The Middle East Council on Global Affairs (ME Council) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at the American University of Beirut, aiming to promote collaboration on policy-relevant research in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
The MoU was signed at the ME Council headquarters in Doha by director Dr Tarik Yousef and IFI director Dr Joseph Bahout.
Both sides stressed the importance of collaboration between think tanks in the region.
"Given the shared objectives of both institutions in generating new knowledge and achieving policy impact, as well as providing a regional perspective on global policy issues, it is only natural for us to collaborate to broaden our work and impact,” Dr Yousef said. “We look forward to seeing great results come from this critical partnership.”
“This MoU formalises the already constructive co-operation between the IFI and ME Council,” Dr Bahout noted. “Given the need for think tanks in the region, and the world, to work more closely together to tackle policy issues of shared interest, I strongly believe this agreement will capitalise on the expertise of both of our institutions to better identify and understand the common challenges facing our region.”
This MoU formalises and strengthens the existing strategic and operational relationship between the ME Council and IFI.
It aims to establish a mutually beneficial partnership built on co-operation in areas of mutual interest.
The institutions will co-operate in multiple areas, including joint public events, projects, and other forms of activities and knowledge outputs, as well as a potential joint fellowship programme
