Giving Circles - MENA, What we do
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Who we are
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Where we have come from

World-changing ideas can emerge from leaders anywhere, but it’s only when we work together that real change will take hold. The MENA region faces major challenges, including conflict, displacement, water scarcity, and food insecurity among others. Traditionally, international organizations and governments have led responses to the challenges the countries of the region face, but with the decline of global aid—especially USAID’s dismantling —there’s an urgent need for new solutions.

Private philanthropy must expand to fill the funding gap, not just with funding but by fostering locally-driven. Context-aware and co-created solutions. Those closest to the issues should lead the response, ensuring sustainable, community-centered impact. With the right support, local organizations can reshape humanitarian aid, moving away from top-down approaches. Philanthropic investments, across the MENA region have the potential to change lives if it is invested in co-created, context-aware and local driven solutions.

A Framework for action

We curate purposeful collaboration that amplifies local voices and drives co-created solutions to address the MENA region’s most pressing challenges. By connecting philanthropic foundations and grant-making organizations with valuable insights and relationships, we empower informed giving and unlock new opportunities for meaningful social impact.

Focus on impact

At Giving Circles – MENA we envision a Middle East where people can live with dignity, purpose, and opportunity

Meet Our Team

We are a team of passionate generalists, agile connectors, strategists and flexible partners, proposal writers and developmental evaluators. We find purpose in tackling some of the MENA’s challenges and identify actionable solutions

Alaa Shaheen

Project Manager
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Sami Shaheen

Project Manager and Strategy Lead

Christine Anwer

Operations, Membership and Sponsorship Manager

Mervat Moussa

Graphic Designer
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Previous Learning and Networking Events

Delivering aid in Gaza in war time, ANERA, 2024

Gaza IT Center and Jobs creation, UNRWA, 2023

Access to equal opportunities for youth without parental care, Watanya / Sanad, Egypt, 2023

Lebanon in Crisis: Meeting the Humanitarian Needs of Palestine Refugees in a Dramatically Evolving Atmosphere, UNRWA, 2022

Rethinking Nonprofit Post-Pandemic: Projecting The Nonprofit Sector Following The COVID-19 Pandemic, Qualisus, 2021

Places for Coexistence: Œcumene Leveraging Design and Planning for Better Dignified Urban Communities, Ecumene, 2021

Protection Freedom of Expression in Tunisia, Hivos, Tunisia, 2021,

Re-imagining the Challenges and Future of Volunteerism, Volunteer Circle, Egypt, 2021

Increasing your capacity one volunteer opportunity at a time, Volunteer Circle, Lebanon, 2021

Strengthen Democracy, Human Rights and the Rule of Law for Syria, DARPE, 2021

We Stand Up for Women: A Soroptimist Kuwait Approach, Soroptimist Kuwait, 2021

Why UNRWA is the Best Investment in the Middle East, UNRWA, 2021

Gaza Sky Geeks – Coders Without Borders, Mercy Corps, 2021

Code for Palestine: Increased Youth Resilience through Entrepreneurs Empowerment, PalTel Group Foundation, 2021

The Business Partnership Facility’s, King Baudouin Foundation, 2020

Access to Higher Education for Refugees in the Middle East, Kiron Jordan and Lebanon, 2020

Humanitarian Grand Challenge: Creating Hope in Conflict, Grand Challenge Canada, 2020

Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People, Grand Challenge Canada, 2020

Tandem 360º , MitOst e.V., 2020

Development Projects Remote Evaluation, Qualisus, Lebanon, 2020

Crisis Effects on Women-led Businesses, Businessita Egypt, 2019

Child Labor In The Arab States, 2019

Options Initiatives, Grand Challenge Canada, 2019

What is holding MENA Social Entrepreneurs to thrive and scale? OPCURR, Morocco, 2019

Creating Hope in Conflict MENA, Grand Challenge Canada, 2019

Supporting the private sector engagement in SDGs projects, King Baudouin Foundation, 2019

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Re-imagine Philanthropic Giving

in the Middle East and North Africa’s Region

 

24 September 2024  |  4:00 – 5:00 pm (Egypt time) | Free Webinar

Register now

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