active arab voices
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Active Arab Voices

"Active Arab Voices" (AAV) is The Asfari Institute's window into our knowledge production and civil society and citizenship engagement. AAV blog is a platform for making the activities of the Asfari Institute more accessible to a broader public  of concerned citizens and activists in the Arab region and beyond. It provides research, grounded analysis, working papers, as well information about events at the Asfari Institute, such as public lectures, panel discussions, book launches, and research and training workshops. In addition, AAV  aims to encourage a discussion, a thoughts exchange space.
The Asfari Institute
​
for Civil Society and Citizenship
​In November 2012, the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at AUB was established and funded by a $10 million grant from the Asfari Foundation, which was founded by Trustee Ayman Asfari.
​
The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship is a regional hub of a dynamic community of academics, practitioners, policymakers, activists, and members of the general public interested in exploring traditional and innovative forms of collective actions, locally-grounded policy debates and in advancing realistic solutions to the obstacles to effective civil society and citizenship in the Arab world.

In doing so, the Institute provides training workshops and programs beside regular teaching at AUB, encourages and provides evidence-based research in areas related to political participation, accountability and good governance, produces policy/practice recommendations to improve citizens’ engagement and civil society roles in mediation, deliberation and self-organization. It also promotes public awareness of civil society and civic engagement best practices in the region through its monthly meetings and seminars and stimulates fruitful dialogue among the region’s varied publics through its programmatic activities of workshops, conferences, blog and publications. 
​
The Asfari Institute is a research center based at AUB since 2012 and is a solid partner in consolidating AUB commitment to serve, educate and engage the Lebanese society. Both the Foundation and AUB recognize that the Arab world is undergoing significant change, and they intend that the work of the Asfari Institute will make a unique and valuable contribution to progress in the region during this era of historic transition and beyond.

The Institute has been conceived as a framework that will advance research and other initiatives to support the development of an informed citizenry engaged at all levels of Arab associational life and promote openness, transparency, and accountability in the region.  ​The Institute is mobilized to develop a new minor program on civil society and collective action with relevant AUB faculties. Among its new activities is the consolidation of three new lines of work: Civil Society Law and Governance, Culture as Resistance, and Civil Society in Conflict and Post Conflict Setting. 
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Vision


Through its research, education and activities, the Institute will support the development of an informed and engaged citizenry and of increased openness, transparency, and accountability at all levels of Arab associational life.


Asfari InstituTe Annual Report
Asfari Institute publishing guidelines
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Mission


​The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship will serve as the regional hub of a dynamic community of academics, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, activists, and members of the general public interested in exploring traditional and innovative forms of associational life and in advancing realistic solutions to the obstacles to effective civil society and citizenship in the Arab world. The Institute will encourage evidence-based research; disseminate research findings and policy/practice recommendations; provide education and training for active citizenship and effective civil society; promote awareness of civil society and civic engagement in the region; and stimulate fruitful dialogue among the region’s varied publics.
​
In the conduct of its mission, the Institute will:
  • Support freedom of thought and expression;
  • Provide a neutral space for dialogue;
  • Foster tolerance and respect for the diversity of Arab cultures and perspectives;
  • Seek to interpret civil society and citizenship broadly and inclusively; and
  • Remain responsive to emerging needs and trends.​



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International Advisory Committee
The Advisory Group is chaired by the AUB Provost, and is composed of the Institute’s director, external experts and two representatives of the Asfari Foundation. The Advisory Group’s mandate includes providing advice and feedback on the Institute’s mission and short- and long-term programming.


International Advisory Committee Members
​
  • Zaher Dawy, Provost - AUB
  • Saba Almubaslat - Chief Executive Officer, The Asfari Foundation
  • Tamara Alrifai - United Nations
  • Nadia El Cheikh - American University of Beirut
  • Hoda ElSadda - Cairo University
  • Bassam Haddad - George Mason University
  • Asma Khadr - Jordanian National Commission for Women
  • Mouin Rabbani - Institute for Palestine Studies
  • Maha Yahya - Carnegie Middle East Center
  • Lina Abou Habib, Director of Asfari Institute. 

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Congratulations to Lina Abou Habib

Dear AUB Community,
​
I am delighted to announce the appointment of Lina Abou-Habib as Director of the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at AUB, effective September 1, 2021. Lina was selected for the position following an international search led by a campus-wide committee co-chaired by Trustee Marwan Muasher and Deputy Provost Lina Choueiri.
...


https://www.aub.edu.lb/Documents/asfari-august-17-2021.pdf
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ADDRESS

Beirut                
PO Box 11-0236,            
Riad El Solh
​1107 2020,        
Beirut, Lebanon     
Tel: +961-1-350000   Ext. 4469

New York           
The Debs Center,            
3 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, 8th floor    
New York, NY 10017-2303, USA          
Tel:  1-212-583-7600

CONTACT

Website
www.aub.edu.lb/asfari

Email
AsfariInstituteinfo@aub.edu.lb
ASFARI AT AUB
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  • Home
  • Regional Storytelling
  • Senior Civil Society Fellows
  • Student Projects
  • Asfari Publications
    • Syrian Displaced Challenges Series
  • Thesis Publication Award
  • Youth Voices
  • Women of Afghanistan
    • Nowruz 2022
  • Gender Series
  • Co-ed Thesis Page
  • Women's Day
  • AI Podcasts
  • AUB Faculty Research Grant
  • Lectures
  • Asfari Op-Eds
  • International Human Rights Day
  • Call for Papers
  • 16 Days of Activism
  • Beirut's Anger and Solidarity
  • Citizens' Initiatives
  • Lebanon Protests
  • Hassan Abbas Memorial
  • Research Papers
  • Events
    • Events Round Up
    • Training Workshops
    • Leadership Program
    • Book Launches
    • Workshops
  • Hotspots
    • Palestinians Special
    • Iraq Protests
    • Displaced Syrians Special
    • Sudan Special
    • Lebanese Elections
  • Spotlight
    • Culture videos
    • Environmental Justice
    • Asfari Culture Award
    • Media Roundup
    • Previous Lectures and Interviews
  • About
    • Strategy
    • Research Programs
    • Our Team
    • Our Partners
    • AI Annual Reports
    • Contact