The Arab Forum for Environment and Development

What The Arab Forum for Environment and Development does

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) is a not-for-profit regional NGO founded in 2008 and headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon, that produces independent expert analysis and policy advocacy on environmental issues across the 22 Arab countries. Its core output is the annual State of Arab Environment report series, launched in 2008, which has produced 14 reports covering climate change, water, energy, food security, ecological footprint, green economy, sustainable development financing, environmental education, and health. Each report is anchored at an annual international conference that convenes 600+ delegates from 45+ countries, with livestreamed sessions reaching 1.5+ million social followers. AFED also publishes the monthly Environment and Development magazine, the AFED Highlights e-bulletin, and a School Education Handbook, and operates thematic programs on policy, awareness and education, and green economy / corporate environmental responsibility.

AFED's technology footprint is conventional rather than platform-based: a public website (afedonline.org) hosts free downloadable reports, while distribution is amplified through partner universities, UN agencies (UNEP, UNESCO, ESCWA, WHO CEHA), and regional convening bodies such as the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees chaired by Dr. Adnan Badran, with Najib Saab as Secretary General. Revenue is generated through organizational membership fees and institutional funding and partnerships, with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) historically serving as a core sponsor; no commercial pricing, API, or software product exists. AFED's 2020 operations were disrupted by the Beirut port explosion and Lebanon's financial crisis, which reduced funding from traditional partners, but the organization has continued publishing and convening through at least 2023.

Name

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development

Legal name

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development

Website

https://afedonline.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) is a not-for-profit regional NGO founded in 2008 in Beirut that produces annual reports on the Arab environment and convenes policymakers, universities, civil society, and media across 22 Arab countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research and Policy Advocacy

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental Compliance & Permitting (BPAHAJAA), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

Keywords

• Environmental policy research
• Sustainable development advocacy
• Annual environmental reports
• Green economy consulting
• Environmental education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Beirut

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: AFED operates as a not-for-profit regional NGO, grouping experts with civil society, business community and media. Membership fees from organizational members support operations.
2. Institutional Funding and Partnerships: Funding from institutional partners and sponsors including organizations like the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS)

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AFED is a not-for-profit regional NGO that produces authoritative annual reports on the State of Arab Environment, hosts annual international conferences in Beirut, and publishes the pan-Arab Environment and Development magazine. The organization convenes experts, governments, civil society, business, and media across 22 Arab countries to advance environmental policy, sustainable development, and environmental education.

Product overview

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) is a regional non-governmental organization focused on environmental advocacy and research across the Arab region. AFED operates as a content and advocacy organization rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists primarily of annual state-of-environment reports published since 2008, an annual international conference series, the Environment and Development Magazine (a pan-Arab publication), and monthly AFED Highlights bulletins. AFED also delivers educational programs including a Policy Program monitoring Arab environmental conditions, an Awareness & Education Program promoting environmental literacy, and a Green Economy/Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program. The organization does not offer a software product, API, or technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Environment and Development Magazine: AFED's pan-Arab environmental magazine published monthly

Products and services

• State of Arab Environment Annual Reports Annual reports on the State of Arab Environment, covering topics such as climate change, water, energy, food security, ecological footprint, green economy, sustainable development financing, and environmental education. Published annually since 2008 for governments, policymakers, academics, civil society, and the public.
• AFED Annual International Conferences Annual international conferences bringing together experts, policymakers, civil society, business, and media across the Arab region to discuss environmental challenges. The 2020 conference on Health and the Environment attracted 600+ delegates from 45+ countries.
• Environment and Development Magazine A leading pan-Arab environmental magazine covering environmental issues, sustainable development, and green economy topics relevant to the Arab region.
• AFED Highlights Monthly E-Bulletin Monthly electronic bulletin providing news and updates on AFED activities, environmental developments, and regional environmental news.
• School Education Handbook for Environmental Education Environmental education handbook designed for school curricula in Arab countries, providing comprehensive guidance on integrating sustainability into education.
• State of Arab Environment Policy Program AFED's flagship program that monitors and reports on environmental conditions across Arab countries and advocates for policy reform, delivering the annual State of Arab Environment report series.
• Awareness and Education Program Program focused on raising environmental awareness and promoting environmental education integration in Arab educational systems, producing the School Education Handbook and the 2019 environmental education report.
• Green Economy and Corporate Environmental Responsibility Program Program promoting green economy transition and corporate environmental responsibility practices across Arab businesses, including the 2011 Green Economy report.

Quantifiable outcome

• 600+ delegates from 45 countries participated in AFED 2020 virtual conference
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• American University of Beirut (AUB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2020AUB served as the conference host for AFED's 13th annual conference on Health and the Environment in November 2020. Faculty of Health Sciences at AUB coordinated research contributions to the Health and Environment report.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020WWF Director General Marco Lambertini delivered the opening keynote speech at AFED's 2020 conference, addressing the relationship between nature destruction and human health.
• WHO Regional Centre for Environmental Health Action (CEHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020WHO CEHA provided content contributions to AFED's Health and the Environment report, focusing on environmental health risks in the Arab region.
• ESCWA (Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESCWA collaborated with AFED on multiple initiatives including the Arab Energy Forum and expert group meetings on green technology investments and sustainable financing.
• UNESCO Regional Office for EducationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNESCO's Regional Office for Education collaborated with AFED on integrating environment and sustainability into Arab education systems, with joint work on the environmental education report.
• Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFED participates in the MCSD Steering Committee as a member, contributing to Mediterranean sustainable development strategy evaluation and updates.
• Arabian Gulf UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Bahrain, under President Dr. Riyad Hamzah, collaborated with AFED on analyzing environmental education at Arab universities, covering 57 universities across 22 Arab countries.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFED Secretary General Najib Saab serves on the High Level Group overseeing the Global Environment Outlook (GEO) process. AFED reports were used in UNEP regional assessments.
• Union for the MediterraneanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed case studies to AFED's environmental education report.
• Islamic Development BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed case studies to AFED's environmental education report.
• Environment Agency Abu DhabiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerContributed case studies to AFED's environmental education report.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• World Resources Institute (WRI): WRI is a global environmental research organization producing flagship data-driven reports (e.g., CAIT, Climate Watch) used by policymakers. Like AFED, it combines independent research, policy analysis, and convening to influence environmental decision-making, though its geographic scope is global rather than Arab-region specific.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): IUCN is a global environmental union producing regional assessments and convening governments and civil society on nature, biodiversity, and sustainability. Comparable to AFED in its membership-based, expert-driven, policy-influencing model and its role in producing authoritative regional environmental reports.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): WWF is a major international environmental NGO that produces region-specific environmental analysis and partners with AFED (Director General delivered the AFED 2020 keynote). WWF competes for similar institutional donor funding and audience attention in the environmental advocacy space.
• Arab Thought Foundation: Arab Thought Foundation produces annual FIKR reports on strategic issues facing the Arab world, and AFED recently contributed a main chapter to the 14th FIKR Report (July 2026). Direct peer in convening Arab-region intellectual discourse through flagship annual reports.

Broad incumbents

• UN Environment Programme (UNEP): UNEP is the global authority on environmental policy and produces regional and global environmental assessments, including the Global Environment Outlook series in which AFED's Secretary General participates. It is a direct functional peer for state-of-environment reporting and convening, but operates globally with substantially larger resources.
• European Environment Agency (EEA): The EEA produces authoritative regional state-of-environment reporting (e.g., 'State and Outlook of the Environment' reports) for Europe, providing the structural template AFED has emulated for the Arab region. Comparable in mission (independent environmental assessment), though operating under EU governance rather than as an NGO.

Regional players

• Gulf Research Center (GRC): GRC is a regional research organization producing analysis and reports on political, economic, and environmental issues affecting the Gulf and broader Arab region. Comparable as a regionally-focused think tank producing authoritative analysis for policymakers in the same geographies AFED serves.

Emerging players

• Climate Action Tracker (CAT): CAT is an independent scientific body producing country-level climate policy assessments that influence international negotiations. AFED's 2009 climate report had similar influence on Arab negotiators. Comparable as an independent expert-driven environmental policy analysis organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/afedonline
• Facebookfacebook.com/AFEDonline

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Arab Forum for Environment and Development