The Arab Alternatives Forum for Social Studies (AFA) is one of the leading research institutions in the SWANA region, providing alternative spaces and discourses and proposing alternative policies. Through them a community of researchers in the region exists that adopts scientific methodologies in social sciences as a means to achieving social justice, democracy, and political and socio-economic freedoms.
AFA runs a program on social justice and inequality which promotes principles of social justice through analyzing the different aspects of inequality in the region and formulating a vision based on an alternative economy that is founded on principles of justice, participation, and sovereignty. As part of its Social Justice Program, AFA has worked extensively to produce evidence-based knowledge on topics such as alternative economies, social justice, social protection, and socioeconomic disparities. Since its establishment, AFA has published a wide range of materials, all available on its website. Notable recent publications include Alternative Economy in the Arab Region: Issues and Alternatives, A training guide on social protection in the Arab region, A series of policy papers on alternative economic models in the region. Beyond publications, AFA has developed a collection of short videos that present training and educational content on various topics, including climate justice and social protection. These videos are available on their YouTube channel under the program playlist. Additionally, as part of one of its initiatives, AFA launched the Social Justice in Arabic portal, a comprehensive resource for Arabic-language materials on social justice and related topics. AFA has also established a network of young researchers specializing in economic and social rights from six Arab countries, collaborating to advocate for and influence policies on economic and social rights across the region.
