While the prospects for democratic development and the expansion of civil liberties remain distant, activists across the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) continue to work tirelessly to support pluralism and human rights, the rule of law, and the establishment of democratic government. A myriad of challenges face democratization in the region, such as entrenched authoritarianism, sectarian politics, regional conflict and civil war, extremism, and insecurity.

NED and its core institutes support advocates throughout the region, including independent civil society organizations, think tanks and research centers, and media working towards democratic goals. In addition to regional programs, partners from 15 countries focus on strengthening participatory and democratic governance and institutions to represent and meet the needs of citizens. They work to address underlying causes of instability, such as malign domestic and foreign actors and lack of social cohesion, expand civic and political space to allow for the competition of ideas and constructive citizen engagement, and counter authoritarianism.

By the Numbers

Regional Focus Areas

Elevating Civil Society Voices to Inform Post Conflict Scenarios

Ineffective governance and the failure of states to deliver for their citizens contributes to conditions that fuel conflicts in the region and provide fertile ground for regional and international powers to exert influence. While prospects for peaceful resolution of these conflicts seem improbable in the near term, it is impossible to predict when opportunities will emerge. When conflicts end, it is critical that democratic voices are well-prepared, have a seat at the table, and contribute to shaping a democratic narrative and vision for the future of their countries. NED supports initiatives that facilitate and strengthen the engagement of civil society and democratic voices to inform post-conflict scenarios and transitions.

Promoting Accountability and Good Governance

Protests throughout MENA in 2011 and 2019 amplified the need for governance reforms to meet demands and pressures from the region’s youthful population. Weak institutions and policies have failed to deliver adequate quality and access to basic services, such as education and healthcare. Similarly, poor economic policies combined with corruption have lowered standards of living and limited employment opportunities. These conditions contribute to public mistrust of government and fuel illiberal and anti-democratic ideas and actors. NED supports independent civil society organizations advocating for legislative and public policy reforms, transparency and accountability at local and national levels, and inclusive politics.

Supporting Independent Media

Though satellite television and access to the internet in the early 2000s facilitated initial openings for independent and digital media, in recent years countries across the region have sought to control the flow of information within their borders. UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, Afghanistan, and Syria are among the 20 lowest ranked countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2024 World Press Freedom Index. They use a variety of tactics ranging from capturing media ownership, restrictive laws, censorship, prosecuting and jailing journalists, and other forms of intimidation and harassment.

State-owned, partisan, and media outlets funded by regional authoritarian powers leave little room for genuine debate on key issues, investigative reporting, or responsible and professional journalism. NED supports independent media outlets across the region to promote access to information as well as partners advocating for a more enabling media environment and laws that promote free expression. Even in countries with a greater degree of space for free expression, media remains polarized and subject to censorship and political manipulation.

Defending and Advocating for the Expansion of Civic Space

There has been a trend towards closing civic space across the region with many countries passing regulations and legislation that expand executive powers, limit public gatherings, restrict freedom of association and impose vague restrictions on what can be published both in formal media and by private citizens on social media. NED supports programs that defend and advocate for the expansion of civic space and fundamental freedoms.

Strengthening Democratic Leadership

Amidst regional conflict, democratic backsliding, resurgent authoritarianism and impunity, NED and its core institutes supports programs to strengthen new and emerging democratic leaders, empower underrepresented groups, and bridge divides among democracy advocates.

Country Highlights

MENA Regional

The political, economic and security situation in the region remains dire. Prospects for democratic progress and reform continue to be challenged by ongoing conflict and war, violent extremism, and authoritarianism. Ineffective governance and the failure of states to deliver for their citizens contribute to conditions that fuel conflict and extremism, while shaking public confidence in government institutions and policies.

NED’s regional programming complements country-level strategies and facilitates regional cooperation on cross-cutting trends and priorities. Regional programs seek to strengthen expertise in critical democracy related sectors and issues and enhances support to countries that are less accessible to direct assistance. NED’s regional approach provides an additional channel to work in increasingly closed environments across the region, engage a wider range of democratic actors, and build cross regional expertise and linkages to address common challenges and opportunities.

Grantee Spotlight

Established in 2014, the Arab Association of Constitutional Law (AACL) is the first regional network of constitutional experts in the Middle East and Northern Africa region. AACL’s main objective is to contribute to good governance by promoting intra-regional learning and applying its expertise to legal and constitutional reform efforts across the region. AACL’s membership is diverse, including academics, judges, lawyers, parliamentarians, and civil society activists from throughout the region. NED supports AACL’s annual academy for constitutional and rule of law scholars, jurists, and decision-makers from across the region to strengthen expertise on the rule of law and constitutional governance and to contribute to national and regional debates on constitutional reforms. Since 2018, with NED support, the academy has trained 78 constitutional and rule of law scholars and practitioners from 15 countries who have produced valuable policy and academic papers on constitutional developments in the region. They have also contributed to constitutional and legal reform debates by organizing conferences in their respective countries and advocating for proposed reforms with public officials, elected MPs, members of their respective constitutional courts, ministers, and civil society organizations.

Afghanistan

Since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have dismantled democratic institutions, erasing progress made over the past two decades and reversing hard-won rights and freedoms, particularly for women and minorities. The Taliban abolished elected government structures, restricted freedom of speech and the press, and barred women from education and the workforce. Their policies have plunged the country into a deep repressive posture, isolating Afghanistan from much of the international community while fueling widespread fear and uncertainty. Meanwhile, regional powers like Pakistan, Iran, China, and Russia seek strategic influence, further undermining democratic values and norms.

With a long history supporting Afghan democracy and human rights advocates dating back to the late 1980s, NED remains committed to supporting Afghan civil society to protect hard-won democratic achievements and hold the Taliban accountable for their policies and actions. Key focus areas include defending freedom of expression and independent media, protecting the rights of vulnerable populations, especially women, and fostering collaboration among democratic actors and civil society leaders to offer alternative democratic perspectives.

Grantee Spotlight

After 2001, Afghanistan experienced significant growth in independent media, with NED's media partners playing a key role in democratic development by providing factual information, holding leaders accountable, investigating corruption, and supporting civil society-led reforms. However, following the Taliban's seizure of power in 2021, Afghanistan's media landscape has faced severe setbacks, with over 300 media outlets shutting down and thousands of journalists losing their jobs. Despite these challenges, NED's Afghan media partners have displayed resilience, continuing to provide accurate information and working to hold the Taliban accountable by adopting a hybrid operational model. This model involves leadership based outside Afghanistan while freelance journalists gather news from within, enabling them to bypass restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Their dedication to fair, impartial reporting has earned the trust of the Afghan people and international recognition through prestigious awards. In late 2022, a journalist working undercover for Amu TV in Afghanistan exposed a horrific crime committed by the Taliban in North Kabul. Despite constant threats, including an attack on her father, the journalist continued reporting through encrypted channels, bringing global attention to Taliban atrocities. With ongoing support from NED, these partners have managed to sustain their operations, adapting to the new political reality and ensuring Afghan citizens still have access to reliable information. One of NED’s media partners was profiled in The Atlantic:   Inside the Virginia Newsroom Trying to Save Afghanistan From Tyranny - The Atlantic.

Tunisia

Once hailed as a democratic success story, Tunisia has experienced severe democratic backsliding since 2021 with arrests of opposition politicians, journalists and ordinary citizens who criticize the government on social media; combined with weakening of Parliament, political parties and independent institutions such as the election commission and the judiciary. Meanwhile, the economy remains stagnant with high unemployment, rising prices of basic goods, and large numbers of Tunisians seeking to emigrate.

In this context, NED and its core institutes focus on promoting a return to the country’s democratic path by safeguarding democratic gains and freedoms achieved over the past decade while pushing back against growing authoritarianism. Specific priorities include defending rights and freedoms under threat, strengthening and protecting independent media, promoting accountability and good governance, as well as supporting political dialogue.

Grantee Spotlight

Taqallam, a NED grantee since 2020, is one of the top independent media outlets in Tunisia, known for its output of serious investigative pieces and deep dives into issues not covered in depth by other media outlets, as well as its particular focus on data visualization and visually engaging media. The website has won 25 local and international awards for its journalism in the four years since it was established.

Taqallam articles have proven influential. An article about the powerful Mabrouk business family, its ties to the Ben Ali regime, and tax evasion, was included on the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN)’s list of best investigative stories from the Arab World in 2023. Similarly, Taqallam published an investigation that exposed corruption by the CEO of Syphax Airlines. In another case, the arrest of a municipal councilman was explicitly based on Taqallam’s investigation of his alleged conflict of interests and abuses of power. Taqallam reporting also won Amnesty International Tunisia’s 1st and 2nd prizes for Human Rights journalism for stories on state interference in healthcare decisions, and the corruption and human rights abuses of the head of the Police Intervention and Rescue Brigade in Sfax.

Iraq

Over the past two decades, Iraq has made significant democratic advances, including conducting relatively free elections, developing a vibrant civil society, and establishing an independent media. However, persistent governance challenges, security threats, and political instability hinder further democratic growth. Despite these obstacles, civil society activists are steadfast in their advocacy for reforms and accountability.

NED has supported Iraqi civic activists and pro-democracy actors in their pursuit of freedom, liberty, and political rights since 1991. NED supports local civil society organizations committed to enhancing and preserving Iraq’s democratic gains achieved since the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003. This includes support for organizations that promote transparency and good governance at both local and national levels; assistance to independent media, focusing on in-depth reporting and legal protections for journalists; and empowering emerging voices, particularly women and youth, to advance democratic participation.

Grantee Spotlight

In Iraq, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) works to strengthen democratic engagement of the private sector in local governance. Its program focuses on formalizing mechanisms for public-private cooperation between private sector stakeholders and the provincial councils. Additionally, it builds the capacity of both public and private sector actors to have a sustainable and formal voice in provincial policy making processes. In 2024, CIPE held strategy sessions that aligned its private sector network in Iraq around three priorities: improving governance standards, enhancing an enabling business environment, and advancing the investment climate. CIPE included public sector leaders in their activities to build consensus among the public and private sector and civil society around shared priorities. For example, CIPE’s partner in Wasit worked with legislators in its provincial coalition to advocate for increased transparency in provincial financing which led to the federal Parliament issuing a decree requiring transparency and local participation in provincial budgeting processes across Iraq.

Iran

The 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran failed to fulfill its promises of civil rights and economic prosperity. Today, unelected individuals and repressive institutions hold power, while security forces and the judiciary suppress dissent and restrict basic freedoms. The economy, largely controlled by religious entities and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, struggles to meet the needs of a growing population, particularly its youth. While the ongoing crisis has fueled widespread protests in recent years, the regime has responded to public grievances with increased repression rather than meaningful reforms. Additionally, Iran’s support for state and non-state anti-democratic forces in the region and growing public frustration with the regime’s focus on external conflicts at the expense of domestic priorities, highlight the need for strengthening democratic actors within the country.

In response, Iranian activists are pushing harder for democratic change. NED’s program is focused on empowering civil society and political activists to counter authoritarianism and promote a democratic future. Key priorities include defending human rights, promoting accountability, countering state disinformation, and fostering collaboration among Iranian activists. NED’s Iran program, integrated with its broader regional programs, aims to counter the suppression of democracy and address the Iranian regime’s authoritarian influence across the region.

Grantee Spotlight

During the 'Woman, Life, Freedom' protests that erupted in Iran in September 2022, NED's grantees played a crucial role as main sources of information for international media and human rights organizations. Their in-country connections and relationships were instrumental in shedding light on the events unfolding within Iran. NED partners stood out as the primary organizations documenting and reporting on human rights violations and repression by Iranian authorities and collaborated with prominent entities such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and international media organizations on investigating and reporting on repression in Iran. Moreover, NED partners played a pivotal role in collective advocacy actions that resulted in the removal of Iran from the UN Commission on the Status of Women and the creation of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission by the UN Human Rights Council.

ResEarch and Analysis

Center for International Media Assistance: Recapturing the Narrative in Egypt

For almost 10 years, the international community has largely viewed Egyptian journalism within the context of censorship and low press freedom. In a blog post from the Center for International Media Assistance, journalist Fatemah Farag explores an opportune moment to reconsider the realities of Egyptian journalists and journalism today.

Read "Recapturing the Narrative in Egypt"

Center for International Media Assistance: Afghan Journalists Keep the News Flowing

Since the Taliban retook power in 2021, the vibrant independent media sector of Afghanistan has faced an existential threat as the regime cracked down on freedom of expression. In this blog, the Center for International Media Assistance interviewed journalists on the challenges facing Afghan media operating both in-exile and in-country and what the international community can do.

Read "How Afghan Journalists Keep the News Flowing"