and in building the new Tunisia. This will effectively add significant value to the amendment of law towards the exercise of political rights with practical steps for women’s empowerment, women's participation and reform in general.

On the other hand, the Authority in Tunisia issued a decree banning from nomination to the National Constituent Assembly, all those "who had taken part in the government or in positions of authority in the ruling party" during the 23 years presidency of the former president Zain El Abdeen Bin Ali. The decree also bans the nomination to the Assembly for all characters who appealed to the former president to nominate himself in 2014 for a sixth term of presidency, contrary to the constitution of the country.

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 April 4, 2011

The Foundation for the Future is pleased to announce that Ms. Zahira Kamal, FFF Board member, was elected as the Secretary General of the Palestinian Democratic Union (FIDA), Which means that she will be the first ever female secretary-general of a Palestinian party.

The Palestinian Democratic Union also raised women’s representation to 40 percent in the general conference, and to 50 percent for the youth conference.

Ms. Zahira Kamal is the Director of Palestinian Women Research and Documentation Center (UNESCO project). She was appointed as the first Minister of Women's Affairs of the Palestinian Authority in November 2003. During the period 1996-2003, Ms. Kamal was the Director General of the Gender Planning and Development Directorate at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation. She has also worked at UNDP as Director of the Women in Development Program and is currently a Board member of several Palestinian women's NGOs. She is one of the founders of the International Women Commission for Just Peace between Palestinians and Israelis.

The Foundation for the Future congratulates Ms. Zahira Kamal for the new post and wishing her great start and a long string of successes.

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The Foundation for the Future is observing the dramatic developments in the Syrian Arab Republic with great concern for the safety of the protestors and the wellbeing of those detained by security the apparatus. Additionally, the Foundation is more alarmed by the excessive use of firepower by security forces against the demonstrators that have lead to several deaths since the people took the streets.

We are strongly urging the Syrian regime to restrain itself from averting to the use of deadly force against the demonstrators, where to the contrary it should protect their right to freedom of opinion and expression.

The Foundation calls on President Bashar Al-Assad to listen and address the righteous demands of the Syrian people, who are calling for justice and equity, regardless of religion, ethnicity and political affiliation. Therefore, robustly insists on the release of all those wrongfully detained during the recent events, as well as all of those arrested over the years and held without a fair trial.

We invite the Syrian regime to promptly honor its commitment to affecting reforms in all aspects of the citizens’ lives, nonetheless, noting that in light of the regional developments the “quick fix” approach, where political freedoms are substituted by economic leverage, no longer applies. Thus, such reform must uphold people’s civic and political rights.
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Tunisia- March 17th, 2011

The Foundation for the Future officially launched its 2010 Annual Report in Tunis. Journalists, civil society representatives, activists, donors and personalities from the media and the Arts were attended the event. For the Foundation, it was an occasion to highlight activities and achievements accomplished in 2010, which has been a milestone year for the Foundation.

Indeed, in less than four years, the Foundation has positioned itself as a leading grant-making institution in the region, with more than 140 projects approved and more than 120 partner organizations on the field. Moreover, the Foundation has taken a prominent role in knowledge building on issues pertaining to the development of civil society, with major conferences and events organized throughout the year.

The decision to have the official launch of the report in Tunisia is also an acknowledgement of the tremendous dynamism spreading across the Arab world towards democracy and effective rights, and that has been initiated in Tunisia a few months ago. Recent events are the reassertion of the strong and positive role that civil society organizations can and are ready to play in the process of change and reform in various countries of the region. Symbolically, the event was held in the medina (old city) of Tunis, a point of rallying for many of those who have led the wave of democratization over the past weeks.

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Supports the Call for Reform in Yemen

We are anxiously following the continuing violence against civilians in Yemen. It is enormously disturbing to observer the extreme disrespect of civilians’ spontaneous call for genuine reform and freedom, which their absence has evidently led the Yemeni security forces to carry out repulsive physical aggression against those who are taking the streets to peacefully express their appeals.

The brutal response of the Yemeni regime is unacceptable. It is seen as a severe violation of the simplest human rights of all individuals in their fair demands for corrective measures to end the prevailing corruption in the most democratic approach and ensure that the rule of law dominates at all times.

Civilians should be given the chance to express themselves and be heard in a trustworthy dialogue with the government. Such an approach would have avoided the ongoing bloody encounter and prevented the unnecessary deaths that occurred as a result.

While denouncing all forms of violence against citizens seeking to regulate deficient systems and ill practices in a peaceful manner, the Foundation for the Future calls on the Yemeni government to immediately restrain from the excessive use of power with those protesters. In the meantime, civil society organizations should assume their role in the process of ensuring a nonviolent and democratic transformation in the country.
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Donors and Stakeholders supporting Tunisian CSOs

The Foundation for the Future convened on March 16th, in Tunis, a meeting on “Supporting Tunisian Civil Society in a Context of Transition: exchanges and opportunities towards a concerted response from donors”. Over 40 representatives of international donors, international NGOs and local civil society organizations (CSOs) reflected on respective responses, current needs and possibilities of coordination.

The meeting was the occasion for donors to exchange views and share tentative action plans for the short and long-run in Tunisia in terms of support to civil society initiatives. The broad attendance and dense discussions were a sign of the commitment, interest and engagement of donors towards a successful transition in Tunisia, which could further enhance democratic aspirations in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and other corners of the world. Several participants have announced specific lines of funding or technical support opportunities for civil society, with an expected financial assistance already exceeding four million dollars.

Being itself an intermediary organization, with numerous and close ties with civil society organizations throughout the region, the Foundation was particularly keen on initiating this dialogue among donors after observing the risks of dispersion and chaotic response during a previous exploratory mission in the country in February 2011.

A brief analysis by Ms. Henda Gafsi (consultant) presented to participants the current situation within Tunisian civil society, which is witnessing a fast and hectic development in the post-January 14th context. Understanding this new “panorama” and dynamism is a key for a relevant, adapted and timely response by donors. In this regard, the efforts of donors in supporting legitimate civil society initiatives will play a role in guaranteeing that the Tunisian transition produces positive and democratic outcomes. “Civil society in Tunisia is undergoing unprecedented changes and is emerging as a legitimate actor of the transitional and democratic process. Its development is seminal and strategic” says Ms. Gafsi.

Donors took note of the urgent needs expressed by civil society representatives in regards to the upcoming elections of July 24th, and the necessity to engage in a broad campaign of political awareness and education of the population. Donors also shared a common opinion that, while new civil society groups should be encouraged and supported, attention also has to be paid to the initiatives taken and led by “pioneers”, i.e. CSOs that had been independently and bravely functioning for the past decades under extremely restrictive conditions. Many noticed that this was no time for a “generational divide”, and that donors should reflect this diversity and balance in their expected decisions of support.

The meeting concluded with an open and thorough discussion on opportunities for coordination between donors, in order to avoid thematic or geographical duplication of initiatives and prevent the risk of “overwhelming financial solicitation” of existing and well-known Tunisian CSOs. The decision was taken to initiate an informal mechanism of information sharing, and the necessity to include civil society representatives in this process. A more formalized coordination did not appear relevant at this stage, due to a current situation which is still characterized by a number of uncertainties.

Mrs. Nabila Hamza, President of the Foundation for the Future, closed the meeting with the positive appreciation of the “good faith” and “proactive engagement” showed by donors in these “extremely important moments of Tunisian modern history”.
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Capacity building of MENA Businesswomen

In its efforts to build the capacity of civil society organization in the Broader Middle and North Africa, the Foundation for the Future, in cooperation with Vital Voices, implemented a training workshop for 10 members and staff of the MENA Businesswomen Network (BWN).

The workshop, held in Amman between 23rd and 25th of February, 2011, aimed at building the capacity of BWN’s members and staff with regards to the stages of the project management cycle, with a focus on the analysis, project planning and proposal writing steps. Thus equipping these women entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to identify problems, their causes and effects, and develop interventions to resolve and tackle the identified issues. The participants were also exposed to the technical writing side of the process, and were provided firsthand experience in the articulation of expected results and objectives, as the training was delivered by the Foundation’s Grants and Monitoring and Evaluation departments.

This training comes as part of the Foundation’s endeavors to provide technical assistance to the region’s endogenous organizations and promote the creation of networks within its thematic priorities, specifically in this gender equality and women empowerment. And whereas Vital Voices is in the process of handing over the management of the network to its members, both international organizations believed it is necessary to ensure BWN’s members abilities to manage and sustain the newly established network.

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Seizing the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Foundation for the Future conveys with pride its admiration to all women throughout the MENA region, who continue to do their utmost to gain freedom, justice, equality and democracy. We are pleased to see how they are increasingly engaged in the process of reform and democratic transition in the many countries of this region.

Being at their natural position next to fellow members of the society, women have assumed their important role in the ongoing democratization that started in Tunisia and is continuing in other countries like Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain and so on. It is particularly impressive to witness women breaking out of their clannish restraints, as in the case of Yemen, to the spheres of independence and realism where they take their rights in their own hands and be able to decide freely on their individual options.

However, a lot of work remains to be done to ensure that women and men have equal rights and equal opportunities. The full participation of both is to the benefit of the whole society, while eliminating women’s role from decision-making and policy -formulation limits the possibility of fully entrenching the principles of democracy in the society, which will lose out on women’s knowledge, experience and ideas and eventually impedes national development.

We seize the opportunity of the International Women’s Day to present our appreciation, encouragement and congratulations to all those women in the civil society, in the public and private sector and all different walks of life, with special recognition to those who have taken the streets of several countries setting an exceptional example as role models in assuming their part in making democratic change possible. We wish them all continued success in their endeavors.

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The President of the FFF, Mrs. Nabila Hamza, Leads a Mission to Tunisia during February 2011

With the recent popular uprising which toppled the authoritarian regime of Ben Ali’ and the expected role Civil Society Organizations should assume in the Tunisian society to strengthen the foundations and the inclusiveness of the ongoing democratization process, it was deemed necessary for the President of the Foundation for the Future to schedule an exploratory visit to Tunisia, which took place during 4 – 11 February 2011. This course of action closely corresponds to the Foundation’s responsibility as a strong advocate of political reform and systematic building of a culture of democracy and the enforcement of Human Rights and accountability principles.

Mrs. Hamza, especially with her strong and relevant background and long standing in issues of gender equality and social inclusion, had been already well acquainted with the key features of the civil society activists which managed to survive under the harsh conditions enforced for years by the toppled regime. Therefore an essential piece of the fact-finding mission was meeting new emerging CSOs and young leaders from the two groups, who had proven instrumental in the toppling of the Ben Ali security and political apparatus. These were; the young urban middle-class e-activists, and the unemployed disenfranchised youth from the low-income areas in the capital and in the centre-south of the country.

- The Foundation for the Future has launched a Call for Proposals for Tunisian CSOs – with focus mainly on the following four thematic areas: a) civic, democratic and electoral education of the youth; b) human rights and democratic governance awareness/training for professionals and members of the public institutions; c) enhancing public accountability, transparency and anti-corruption; and d) independent oversight of public bodies, including the security sector.

- As a result, the Foundation for the Future plans to organize the first coordinating meeting of all international donors and stakeholders which are directly working in the democracy promotion field through the support provided to Tunisian civil society and fledging democratic institutions. The first preparatory meeting is scheduled for mid March, when the possible setting up of a Democracy Promotion Coordination Platform – Tunisia (DPCP-T) will be discussed alongside the most appropriate ways for information sharing and coordination.

- The Foundation will organize an ad hoc training session for capacity building of newly established CSOs/CBOs targeting specifically new groups established by the youth.

- The Foundation will hold an Arab Youth Exchange to bring together youth activists from Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Morocco and Jordan with their Tunisian peers for experience sharing. Among other things, providing concrete tools for knowledge exchange as well as upgrading the capacity of the participants as active members of civil society are two main goals to be pursued.

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The Foundation’s Chairman of the Board of Directors strongly 

condemns what is happening in Libya

Following the events in the BMENA region, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for the Future, Dr. Cornelio Sommaruga, has issued following statement.

“While noting with satisfaction the progress towards democracy in certain countries due to the determination of civil society, he expresses his extreme preoccupation for the violence spreading out in several countries, namely in Libya. What is happening there is horrifying and completely unacceptable.

Dr. Sommaruga appeals for a full respect of human rights in all countries of the BMENA region. Non-armed persons taking no active part in hostilities shall in all circumstances be treated humanely: violence to life and persons, in particular murder of all kinds, cruel treatment and torture are prohibited by International Law.

Countries supporting the Foundation for the Future, which objectives are to work with civil society for respect of human rights and enhancing democracy, should without any hesitation exert pressure on the Libyan leadership to terminate without delay attacks by police, armed forces or other security services to the non armed civilian population.

At the UN 60th anniversary Summit of 2005, Heads of States or of Governments have stated that each individual state has the responsibility to protect its population from genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. If this is not done, it is the international community that has the responsibility to act. There is the need to match rhetoric with reality, principle with practice. One cannot be content with reports and declarations. Governments have to be prepared to act.”

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The Foundation's call to End the Bloodshed in Libya

The Foundation for the Future is following with great concern the extreme cruelty the people of Libya are currently facing. These disturbing developments have brought to the surface indisputable facts of the Libyan authority’s intrinsic disrespect and abuse of basic human rights, and we as strong advocates of all values pertained to the principles of human rights and democracy, severely condemn the atrocities and the excessive use of power against their own people.  The ongoing clashes and attacks by security forces and warplanes targeting anti-government demonstrators in the main cities, which are leaving hundreds of deaths among civilians should be seized immediately.

Libyans who should enjoy the right for self-determination are making it clear that nothing less than genuine democracy will carry the day and we use this window of opening to call upon the Libyan authorities to listen to the people and initiate dialogue that can find the answers, and do so peacefully, constructively, and in the spirit of responsible authority. By protecting the rights of Libyan citizens through the democratic transition, we make sure that all Libya’s voices are brought to the table with the spirit of peaceful protest and perseverance as shown by people in the streets, which can serve as a power to support the change.

Today belongs to the people of Libya, and the Foundation for the Future is outraged by the scenes in Libyan cities and towns because of who we are as an organization and the kind of world that we want citizens to freely enjoy and children to grow up in. We continue to be a partner to Libyan civil society and stand ready to provide the necessary and requested support within our capability and mandate to pursue a credible transition to a democracy.  It is a struggle for undeniable human dignity where people have determined the cause is worthwhile and can never be taken away from them.

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The Foundation is proud to witness how civil society has become more capable in taking a leading role in the adamant popular process of democratic transition that has started to take shape in several countries of the region. By proving false the stigma of laid back people of the region with its ineffective civil society, our thesis in believing in the role of civil society has been reinforced.

Stemming from its mandate to ensure the systematic building up of a culture of democracy and fortifying the principles of Human Rights, and as a strong advocate of all subsequent values, the Foundation for the Future has confidence in and supports the current march of democratic change that has begun in Tunisia then Egypt and is ongoing. As they are born free, peoples’ willpower always prevails, no matter how long corruption and injustice reign. Partiality can not eternally withstand against peoples’ democratic choice as the nature of norm, and no one is able to highjack their rights when their word eventually counts.

The historic and unprecedented victory of the people and civil society organizations in Tunisia will remain to be the flagship and compass, against which similar situations may be measured. We in the Foundation wish to present our congratulations and express readiness to continue cooperating with the civil society organizations for the promotion of political reform, democratic change, the rule of law, freedom of media and expression, equal rights and youth participation in Tunisia, Egypt and all the region’s countries.