Dialogue Facilitation Training

Dialogue facilitation is more than ever needed in the MENA region which has seen an unprecedented rise of extremism and radicalization in the past years.

Dialogue as a means for conflict prevention and resolution can be effective but unfortunately most civil society organizations are not well-prepared to carry out their imperative role that they are supposed to play in the process.

The Center for Arab-West Understanding is therefore very pleased that Khaled Hassan participated for a period of two months in the online Arabic-speaking dialogue facilitation training that was provided by MENA Common Ground Institute in cooperation with Soliya.

We now hope that Khaled will be able to make full use of his training for the work of our Center.

The MENA Common Ground Institute is an initiative to foster collaborative dialogue at the local, regional and national levels. MENA CGI seeks to build the capacity of a new generation of Arabic-speaking dialogue design and facilitation experts; support dialogue initiatives and raise their acceptance by communities, civil society, media and local governments. As well as celebrate, research and reward the best dialogue practices.

MENA CGI’s partner Soliya is a dynamic network of staff, university partners, students, volunteer facilitators, trainers and coaches, Soliya Fellows and civil society partners, along with a dedicated Board of Directors, advisors and funders.

Soliya’s team represents thought leaders, experienced practitioners and emerging young activists in the fields of new media and technology, social entrepreneurship, conflict resolution, advocacy and international affairs.

CAWU participated because it wants to increase cooperation with civil society organizations who share our vision for tolerance and understanding as tools for stability and prosperity on a national level, which will in turn reflect on the international community and on the concept of accepting one another.

During the training different points of view were exchanged on several matters that seem to be widely discussed in the Middle-East and beyond, including; the rise of radicalism, an Arab union equivalent to the EU, Palestinian-Israeli conflict and more. The diversity of participants’ backgrounds and nationalities was to all participants mind-stimulating and proved that differences should not stop people from working together for a better world.

Soliya concluded its training at its headquarters in Cairo with lessons learnt during the training and a glimpse on future plans. The initiative of uniting Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that aim at promoting for tolerance and understanding under the umbrella of MENA CGI seems promising and ambitious. Khaled Hassan believes that it is crucial for CSOs to cooperate with the government for the success of such an initiative.

CAWU will continue to communicate and cooperate with all individuals/organizations that aim at peace-building and conflict resolution.

For more information on MENA CGI, please visit: https://www.sfcg.org/mena/

For more information on Soliya, please visit: http://www.soliya.net/?q=home

Cornelis Hulsman,

Deputy Chairman Center for Arab-West Understanding

Center for Arab-West Understanding

CAWU

Stability. Dialogue. Understanding.

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