About the MENA Network

The MENA Network is a professional network of Danish organisations and institutions working with partnership projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The purpose of the MENA Network is to strengthen the knowledge and skills of Danish organisations relating to the specific conditions prevailing in the Middle East / North Africa, thereby strengthening the quality of Danish efforts in the region. We do this by:

• Facilitating the sharing og experience and knowledge from working in the region
• Organising trainings, workshops and seminars about thematic areas of work in the region, such as the work with gender, youth engagement, partnerships and collaboration with religious organisations

The network has 39 members ranging from large professional organisations and institutions to smaller organisations run by volunteers.

The history of the MENA Network

Since 2003 Denmark has strengthened its relations with the Middle East and North Africa through political contacts, the opening of new embassies as well as aid channeled through the Partnership for Dialogue and Reform Programme (formerly known as the Danish Arab Partnership Programme) and professional collaboration. A large number of Danish NGOs have supported this venture and have entered into international co-operation with civil society organisations in the region - many for the first time. The MENA region is thus a new region for some organisations and this new context and the new partners has created a need for a better understanding of the context and the acquisition of new methods and approaches to things.

In late 2008, 14 of the most important NGOs working in and with the Middle East, met to discuss the need for a professional network to help strengthen the work of Danish organisations in the region. The discussions resulted in the creation of the MENA Network which works with capacity building of its members in areas such as gender mainstreaming, working with civil society including religious organisations, partnerships etc. in the MENA region.

The MENA Network Secretariat

The MENA Network is hosted by Action Aid Denmark and employs a part time network coordinator

MENA Network

c/o Action Aid Denmark

Fælledvej 12

2200 Copenhagen N.

Network Coordinator

Sarah Gjerding

E-mail: sgj[at]ms.dk

Tel.: +45 77 31 00 60