Welcome to the Official MEPF page: A Forum for insights. Brainstorm with us for a better Middle East at [email protected]
Background:
We reflect on Lebanon and the Middle East of today: A country and a region rich in natural and human capital yet undergoing volatile changes and complex existential threats. In order to keep up with such emerging challenges, a prominent scientific research and policy making institution has been established to explore, create and enable a better future:
The Middle East Prospects Forum.
08/12/2014
Middle East Prospects Forum and in Collaboration with The Leadership Club hosted H.E. Wael Abu Faour and H.E. Nicholas Nahas to a panel discussion and discuss Food Safety issues in Lebanon with future steps to be taken with Academic faculty and Students of the American University of Beirut (AUB)
20/10/2014
What Price would you pay to reach Good Governance in Lebanon?
Among the conclusions of the 1st of September MEPF workshop there was a suggestion among the participants to work on "collective memory and the promotion of a civic commitment culture."
Do you agree, and how do you think we can work on a sound plan to achieve this?
It is essential for any new initiative to keep in mind the following points:
4. Be conscious about what you are modeling and aiming at
5. Begin with a strongly, felt shared concern
6. Give people the chance to make a positive difference
~ Cynthia Myntti during "The Role of NGOs in dealing with Extremism & Divisiveness in Leb" workshop organized by MEPF
It is essential for any new initative to keep in mind the following points:
1. Do not impose priorities.
2. Do not assume an unified “community”
3. Start small
~ Cynthia Myntti during "The Role of NGOs in dealing with Extremism & Divisiveness in Leb" workshop organized by MEPF
"Middle age and middle class civil society is an example of an area which is left untapped by most NGOs who work in the field of Extremism and Divisiveness alleviation"
~ From the lessons learned during "The Role of NGOs in dealing with Extremism & Divisiveness in Leb" workshop organized by the Middle East Prospects Forum on September 1st.
02/09/2014
The Middle East is currently facing major geopolitical changes that are moving the current narrative from a nationalistic approach to a more sectarian one, whether in the religious, cultural or ethnic context. This heightened extremism and sectarianism is not only faced in Lebanon but in the Middle East as well. The fear of increased hatred, divisiveness and violence underscores the need to shed light –among other factors- on the agents that play a role in disseminating the ongoing narratives.
Since one of MEPF mission statements is to enable dialogue among diverse groups, and to set the path for centrism; we found it pertinent to organize a workshop to include current faith-based, interfaith based and seccular non-governmental organizations in Lebanon. The aim of this workshop is for participants to share their goals, strategies and experiences, and to produce guidelines for policy recommendations that foster civilized communication, create overarching national identity, and unite people under one language.