Apply to be part of the five Joint Study Groups 2021 dealing with priority issues on the Euro-Mediterranean policy agenda such as:
In its Joint Communication on a Renewed Partnership with the Southern Neighbourhood released in February 2021, the European Commission sets out a new Agenda for a “green, digital, resilient and just recovery, guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and the European Green Deal.” This Policy Study will offer a valuable and original contribution to the discussions on how Southern Mediterranean countries could benefit from the growth of the green economy, focusing on possible side-effects the green transition may have for those countries.
Boosting Social Protection Reforms in the MENA Region
Framed by the European Commission’s new Agenda for the Mediterranean as a key pillar of “an economy that works for people”, social protection systems in the Southern Neighbourhood have been highly challenged by COVID-19. The Policy Study will take stock of the pre-pandemic social protection systems in the region, analyse the social protection responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, and explore how the current crisis can be turned into an opportunity to reshape them in a more inclusive way to target particularly vulnerable groups such as workers in the informal economy, women and youth.
Over the years Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia have progressively turned from being countries of origin of migration into transit and destination countries for people coming from sub-Saharan Africa prominently, thus turning into key actors of migration governance. This Policy Study will offer a comparative perspective of the cooperation dynamics at play for the three countries with their West African partners in the field of migration governance. It will also inform on the remaining gaps of research on this topic and look closely at issues such as border management cooperation between Maghreb countries and their Western African neighbours, the state of play of migrant workers’ rights and conditions in Maghreb countries, integration of West African diasporas in these host countries and the impacts on the countries of origin.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, pre-existing trends and debates related to digital transformation have gained traction and intensity, including in the MENA context. The Policy Study will examine the current state of play of how the use of computational power, data, algorithms, and other techniques associated with AI is already a reality in law enforcement, criminal justice and security agencies in the MENA region. It will also assess the potential of Artificial Intelligence to address security threats, in particular in relation to border management and counter-terrorism.
Assessing the Job Creation Potential of Social Economy in the MENA Region
Social economy has been increasingly on the spotlight over the last years. It is also seen as a promising paradigm in the MENA region and in the context of EU cooperation with its southern neighbours to boost socio-economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.This study will elaborate on the job creation potential of social economy in the MENA region, with a focus on vulnerable groups, with a particular emphasis on young people and will also examine the opportunities it offers for youth employment and how young people can contribute to the growth of the sector in the region.
The Joint Study Groups will carry out their activities over a period of 6-7 months to produce five Policy Studies including evidence-based policy recommendations.
Each group will be composed of four Authors, including a Coordinator, respecting geographical, gender and generational balance, as stated in the Terms of Reference.
Applications will be open until 18 June (included).
Learn more here.
