OVERVIEW
Our work in the Middle East and North Africa
A regional overview
Our projects aim at supporting actors and institutions as well as efforts to overcome political and societal divisions through inclusive dialogue processes and consensus-building.
Destructive cycles of exclusion, violence and war have created deep insecurity in the Middle East and North Africa region, exacerbating pressure on the social fabric and fragile political institutions. Extremist groups are exploiting internal divisions to gain ground.
Yet there are numerous voices calling for dialogue, inclusive institutions and locally led approaches to address root causes of violent conflict and radicalisation.
Against this background, our projects aim at supporting these actors and institutions as well as efforts to overcome political and societal divisions through inclusive dialogue processes and consensus-building.
Our work in the region focuses on the following thematic areas:
- Supporting inclusive dialogue formats to strengthen peace and transition processes in the region through mediation and consensus-building support with political parties, armed groups and other conflict stakeholders
- Working with local institutions, religious authorities, academics and youth to contribute to locally-led efforts to strengthen tolerance, pluralism and moderation based on legitimacy and credibility vis-à-vis the rise of extremist discourses
- Supporting the establishment of inclusive governance structures at national and local level
Current projects
- Iraq: Building community resilience on climate and security risks
This project fosters local capacity, addresses climate-induced mobility, and promotes collaboration to tackle environmental and security challenges in the Kurdistan Region and Federal Iraq. - Iraq: Climate-focused mediation and peacebuilding in Iraq
This project focuses on climate-focused mediation and peacebuilding in different districts throughout Iraq. - Iraq: Strengthening enhanced climate and community resilience
This project builds climate resilience in Iraq by combining community solutions, sustainable infrastructure, and conflict-sensitive strategies to tackle climate security risks. - Iraq: Supporting state-citizen dialogue for resilient communities
This project strengthens climate resilience in Anbar, Iraq, by fostering dialogue, improving climate adaptation, and integrating conflict sensitivity to address climate and conflict challenges. - Lebanon: Inclusive local governance and vertical social cohesion
By bringing together government representatives, civil society and locals from 25 municipalities in Lebanon, we aim to empower communities to address local challenges. - Syria: Supporting inclusive dialogue for conflict resolution and peaceful coexistence
The project supports different Syrian stakeholders to develop ideas and initiatives that contribute to finding peaceful and sustainable solutions to the conflict in Syria. - The role of armed and political movements in the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325
Through participatory action research in Yemen, the project generates knowledge on how armed and political actors advance women’s protection and participation in territories under their control. - Women mediators in peaceful protest movements
We support female insider mediators in peaceful protest movements to enhance their conflict resolution capacities. - Yemen: Strengthening community safety in Yemen
This project aims to strengthen the safety of communities in Yemen through local dialogue. - Yemen: Strengthening inclusive local governance
The project supports mediation, local consultation, and dialogue in four Yemeni governorates and seeks to include local governance issues in the peace process. - Yemen: Yemen Political Dialogue Support Programme
The PDSP supports Yemeni and international efforts for a political solution that provides the basis to end the war, to resume an inclusive political dialogue, and to relaunch the political transition.
Team lead
Oliver Wils
Head of Department
o.wils@berghof-foundation.org
Team members
Christian Gülisch
Dalia Barsoum
Sonja Neuweiler
Feras Kheirallah
Ali Saif Hassan
Heidi Huuhtanen
Joshua Rogers
Samah Altaher
Ronja Birk
Calum Humphreys
Katharina Jautz
Kenza Rady
Nike Löble
Talal Zeidan
Jan Deeg
Hassan Mais
Mohammed Moneim
Ali Anan
Lara Azzam
Saad Abou Chahine
Nazih Al Chami
Nanor Bitar
Rabih Omar
Alexander Reiffenstuel
Patricia Kruse
Armani Gambaryan
Robert Farajalla
Ekrem Güzeldere
Media contact
You can reach the press team at:
+49 (0) 177 7052758
press@berghof-foundation.org
