CSIS Middle East Program

The 29th Session of the Conference of States Parties of the OPCW takes place next week as the norm against chemical weapons use has come under increasing strain. In a new commentary, Natasha Hall and Doreen Horschig, PhD argue that the upcoming conference provides a unique opportunity to revitalize the chemical weapons norm and strengthen the integrity of the OPCW. They go on to discuss: ?? How Assad's impunity for chemical weapons usage has undermined arms control cooperation. ?? Why more regimes are pursuing chemical weapons capabilities. ?? How renewed cooperation with China on chemical weapons could reinvigorate a multilateral pathway for CW control. Read the full commentary to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eb86Qwiu

Next week's 29th Session of the Conference of States Parties of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) is an opportunity to revitalize efforts toward accountability on chemical weapons in light of #Syrian & #Russian impunity. Doreen Horschig, PhD and I make the case for cooperation w/ #China in an era of declining arms control. It's time for a win. Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) CSIS Middle East Program Hear us out ?? https://lnkd.in/eNUxzfYX

One pillar of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 development plan is NEOM, a land development, tourism, and model city project that is estimated to cost at least a half a trillion dollars. Last week, NEOM’s CEO left suddenly. On the latest episode of Babel: Translating the Middle East, Jon Alterman discusses NEOM, its challenges, and Saudi Arabia’s economic future. He goes on to discuss: ?? The shortcomings in budgeting, execution, and local community buy-in that have slowed Saudi Arabia's development objectives. ?? Saudi Arabia's efforts to boost foreign investment and human capital development. ?? NEOM's role in a broader push by the Saudi state to re-envision the country's future. Listen to the full episode here to find out more: https://lnkd.in/eXG7TDjF

Upcoming Event | In October, the Israeli parliament passed two measures that will end the operations of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Israel and prohibit contact between state authorities and UNRWA. Tomorrow, Jon Alterman joins the CSIS Global Health Policy Center for a new episode of Gaza: The Human Toll, featuring a panel discussion of potential scenarios for UNRWA going forward and the implications if UNRWA ceases to function. Jon will be joined by J Stephen Morrison, Dahlia Scheindlin, and Scott Anderson, deputy humanitarian coordinator and director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza. ?? Online ?? 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM EST Register here: https://lnkd.in/e6vxC6v2

I really enjoyed speaking at this CSIS Middle East Program event last week on the promise and limitations of environmental civil society activism in the Middle East and North Africa. Video and transcript available here: https://lnkd.in/g652qt_U

?? Environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and climate change are pushing lives and livelihoods to the edge across the Middle East, yet civil society remains an untapped ally in tackling these urgent issues. If you missed the recent panel convened by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Middle East Program, watch the recording to hear powerful insights on leveraging civil society’s potential for climate and environment impact and outcomes! ?? As I shared during the discussion: “We need to thread this architecture together, and I think climate and environment is the crucible that might finally force us to get there—not because it’s strategically beneficial to engage civil society, but because it’s strategically necessary.” ?? Hajar Khamlichi emphasized the need for an integrated approach: “These challenges really highlight the urgent need for sustainable policies and practices across the region. It requires comprehensive strategies and integrated environmental, economic, and social dimensions to foster resilience.” ?? Amy Hawthorne spoke to the power of local initiatives: “Citizen-led local organizations working in their communities can make a significant impact. Lasting and major change is difficult to achieve in closed political environments.” ?? Will Todman , lead author of the recent report, underscored civil society’s ability to mobilize: “Civil society can mobilize for better solutions…it requires the technical and the mobilizing advocacy together.” Through CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance and our Green Accountability initiative, we’re working to amplify civil society’s role in climate finance and environmental action. Local organizations are key to scalable, resilient solutions, even in contexts with weak governance, and CIVIC is building a new local-to-global civic architecture to broker solutions for these immense challenges. ???? ?? Watch the full recording here: https://lnkd.in/gjPmWNYA Let’s forge stronger partnerships for a sustainable, resilient future! ???? The Global Partnership for Social Accountability

Tomorrow at 9 am ET, the CSIS Middle East Program hosts a discussion on civil society groups' potential to advance environmental action and stability in contexts of weak governance and unresponsive politics in the Middle East and North Africa. Register: https://lnkd.in/gzuYfgJF

Climate change, water scarcity, and the energy transition have become central concerns for states and communities across the Middle East and North Africa. So why has environmental action in the region not led to more sustainable outcomes? In a new report, my colleague Will Todman and I argue that civil society is a crucial but underutilized partner in efforts to address environmental crises. Based on more than 130 interviews with government officials, international donors, and civil society actors in Iraq, Morocco, Oman, and Tunisia, we assess the challenges of navigating environmental politics in the region, the role of environmental civil society, and the impact of international donor assistance. If you're interested in one of the most pressing challenges facing the region in the next decade, this is the space to watch. Check out our report below to find out more, and if you're tight on time, we have one-page fact sheets and a short audio brief there as well: https://lnkd.in/ejqZ4U7T

As #COP29 gets underway, I'm delighted to share my new report on the potential of environmental civil society in the Middle East and North Africa. I argue that international actors should view environmental civil society as a strategic partner in their efforts to stabilize the MENA region. Too often, donor support skews the civil society ecosystem and undermines its ability to drive change. Unlocking citizen groups’ potential would not require more money, but a narrower focus on sustainability. Based on over 130 interviews with government officials, international donor representatives, and civil society actors, Martin Pimentel and I draw lessons from Iraq, Morocco, Oman, and Tunisia. It is a strange time to release a report on the environment or "efforts to stabilize the Middle East," given the violence of the past year in Palestine, Lebanon, Israel, and beyond. But environmental crises are only growing, and too often they are deprioritized due to the crises of the day. This report is an effort to demonstrate that civil society still has a critical role to play.

New Report | Environmental crises pose a growing threat to populations across the Middle East and North Africa. In a new report, Will Todman and Martin Pimentel assess the role of civil society in environmental action across the region. Based on more than 130 interviews with government officials, international donor representatives, and civil society actors in Iraq, Morocco, Oman, and Tunisia, they argue that environmental civil society actors can be key strategic partners for international donors. But to unlock the potential of civil society, donors and other environmental actors must place a greater emphasis on long-term sustainability. To find out more, read the new report, one-page fact sheets, and a short audio brief here: https://lnkd.in/eEkum56C