Mission

The Centre of Excellence for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) aims to strengthen Euro-Mediterranean collaboration through science diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, higher education cooperation, and regional capacity-building initiatives that contribute to peace, sustainable development, and mutual understanding.

The Centre serves as a platform for fostering cooperation among academic institutions, policymakers, international organizations, civil society, and young leaders across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

Strategic Thematic Areas

Science Diplomacy and International Cooperation

Promoting science as a tool for international collaboration, trust-building, and evidence-based policymaking across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Intercultural Dialogue and Peacebuilding

Supporting dialogue, mutual understanding, and peaceful cooperation among diverse cultures, communities, and societies.

Euro-Mediterranean Higher Education Cooperation

Strengthening academic partnerships, mobility opportunities, joint programmes, and institutional collaboration throughout the region.

Sustainable Development and Regional Resilience

Addressing shared regional challenges through collaborative initiatives focused on sustainability, innovation, and resilience.

Knowledge Exchange, Innovation and Youth Engagement

Empowering young people, researchers, and practitioners through capacity-building, innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-cultural learning opportunities.

Flagship Initiatives

Science Diplomacy and Intercultural Dialogue Forum

An annual flagship forum bringing together:

• Academics
• Diplomats
• Students
• Policymakers
• Representatives of international organizations

The Forum serves as a platform for dialogue, networking, and collaborative action on regional and global challenges.

The initiative includes Diplomacy 2.0 at EMUNI, an innovative platform dedicated to contemporary approaches to diplomacy, science cooperation, and international engagement.

Intercultural Dialogue and Diplomacy Talks Series

A monthly online seminar series addressing topics such as:

• Science diplomacy
• Higher education cooperation
• Peacebuilding
• Regional development
• Intercultural understanding

The Talks Series brings together leading scholars, practitioners, diplomats, and international experts from across the Euro-Mediterranean region.

Long-Term Vision

UNESCO Category 2 Centre

As a long-term strategic objective, the Centre will pursue recognition as a UNESCO Category 2 Centre, strengthening its international visibility and contribution to intercultural dialogue, science diplomacy, and regional cooperation.

Operational Model

The Centre will operate through a flexible, partnership-driven structure designed to maximize impact while maintaining efficiency and financial sustainability.

Lean and Flexible Governance

The Centre will be managed through a streamlined governance model that emphasizes agility, collaboration, and strategic leadership.

Key features include:

• A Director responsible for strategic leadership, partnerships, fundraising, and programme implementation
• A small operational team supporting administration, communications, and project development
• Active engagement of EMUNI staff and external experts on a project basis
• Efficient use of existing institutional resources and infrastructure

Strategic Guidance and Partnerships

A Steering Committee will provide strategic direction, stakeholder engagement, and oversight of the Centre’s development.

The Centre will benefit from:

• Strong involvement of regional and international partners
• Collaboration with organizations active in science diplomacy and intercultural cooperation
• Broad stakeholder engagement across academia, government, civil society, and international organizations
• An agile and collaborative decision-making approach

Self-Financing and Partnership-Driven Model

The Centre will be established with minimal initial investment through the use of:

• Existing institutional resources
• Digital collaboration tools
• In-kind contributions from partners

Future growth will be supported primarily through external funding sources, including:

• Erasmus+ programmes
• Horizon Europe projects
• Regional cooperation programmes
• International foundations
• Multilateral organizations
• Strategic partnerships and collaborative initiatives

This model supports long-term sustainability while maintaining operational flexibility.

Proposed Governance Structure

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee will guide the Centre’s strategic development, strengthen international partnerships, and support fundraising and programme implementation.

Proposed Members of the Steering Committee

Ambassador Hatem Atallah

Former Executive Director of the Anna Lindh Foundation and Member of the Governing Board of EMUNI, Tunisia

Prof. Maria Cristina Pedicchio

President of APRE and Vice-President of the Governing Board of EMUNI, Italy

Ms. Petra Kežman

Deputy Secretary General for Human Development, Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), Barcelona, Spain

Prof. Khaled M. AbuZeid

Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), Cairo, Egypt

Prof. Faisal A. Mohamed

Director General, Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, Libya

Prof. Stefania Panebianco

Director of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Multi-track Diplomacy in the Wider Mediterranean (DIPLOWideMed), University of Catania, Italy

Inaugural Strategic Meeting of the MENA Steering Committee

The inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee will focus on:

• Establishing the Centre’s strategic priorities and roadmap
• Confirming governance and operational arrangements
• Strengthening regional and international partnerships
• Identifying collaborative projects and funding opportunities
• Planning flagship activities and annual events
• Advancing the Centre’s long-term vision and international positioning

The meeting will mark the official launch of the Centre and the beginning of a coordinated effort to promote science diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, higher education cooperation, and sustainable development across the Euro-Mediterranean region.