Safir: a new project to support 15 Southern Mediterranean media sector initiatives led by young people

Safir is implemented by a consortium of partners: the Institut français; the French media development agency, CFI; the Francophone University Association (AUF); the Tunisian and Lebanese incubators, Lab'ess and Pitchworthy; and the non-governmental organisation, Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND). Its budget amounts to €6.25 million over 4 years.

The project will be rolled out from March 2020 in 7 countries: Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Jordan. It also applies to Libyan and Syrian nationals.

Safir is both an extension and a profound restructuring of the SafirLab project launched by the Institut Français and CFI in 2012 at the request of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. This project stems from the observation that lasting civic engagement from young people in the Southern Neighbourhood cannot be achieved without their economic and social inclusion. It therefore places the creation of a favourable ecosystem, in which young people can develop entrepreneurial projects with social, cultural and environmental impact, at the heart of its approach. In this regard, it encourages active civic participation of young people in the countries concerned, while at the same time helping to achieve sustainable development objectives in the area.

The methodological and financial assistance offered by Safir to the young men and women leading associative or entrepreneurial projects hinges on the consolidation of the essential structures required to give them the support they need: incubators, higher education establishments, civil society organisations, media.

As part of the Safir project, CFI will support young people who wish to develop projects in the media sector. 15 media projects will be selected in due course and will benefit from financial support.

Finally, Safir is engaged in increasing the regional mobility of all its beneficiaries and aims to intensify the dialogue between young people, local authorities and policy makers by supporting advocacy activities. Particular attention is paid to gender equality, to marginalised young people and to projects taking place outside of the capitals.