Maghreb Economic Forum

What Maghreb Economic Forum does

Maghreb Economic Forum (MEF) is an independent, non-profit Think-and-Do Tank founded in 2011 and headquartered in Tunis, Tunisia. It operates across the five countries of the Greater Maghreb — Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Morocco — producing policy research, convening civil society, government, and international development actors, and running programmatic initiatives on natural resources governance (Mushawarat), employment (Jobs for Tunisia), gender equality (3ESHRA), and radicalization and inclusion. Its core products are Research Corner publications (studies, policy papers, reflections), in-person and virtual events, podcasts distributed via Spotify and YouTube, and a digital platform (Bounoud.tn) launched in 2022.

MEF's business model is grant-funded and non-commercial: it does not charge for its research, publications, or events, and is primarily supported by a concentrated set of international foundations including the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Robert Bosch Stiftung, National Endowment for Democracy, IDRC, German Federal Foreign Office, Kamel Lazaar Foundation, and BMW Fondation. The organization is small — approximately 10 employees — with operational reach delivered through convening power, multi-channel multilingual publications, and partnerships rather than technology products. No proprietary technology, AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or commercial revenue streams are evidenced. The organization's go-to-market is community-led, engaging stakeholders through policy development processes, consultations, and inclusive dialogue rather than sales motions.

Material operational signal: the public website's most recent content (dated July 2026) consists of multilingual gambling/casino posts attributed to a single author handle, which is inconsistent with MEF's stated policy-research mission and suggests either site compromise, lapsed content governance, or a repurposing of the domain — a significant reputational risk factor that any investor or partner should verify before relying on the organization's digital footprint.

Name

Maghreb Economic Forum

Legal name

Maghreb Economic Forum

Website

https://magef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maghreb Economic Forum is a non-profit Think-and-Do Tank based in Tunis, working on economic and social development across the Greater Maghreb (Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco). It produces policy research, runs civic initiatives, and convenes civil society and government stakeholders, funded by international foundations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Think Tank Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ), Education Policy Research Institutes & Think Tanks (EDADADAA), Survey, Panel & Fieldwork Services (BPAHALAJ)

Keywords

• Policy research think tank
• Economic development consulting
• Social inclusion programs
• Civil society engagement
• Maghreb regional policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Tunis

HQ country

Tunisia

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grants and Funding: MEF receives support from international foundations and development organizations including Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Robert Bosch Stiftung, National Endowment for Democracy, International Development Research Centre, and others listed as partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Maghreb Economic Forum operates as a Think-and-Do Tank that produces policy research publications (Reflexions, Studies, Policy Papers), runs programmatic initiatives on radicalization, employment, gender equality, and natural resources governance, and convenes stakeholders across the five Maghreb countries through webinars, conferences, and inclusive consultations to support economic and social development.

Product overview

Maghreb Economic Forum operates as a Think-and-Do Tank focused on economic and social development in the Greater Maghreb region. The organization offers publications through its Reading Corner (studies, policy papers, reflexions), runs programmatic Initiatives (Radicalization and Inclusion, Jobs for Tunisia, 3ESHRA, Mushawarat), maintains a digital platform (Bounoud.tn), produces Podcasts distributed via Spotify and Anchor.fm, and organizes Events including webinars and conferences. The portfolio is structured around research publication and collaborative policy development rather than a traditional software product architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reading Corner

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked among TOP 100 MENA research centers in Global Go to Think Tanks Report 2018

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ACET for AfricaminorOthersAfrican Center for Economic Transformation partnership supporting economic development initiatives in Africa
• MitOstminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman organization promoting civil society exchange and development cooperation
• Association Tunisienne des Contrôleurs PublicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunisian association of public controllers supporting governance initiatives
• THEODOR HEUSS KOLLEGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgram supporting international dialogue and civil society engagement
• ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based organization supporting civil society and governance initiatives
• La Compagnie des phosphates de GafsacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-owned Tunisian phosphate company; MEF works with them on the Mushawarat project addressing natural resources governance in mining regions
• SwicorpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTunisian consulting firm providing expertise on economic development projects
• Global Project Partners e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman organization supporting international development projects

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Moroccan Institute for Policy Analysis (MIPA): Morocco-based independent think tank producing evidence-based policy research on economic and social development. Closely comparable in mission, regional focus, and operating model to MEF, though national rather than regional.
• Economic Research Forum (ERF): Cairo-based research network producing policy-oriented economic and social science research across the Arab world. Directly comparable to MEF in mission, regional scope, and policy-research output.
• Arab Reform Initiative: Independent Arab-world policy think tank producing research and convening on governance, economic and social reform across the MENA region. Closely comparable to MEF as a regional, non-university-affiliated, multi-country policy research organization.

Broad incumbents

• OECD Development Centre - MENA Office: OECD body producing economic research and policy advice for MENA countries. Comparable as a policy-research organization targeting the same region on economic-development themes, though as a multilateral rather than an independent think tank.
• Brookings Institution - MENA Programs: US-based global think tank with active MENA research programs including the Brookings Doha Center. Overlaps with MEF in producing economic-development and governance policy research for the region.
• Carnegie Middle East Center: Beirut-based arm of the Carnegie Endowment producing MENA policy research and analysis. Comparable as a MENA-focused think tank producing policy papers and convening, though significantly larger and globally resourced.
• German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP): Berlin-based policy research institute advising German government and the Bundestag on international affairs including MENA policy. Comparable as a policy-research organization, but anchored in Germany with broader geopolitical mandate.
• German Marshall Fund (GMF) - MENA: US/European policy institute with MENA programming on democratic development and economic reform. Comparable as a development-focused think tank operating in the same donor ecosystem as MEF.
• International Crisis Group - MENA Program: Global conflict-prevention organization with extensive MENA programming including Libya, Algeria and Tunisia coverage. Comparable in regional focus and policy-advisory mission, though primarily conflict-focused rather than economic-development focused.

Regional players

• Tunisian Institute for Strategic Studies (ITES): Tunisia-based national strategic-studies institute producing policy research. Comparable in research mandate and Tunis-based operations, but national rather than regional in scope.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Mef_ThinkDOTank
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzqpRiHDI67Ig-qYOSlfh0Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/Maghrebeconomicforum
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maghreb-economic-forum
• Instagraminstagram.com/mef_thinkdotank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maghreb Economic Forum