Offices in the Region

The promotion of social democratic values is at the heart of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) activities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. In an increasingly interconnected and globalised world, challenges such as political stability, economic development, social justice, and security go beyond the national level. Solutions to new challenges must be found on a regional or global level. Therefore, FES regional projects aim at improving and expanding regional cooperation and coordination.

Since the early 1960s, the FES has been promoting the values and ideas of social democracy in the MENA region. It has a network of 11 national offices abroad. In these offices, 14 members of FES staff seconded from Germany work together with 136 staff members from the respective countries. At the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Berlin headquarters, 13 employees work in the MENA department, which was established in 1999 as part of the FES Division for International Cooperation.

The FES is committed to social justice, democracy, peace, freedom, and international cooperation. Partners for achieving these goals are trade unions, political parties, civil society organisations, research institutions, parliaments, and government institutions. The FES analyses political, socio-economic, and social developments, promotes political education, advises on topics such as social justice and workers' rights, sustainable economy, climate and energy policy, regional dialogue, and conflict prevention, and supports cooperation and exchange in the region with Germany and Europe.

Regional Projects