60% of the population of North Africa and the Middle East is under 30. Supported by the European Union, Safir aims to create an environment conducive to the civic engagement of this generation, which aspires to a new model of society and governance that is more inclusive, fairer and more sustainable.

Launched in March 2020, the project is based on three pillars: support for more than 1,000 young people who are leaders of projects with a social, cultural or environmental impact; the structuring and development of a regional network of supporters; the creation of spaces for dialogue between young people and the public authorities.

On 19 May 2020 before the launch in September of a call for applications for young project leaders and universities, Safir began the process of selecting incubators and civil society organisations. Their mission will be to support 1,000 young social changemakers in the region in their quest for excellence over the next four years.

At the end of this first stage, planned for the end of June 2020, the Institut français as well as the Tunisian and Lebanese incubators Lab’ess and Pitchworthy will help eight local incubators to consolidate and standardise their project support methodologies.

The Institut français and the Arab NGO Network for Development(ANND) will also propose a programme to 21 civil society organisations to strengthen their advocacy training techniques. 

Finally, the selected structures will include a network of regional and international actors in order to work towards the establishment of a regional dynamic of sustainable citizen engagement.