The Network for Dialogue (N4D) is a civic incubator that seeks out dynamic “civic entrepreneurs” in the Middle East and North Africa who are looking to tackle important societal challenges and who may be hampered in their effort by the region’s restricted civic space. It offers them, and a small group of other stakeholders, quiet spaces for dialogue, so that they have the time and space to build “whole-of-sector” or “whole-of-society” horizontal collaborations to successfully address their chosen challenge. As part of the incubation process, N4D is prepared to provide them, should they desire it, exposure to other countries’ experiences, technical assistance in building horizontal collaborations, subject matter expertise, and a network of other international contacts.
By means of its “The Citizen Challenge” Request for Proposal (RFP), N4D invites the MENA region’s civic leaders, civic entrepreneurs, and/or civic groups to submit their ideas regarding a local or national challenge that they wish to address. It then identifies the ideas and networks most worthy of support. It provides these small groups the time and space to discuss their shared challenge, by supporting them to structure and convene a series of dialogues over the course of a year – dialogues that move rapidly from problem definition to identifying a shared strategy to engage in collective action to address it. With the help of a global network of prominent ”International Ambassadors,” N4D then provides these groups any advice, expertise, and connections they may require to implement these collaborative action plans.
N4D is a joint initiative of the Dutch peace-building organization PAX and the Rome-based think tank Istituto Affari Internazionali. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Shiraka program provided the initiative’s initial funding. Several other funding organizations have committed to review worthy proposals, with a view to supporting projects that match their programmatic priorities.