Anna Lindh Foundation

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Uniting Cultures

The Day of the Mediterranean

Mediterranean Capitals of Culture and Dialogue 

FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES

Mediterranean Youth in Action

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INSPIRING KNOWLEDGE

ALF Policy Debates & ALF Outreach Dialogues

Intercultural Dialogue Resource Centre

DRIVING ACTION

Network Engagement Scheme

ALF Hands On

ALF in Motion

Challenging Inequalities 

Young Civil Society Leaders

The Road to Inclusive Narratives

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INSPIRING KNOWLEDGE

INSPIRING KNOWLEDGE

We believe that knowledge is the basis of change, which is why producing and sharing knowledge is central to everything we do. Through various initiatives and activities, we capture, share and apply insights to drive meaningful transformation across the region. The Inspiring Knowledge pillar focuses on equipping decision-makers, researchers and civil society with the tools and understanding they need to make a real impact.  

But it’s not just about gathering information; it’s about making it accessible, actionable and relevant. By building strong connections between governments, institutions, civil society, policymakers and other key stakeholders, we ensure that knowledge becomes a driving force for sustainable change throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region to take concrete action, shaping long term, sustainable transformation throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region. 

ALF Policy Debates ALF Outreach Dialoues

ALF Policy Debates

Policy debates are structured, formal gatherings that bring together experts from think tanks, specialised centres and universities, civil society representatives, policymakers and practitioners. The debates focus on addressing specific policy issues, presenting research findings, and proposing evidence-based solutions, aiming to shape policies that are reflective of the region's needs and aspirations, ensuring that they are informed by robust fact-based research.

ALF Outreach Dialogues

Outreach dialogues engage a broader variety of stakeholders, including local communities, youth groups, and grassroots organisations. These Dialogues create a space for open conversations, allowing diverse voices to contribute to policy discussions. By translating complex policy topics into accessible conversations, ALF Outreach Dialogues ensure that policy development is more connected to the everyday realities of the individuals and groups it impacts. 

By combining the expertise-driven focus of ALF Policy Debates with the grassroots input of Outreach Dialogues, we create a holistic, participatory approach to fostering meaningful change across the Euro-Mediterranean region, bridging the gap between research, policy-making and implementation. 

Closing the Circle

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We chose the “closing the circle” theme to describe our ALF Policy Debates and Outreach Dialogues. These events help to connect evidence-based research, policy-making and real-world action.

By bringing these elements together in the same space, we create a comprehensive participatory approach to address challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region. “Closing the circle” emphasises that meaningful change cannot be achieved in isolation. It requires collaboration among academics, experts, policymakers and civil society to ensure that solutions are both informed by evidence and responsive to real-world needs.

Our Public Policy Themes

Our Public Policy Debates and Outreach Dialogues cover three main intercultural public policy themes:

Youth engagement in participatory dialogues and decision-making: Empowering young people to actively participate in shaping policy and decisions that affect them.

Fostering an intercultural approach to the ethics of AI: Ensuring the development of AI technologies in the Euro-Mediterranean region is fair, trustworthy and inclusive.

 Living together: Promoting social cohesion and understanding in increasingly diverse societies.

Inspiring knowledge Impact in Numbers

From July 2023 to November 2025

1990

stakeholders

60

Events

46

Outreach dialogues

14

Policy debates

26

cities

18

countries

118

briefs and reports 

18

CountriesBelgium, Slovenia, Finland, Greece, Jordan, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Spain, Italy, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Tunisia, Malta, Lebanon, Czech Republic, North Macedonia, Israel

Here is where we closed the circle

Take A Glimpse At Some Of Our Key Events

In Brussels, during the ALF Multistakeholder Policy Debate, participants explored how to identify and engage youth who reflect the region’s diverse perspectives, ensuring their legitimacy and representativeness. Discussions also examined the roles of governments, institutions, and civil society in equipping young people with the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to contribute meaningfully to participatory and decision-making processes.

16 & 17 April 2024 – Exploring the enabling conditions of youth engagement in Euro-Med participatory dialogues and decision-making processes.

The second #ALFClosingTheCircle public policy dialogue on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Brussels, brought together leading academics and practitioners in the field. They shared valuable insights on practical approaches to the ethical development of AI across our region and explored how intercultural dialogue can help design fair and unbiased AI systems. Another step toward bridging theory, policy, and practice

14 & 15 May 2024 – AI Ethics Across Borders: Forging Intercultural Approaches in the Euro-Med Region.

This policy dialogue focused on protecting pluralism by developing actionable recommendations based on discussions about safeguarding pluralism, strengthening civil society engagement, empowering youth advocacy, and preserving cultural and religious heritage.

21 & 22 May 2024 – Protecting pluralism in Euro-Mediterranean societies: A complementary bottom-up approach.

In Ljubljana, this multi-stakeholder collaboration focused on ethical designs to inform translation and interpretation policy and practice. The event explored strategies to integrate humans and AI in ways that enhance accessibility and foster intercultural dialogue and linguistic inclusion.

6 & 7 June 2024 – Building Bridges Across Languages: Human-Centered AI for the Euro-Med International Conference.

The ALF Multistakeholder Debate in Helsinki brought together decision-makers and youth to discuss ways to institutionalise youth participation in the Euro-Med region. Discussions covered the evolving policy landscape, ensuring diverse and legitimate youth voices, overcoming tokenism, and leveraging digital tools and case studies that highlight youth impact on multilateral institutions.

18 & 19 September 2024 -Empowering youth: Enhancing means and methods to institutionalise youth participation in the Euro-Mediterranean.

At UNESCO’s Global Media Literacy Week in Amman, our side event moderated by HRH Princess Rym Ali explored ethical AI, bias in media systems, and the importance of cross-sector collaboration to promote inclusive AI across the Euro-Med region.

31 October 2024 – Breaking the Algorithm: Tackling Bias in AI for a Fairer Euro-Med Digital Future.

This dynamic debate in Oujda, part of the “African-European Symposium on Responsible AI Governance,” provided a platform to discuss the realities and challenges of AI in the Euro-Mediterranean region and explore ways to align its development with the region’s cultural, social, and economic diversity.
 
29 November 2024 – Enhancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in AI for a Sustainable Euro-Mediterranean Ecosystem.

At the Alexandria policy debate, participants discussed the evolving role of libraries as inclusive public spaces that promote equality, share knowledge, counter misinformation, preserve cultural heritage, foster innovation, and encourage cross-border collaboration.

9 & 10 December 2024 – Inclusive Libraries: Fostering Intercultural Dialogue and Social Cohesion in the Euro-Med Region.

21 October 2025 – From Shore to Shore: Honoring the Capitals of Mediterranean Exchange – Alexandria and Tirana edition of 2025 / Matera and Tetouan edition of 2026

This Policy Debate was co-organised along with the “Second EU Conference on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS)”. The YPS Conference was a platform for youth to exchange knowledge and explore approaches to youth participation and initiatives as a means of prevention of conflicts. Through a series of dialogues, workshops, and policy discussions, participants emphasised the urgent need to develop and implement National Action Plans that translate the YPS agenda into real impact.

10-14 November 2025, Brussels – Reframing Youth, Peace, and Security cooperation in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean: A Euro-Mediterranean perspective

The Policy Debate and Outreach Dialogue were followed by the co-organisation of the 2nd “Mediterranean Forum on Artificial Intelligence – Forum MED IA”.

20-21 November 2025, Tunis – Enabling Ethics in Innovation: Strategies for Multi-sector AI Partnerships in the Euro-Med Region and the 2nd Informal Dialogue of Mediterranean Ethics Bodie

Check All Events

These events not only enhance ALF Secretariat Programmes and contribute to the development of Euro-Mediterranean policy frameworks, but also strengthen the capacity of civil society networks.

By combining the expertise-driven focus of ALF Policy Debates with the grassroots input of Outreach Dialogues, we create a holistic participatory approach to fostering meaningful change across the region, bridging the gap between research, policymaking and ground implementation. 
 
The “closing the circle” theme doesn’t mean we can do this alone, but it is rather an invitation to engage with our stakeholders and potential partners from the different realms of academia, public policy and civil society. 

Hear It In Depth From Our Stakeholders And Experts

“ This event (Policy Dialogue: Ethics of AI) was useful and important, because it gives the voice not only to the government but to people from across the Euro-Mediterranean region. This way we can organise together how to develop ethical digital tools that would make life better to all the population.  ” 

Claude Kirchner
Public Policy Dialogue Keynote Speaker, France

“ Today’s meeting was a perfect example of communication and networking from stakeholders from different countries, from different disciplines and also between policy, civil society, academia, and practitioners. This is exactly the kind of conversation that needs to take place for purpose ” 

Nagla Rizk
Director, Access to Knowledge for Development Center, the American University, Cairo, Egypt

“ We need multi-stakeholdership badly. We need it as it is implemented as a success story by the Anna Lindh Foundation and means of engagement. We also need the steps beyond, which is multi-stakeholder action. ” 

Azza Karam
Founding President & CEO of Lead Integrity

This event (Policy Dialogue: Ethics of AI) was useful and important, because it gives the voice not only to the government but to people from across the Euro-Mediterranean region. This way we can organise together how to develop ethical digital tools that would make life better to all the population.

Claude Kirchner Public Policy Dialogue Keynote Speaker, France

Today's meeting was a perfect example of communication and networking from stakeholders from different countries, from different disciplines and also between policy, civil society, academia, and practitioners. This is exactly the kind of conversation that needs to take place for purpose.

Nagla Rizk, Director, Access to Knowledge for Development Center, the American University, Cairo, Egypt

We need multi-stakeholdership badly. We need it as it is implemented as a success story by the Anna Lindh Foundation and means of engagement. We also need the steps beyond, which is multi-stakeholder action.

Azza Karam, Founding President & CEO of Lead Integrity

I really think that there is so much to come from these discussions. So, we have to join forces. We can create a movement born out of grassroot approach for the benefit of all. And that is what the Anna Lindh Foundation can really foster and fertalise by having this type of conversations.

Annemette Broch, Founder & CEO, DATA for GOOD Foundation, Denmark

Today's ALF Public Policies Debate is doing a lot to bridge the gap between practice and theory. We have academics, policy makers and practitioners on the same table, discussing these issues in a timely manner. This is very important in order to bring the realities on the ground to the policy makers. This is how we bring action to policy.

Nagham El Houssamy, Associate Director of the Access for Knowledge for Development Center, Egypt

Contributors to our Policy Debates

We extend our sincere appreciation to all our partners and collaborators whose valuable contributions have greatly enriched these many policy debates.