THE MAGHREB CENTER is an independent, volunteer-driven, non-profit educational and research organization (501-C3) based in Washington DC that concentrates on North African political, economic, social and cultural affairs. It was formed in 2006 as an academic think tank by U.S. scholars and development practitioners focused on North Africa, with counterparts in the region.
The Center’s mission is to increase knowledge and understanding of the five countries of North Africa, also known as the Maghreb: Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia; as well as those of the Maghreb-Sahel region.
Although considered part of the Arab world, and sometimes Africa, the Maghreb has its own specificities, often overlooked in the United States. To help communicate these, the Maghreb Center organizes various events, such as conferences, seminars, lectures and round-tables on current political and economic issues. Programs are open to the public, and feature US and regional experts, development practitioners, foreign policy specialists, and representatives of US and governments from the region and civil society.
The Center seeks to strenghthen educational and other ties between the US and the Maghreb countries, and to contribute to the economic development of the region by providing socioeconomic development-related research to domestic and international organizations.
The Center conducts research and issues free online publications, including Thematic Dossiers, the Maghreb Center Blog and the Maghreb Center Student Blog.
The Maghreb Center is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion*. For its funding, the Center relies on its members’ contributions, donations and research grants.
Map from the “Union du Maghreb Arabe” website
