Regional—MED Dialogue For Rights and Equality II, Civil Society Facility South

Increasing the participation of civil society groups in policy-making processes in the South Mediterranean would contribute toward a rights-based, pluralistic, accountable, and inclusive democratic governance process. Around 45 percent of the population in the region is below the age of 25, but mistrust of governments has led to decreased participation of young people in public institutions. The countries in the region also tend to have very few women in high-level political decision-making positions as well as in civil society.

The MED Dialogue For Rights and Equality II, Civil Society Facility South project works to increase the capacity of young civil society actors as key partners in designing and implementing policies and programs that address the region’s developmental challenges.

This project uses an integrated approach to support greater involvement of civil society in the policy-making process, particularly those organisations representing the interests of young people, women, and other disadvantaged groups. Our team also supports the structured dialogue between the European Union (EU) and civil society in the Southern Mediterranean and seeks to improve the capacities of the Directorate-General Neighbourhood and Enlargement (DG NEAR) and EU Delegations to work with civil society in the region.

Sample Activities

• Implement a civil society leadership programme to train and empower young leaders in assuming their role in policy dialogue and advocacy activities in the region.
• Support the creation and maintenance of alumni networks for young leaders in the South Mediterranean with a focus on building collaborative relationships between young civil society leaders.
• Organise national meetings in the Middle East and North Africa.
• Facilitate awareness-raising and knowledge-sharing of the structured dialogue processes.
• Provide logistical support for structured dialogue processes between the European Union and civil society groups in the region.
• Establish an operational framework for a rapid response facility to provide ad hoc support to European Commission headquarters and delegations in their work with civil society actors.