12 Years of Ta'ziz Partnership

12 Jahre Ta'ziz Partnership © Goethe-Institut - Kairo

For 12 years, the Goethe-Institut has been promoting civil society processes in North Africa, the Middle East, and since 2024 in Sub-Saharan Africa through the Ta’ziz Partnership, which has been operating under its new name ZANMO (Cooperation with Civil Societies in Africa, the Near and Middle East) since 2024. These initiatives are supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. Particularly in challenging times, they implement cultural and educational projects to strengthen civil society and provide young people with a safe space for networking and exchange. The initiatives aim to foster dialogue, creativity, innovation, and skills development while encouraging social participation. ZANMO also helps to bring issues from the Arab world into focus in Germany, where they often receive little attention.

12 Jahre TP Swapper © Goethe-Institut - Kairo

12 Years of Ta'ziz Partnership

The five current projects include Floating Forward in Egypt, which combines environmental education with waste reduction along the Nile, and Guan Eden in Iraq, which promotes sustainable projects. In Libya, the Oussoulna project focuses on the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. For Sudanese civil society, the projects Media Labs and Transforming Sudan create transparency and offer a safe space for (creative) exchange between cultural practitioners and the broader community, including those living outside the country due to the war in Sudan.

As funding for projects in North Africa and the Middle East comes to an end this year, we reflect on their impact. Through innovative approaches and sustainable initiatives, these projects have demonstrated great potential to drive lasting positive change. They stand as exemplary models of the transformative power of education, culture, and community spirit. These initiatives are a testament to the importance of such projects – helping regions not only address challenges but also create new perspectives and opportunities. In times of global upheaval, challenges, and conflicts, such spaces for dialogue and exchange are essential for young people in the region. Therefore, continuing these projects in North Africa and the Middle East remains crucial for fostering these critical discussions and negotiation processes.

As the projects in the NANO region conclude, we can look back on a remarkable track record: over 150 projects have been implemented in the past 12 years. On the following pages, we reflect on this impressive success by presenting five projects from the NANO region carried out in 2024 and highlighting the people who shaped them.

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