The Euro-MENA Initiative for Democracy and Development (ARDD Europe) aims at deepening understanding and fostering cooperation between Europe and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It addresses pressing regional and global challenges in the context of rapid societal and geopolitical transformations. Established in 2024 in Brussels, Belgium, by the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), the initiative aspires to build strategic partnerships that drive stability, prosperity, and sustainable development across these interconnected regions.
A Transformative Bridge Between Regions, Towards a More Stable and Interconnected Tomorrow
Thematic Areas of Work
Migration and Refugees
- Advocate for human rights–based migration policies and practices
- Address root causes of forced migration and promote equitable, sustainable solutions to the displacement crisis.
Human Rights and Inclusive Governance
- Promote a comprehensive human rights agenda.
- Encourage inclusive governance and civic engagement
- Counter discriminatory narratives, including Islamophobia, to foster equity and respect.
Peace Initiatives and Political Stability
- Develop frameworks and initiatives to address conflicts and support peacebuilding efforts in the MENA region.
- Foster conflict resolution and reconciliation through dialogue platforms and leveraging Europe’s experience in peacebuilding.
- Promote political stability by addressing root causes of conflict, such as exclusion and inequality.
Aid, Economy, and Development
- Rethink aid frameworks to avoid dependency and foster MENA-region self-reliance and alignment with local priorities.
- Promote localization, decolonized aid practices, equitable partnerships, sustainable development approaches, and fair resource allocation.
Strategic Objectives
- Enhance Cross-Regional Dialogue: Create an inclusive platform for ongoing dialogue between policymakers, youth, academics, and parliamentarians from both regions, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and collaboration.
- Advance Equitable Partnerships: Reshape aid dynamics toward more equitable and effective models and promote local agency in decision-making.
- Inform and Influence Policy: Bridge MENA perspectives with European policy debates, shaping agendas on migration, human rights, governance, peace, and development.
- Empower Communities: Address shrinking civic space, support youth leadership, and amplify MENA civil society voices on the European stage.
- Promote Intergenerational Dialogue: Foster collaboration between youth and experienced actors to co-design inclusive, future-oriented policies.
- Support Reconstruction Efforts: Advance efforts to rebuild conflict-affected nations toward promoting development and long-term stability.
Activities
ARDD Europe focuses on impactful activities that contribute to achieving its objectives, including:
- Research and Policy Briefs: Collaborating with local and global experts to develop innovative, sustainable solutions for common challenges.
- Online and In-person Events: Facilitating dialogue by bringing together policymakers and thought leaders to drive informed, collaborative policy analysis and decision-making.
- Capacity Building: Equipping stakeholders with knowledge, empowering them with the tools to navigate crises and shape strategic, forward-looking visions.
- Networking: Building regional and international alliances towards sharing resources, experiences, expertise, and best practices
ARDD Europe Board Members
In line with the vision of its parent organization ARDD, ARDD Europe works toward a just world where all individuals enjoy equitable, inclusive, and sustainable opportunities. The initiative operates under the guidance of a board of experts renowned in their fields, ensuring its endeavors are both impactful and far-reaching.
Former long-term senior UNHCR official and Country Director -Jordan.
María del Mar Logroño Narbona is a Spanish scholar-practitioner specializing in inclusive social protection, access to justice, and governance in
A Dutch National, Dr. Lex Takkenberg, is Senior Advisor on the Question of Palestine at ARDD and a freelance lecturer
Mr. Malik Ben Achour is a Belgian politician, active at both federal and local levels, with a rich cultural background
Berenice van der Driessche is a humanitarian adviser, with a strong background in international relations and humanitaran law. Ms. Berenice
Prof. dr. Maurits S. Berger, LLM, is a lawyer and Arabist. He is professor of Islam and the West and
Adv. Lara Elborno is a US-French qualified lawyer, actively participating in the International Bar Association, ICC Arab Arbitration Group, and
Samar Muhareb is the Chief Executive Director of Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development – ARDD. With over 20 years