With all due respect to CIPE’s other partners, surely the coolest workspace in the CIPE family today is located in Saida, Lebanon. The innovative space, called El Moltaqa (“The Gathering”), is the new home of the Development of People and Nature Association (DPNA). El Moltaqa is not merely an office for DPNA’s dedicated staff, it is a focal point for civic engagement in the community.
In its first decade of existence, DPNA has become a highly-respected convening authority for a range of local stakeholders from the private sector, civil society, public officials from the local and national levels, young activists, and others representing the diverse fabric of Lebanese society.
Unfortunately, that fabric is frayed due to a highly volatile geopolitical situation, which makes a place like El Moltaqa all the more vital. It is a sanctuary where people from every religion, sect, ethnicity, and political persuasion can feel safe. Through a rich array of cultural and educational offerings, El Moltaqa provides the community with a place to engage respectfully in democratic dialog and debate about the most important issues of the day.
In its new home, DPNA hosts poetry readings and exhibitions, a library of resources including civic education guidebooks developed with CIPE’s support, training and capacity-building programs including those of the Entrance to Enterprise (E2E) Alumni Network that CIPE supports, and meeting space for other civil society organizations… not to mention the best coffee shop in town!
DPNA has created a workspace which is more than an office; it is a model for civic engagement. May it long be filled with healthy debate, respectful dialogue, and plenty of laughter. Mabrouk!
Stephen Rosenlund is a Program Officer for the Middle East & North Africa at CIPE.
