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Middle East and North Africa: regional initiatives

There is no single body with oversight of or responsibility for civil society organisations in the MENA region. However, there are regional bodies which take an interest in or help to write policy on issues relating to NGOs and CSOs working in the region.

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

The GCC Secretariat in Riyadh includes a Social Affairs department, which makes policy recommendations on civil society and the administration of regulation for the sector.

MENAFATF

The MENAFATF, a Middle East and North Africa FATF –style regional body is based in Bahrain and monitors regional compliance to the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendations and Special Recommendations, including Special Recommendation VIII, which pertains to NGOs and civil society.

League of Arab States (Arab League)

The Arab League takes considerable interest in matters relating to civil society both in Egypt but also across the 22 Member States.

  • Report of Gulf workshop on NGO regulation, November 2006 [in Arabic and English]. A List of participants in workshop is available [in Arabic and English]
  • A Code of Conduct for Arab Civil Society Organizations 2008. This was prepared by a number of experts and activists at a meeting in Beirut 22-23 June 2008. It is part of the European-Arab Project on
    Freedom of Association in the Arab world implemented by
    The Friedrich Naumann Foundation with its Arab partners and with the support of the European Commission. Available in Arabic and English