Why Us:
Our Experience, Our Values, and What We Stand For

At MENA-can, we don’t just talk about change — we live it, every day, alongside the communities we serve. 

With years of hands-on experience working in some of the region’s most fragile and overlooked places, we understand what it takes to turn ideas into action, and challenges into opportunities. Our team brings together deep local knowledge, a network built on trust, and a passion for empowering people to lead their own solutions. 

We stand for hope over fear, collaboration over isolation, and dignity and rights for all. 

We believe in nurturing local talent, amplifying unheard voices, and building an ecosystem where everyone can contribute and thrive. Simply put: we are driven by the conviction that when people are trusted, supported, and connected, they can transform not just their own lives but the future of their communities — and together, our region.

Our work is firmly grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These shared global values are not just guiding principles—they are the foundation of our purpose.

They inspire every step we take toward building a MENA region anchored in humanity, solidarity, and dignity—where rights are respected, development is inclusive, and no one is left behind. They push us to think beyond short-term fixes and to work toward long-term, systemic change that uplifts both people and planet.

 
 

In essence, our focus can be encapsulated in several key principles:          

  •  Human rights and the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have dedicated ourselves to transforming these values from ideals into lived realities.
  • Inclusive of all: No one should be ever left behind. True peace and justice can only be achieved with the participation of everyone. We want to do more for people who are the most marginalised, these are often communities in remote regions, women, people with disabilities, minorities and migrants.
  • Gender transformative: Invest in women and you change the world. Women are the greatest change maker. We have a gender transformative approach that we mainstream across all our work.

  • Inspiring optimism. We can do it! The tremendous resilience of local communities to thrive, have instilled within us an unshakeable belief in a brighter future – if only we care, trust and commit. It is a contagious and transformative energy that we want to spread far, loud and wide.
  • Community-Centric: MENA-can is by and for the people it serves. People know their realities better than anyone—we are here to walk beside them, listen deeply, and support them in bringing their own solutions to life.
  • The power of exchange and learning: Knowledge and people are power. We foster a collaborative community, encouraging mutual support and continuous learning among all involved.