Near East Foundation (NEF)

Helping build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa through education, community organizing, and economic development

The Near East Foundation helps build more sustainable, prosperous, and inclusive communities in the Middle East and Africa through education, community organizing, and economic development.

For nearly 100 years, the Near East Foundation has pioneered innovative solutions to social and economic development challenges impacting communities throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Headquartered in Syracuse, NY, and engaged in a strategic partnership with Syracuse University, NEF is an operational non-governmental organization (NGO) with current programs in nine countries: Armenia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Palestine, Senegal,  Sudan, and Syria.

In these countries and throughout the region, we work with local partners to directly improve the lives of tens of thousands of vulnerable people each year through initiatives in sustainable agriculture, microenterprise development, women’s empowerment, civic education, and peacebuilding.

Latest news and articles

GRP Leadership Transition

Nathanial Matthews, CEO of GRP, shares an update about the next step in his career journey.

Advancing equity through food systems transformations

The Seeding equity in African food systems SARA working group shares their insights from a collaborative dialogue between development organisations and funding partners.

Embracing informality: A crucial element in crafting equitable urban resilience

Learn how the Southern African Resilience Academy’s Informality and Equitable Urban Resilience Working Group synthesised research and practice to examine how informality influences urban resilience.

Job opportunity: Senior Programme Manager for the Resilience Hub at COP29

We are looking for a consultant to manage the planning and operational delivery of the overall Resilience Hub programme for COP29. Apply by 05 March 2024.

Youth taking the lead: Reflections from the 2023 Asia Pacific Youth Environment Forum 

As next week marks the start of the sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) on 26 February, Rubina Adhikari from ICCCAD shares her reflections from last year's youth forum.