Doha & Geneva – 16 December 2025 – Grounded in a shared commitment to strengthening the protection of civilians in conflict-affected areas, Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) and the Center for Humanitarian and Conflict Studies (CHS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a strategic partnership to advance civilian protection, peacebuilding, and humanitarian action across the Middle East and beyond. The agreement outlines a comprehensive framework for collaboration that brings together CIVIC’s global operational experience with CHS’s leadership in research, policy engagement, and regional convening power.
The MoU commits CIVIC and CHS to jointly advancing civilian protection and evidence-based policymaking through collaborative research, policy analysis, and advocacy. The partnership will generate policy briefs, analytical reports, and other publications, and will disseminate these findings through regional and international platforms. As outlined in the MoU, the collaboration will also support the promotion of humanitarian diplomacy, ensuring that civilian protection remains central to regional and global policy conversations.
It also deepens operational cooperation, including the co-development of trainings for humanitarian actors and government partners on protection strategies and humanitarian norms. Both organizations will exchange lessons learned and share best practices to strengthen conflict analysis, humanitarian response, and innovation in civilian protection.
“This partnership marks a significant step in our shared mission to ensure civilians are protected amid the devastating impacts of conflict,” said Hichem Khadhraoui, Executive Director of CIVIC. “By combining CIVIC’s long-standing operational experience with CHS’s regional academic reach, we will build a bridge between frontline action and informed research to empower practitioners in conflict zones and amplify the voices of affected communities.”
Dr. Ghassan El‑Kahlout, Director of CHS, commented: “We are proud to work with CIVIC in this shared endeavour. The MoU reflects our commitment to advancing critical scholarship on modern conflicts, and to connecting that scholarship to real-world protection practice. Our collaboration will generate evidence, drive policy dialogues, and ultimately improve the way the humanitarian sector addresses civilian harm.”
About the Organizations
Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international humanitarian NGO dedicated to protecting civilians in conflict.
We work with affected communities, armed actors, and decision makers to prevent and respond to harm to civilians and make their protection a global priority.
The Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies (CHS), established in 2016, is one of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies Programs focuses on producing in-depth research, building specialized capacities, and guiding policies aimed at promoting peace and resolving conflicts through diverse and multi-track dialogues.
Media Contact:
Hajer Naili, Director of Communications, CIVIC – [email protected], WhatsApp: +19178895982
