DIRAIA

DIRAIA, ‘Knowledge’ in Arabic, short for “Developing Inclusive Research through Activism and Informed Advocacy,” is a comprehensive initiative addressing the knowledge gap on environmental activism in the MENA region. Focusing on Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, and Iraq, DIRAIA explores the dynamics, strategies, and resilience of environmental mobilization within the context of social justice and governance challenges.
Employing an action-oriented research design involving interviews, fieldwork, and case analysis, DIRAIA aims to provide practical insights for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers. The study emphasises collaboration and transnational peer learning among activists and researchers in the selected countries, addressing the critical lack of understanding regarding how environmental activism intersects with socio-economic disparities, governance structures, and ongoing conflicts in the MENA region.
This project is implemented by the Arab Reform Initiative and the Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA).
DIRAIA is funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
This project is part of IDRC’s efforts to support research on protecting climate activists and environmental defenders. It is part of a CAD6.8 million investment that supports eight research projects centred on the experiences of climate and environmental human rights defenders across the Global South