DATE: September 2013 – December 2016

Project Supervisor: Olivier Roy. Project Coordinator: Virginie Collombier. Funding: NOREF

Research and analysis

The MED Programme – Noref framework agreement is designed to generate new knowledge and analysis and innovative approaches to new political, social and economic developments in North Africa and on the European Union’s relationship and policies towards North Africa while taking into account developments in the broader MENA region, as well as building up analytical capacity in Europe and North Africa. The ultimate goal is to support, produce and disseminate solid, informed analysis to better advise long-term policies on the region and to improve North-South interactions, while also taking into account the emerging social realities.

Identifying and analysing directions of change in North Africa, focusing specifically on social dynamics and the deeper changes occurring within these societies, to obtain an informed understanding of the overall scope and direction of the transformational process underway in post-revolutionary Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. 
Empirical fieldwork on the ground, at the local level, and with a mid- to long-term perspective. Multidisciplinary, as well as collaborative work with researchers, professionals and actors in the countries studied. Events including workshops and conferences, as well as social dialogue facilitation within Libya.

Events 2013-2014

Conference – “Tribes and Political Change in Libya” – Florence, 5-7 May 2014

Workshop – “Civil-Military Relations in Times of Transition” –  Florence, 7-8 April 2014

Workshop – “Rural World and Political Change in Egypt and Tunisia” – Florence, 3-4 February 2014

Directions Libyan Social Dialogue (2015-2016)

The RSCAS and the Middle East Directions Programme have also been actively cooperating with a group of social activists from across Libya (the Peacemakers Group) and the Norwegian Peace-building Resource Centre (NOREF) to support of Social Dialogue in Libya since early 2015.

The initiative aimed at facilitating and supporting contacts between communities that have been divided by the conflict and exerting pressure on politicians and armed groups in view of ending the escalation of violence, pushing for political dialogue and for a negotiated solution to the conflict. Regular contacts with the United Nations Mission Support in Libya (UNSMIL) have been maintained since the launching of the initiative.

• Libyan Social Dialogue, Tunis, 19th-21st January 2015
• Nafusa Mountains ceasefire conference, Djerba, 17th-19th March 2015
• Dialogue for peace and reconciliation in Southern Libya, Djerba, 5th-7th July 2015
• Libyan Social Dialogue in Central Libya, Tunis, 24th-29th May 2016