What is the main problem the project is seeking to address? We have long observed that legal practitioners, advocates and stateless people in the MENA region are largely operating in country-specific silos, often without much information about legal developments and arguments taking place in other countries in the region. By funding of the pilot project to operationalize a Legal Statelessness Data base for the MENA, UNHCR acted on the recognition of the idea that statelessness in the MENA region necessitates an approach grounded in robust analysis of publicly available data and sources of law. Without a clear understanding of the legal landscape and the specific challenges faced by stateless individuals and the advocates that support them, efforts to achieve reform and protect the rights of stateless persons remain constrained. Since August 2025, Hawiati has been working to address the absence of comprehensive legal background, that could power advocacy to end statelessness and serve as a one-stop reference for national laws, jurisprudence, and administrative practices. To fully serve its purpose as a teaching and advocacy tool, the statelessness legal database must now be introduced to legal actors and allies of people affected by statelessness across the entire region. As such, we will promote the existence of the database by holding consultations with relevant actors.

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What is the main change the project seeks to achieve? The project aims to transform the MENA Statelessness Legal Database from a technical resource into a regional platform for dialogue, collaboration, and policy design. Building on the pilot’s groundwork, the project seeks to create a space where lawyers, academics, policymakers, and stateless-led organizations can engage with real legal data to inform policy and practice. The envisioned change is twofold: From data to dialogue – The project will convene diverse stakeholders through workshops, consultations, and online forums, using the database as a shared evidence base to identify trends, test hypotheses, and co-design policy and advocacy strategies. From research to reform – By producing accessible teaching and training materials grounded in the database, the project will enable educators and practitioners to integrate real-world case law and jurisprudence into courses, advocacy campaigns, and legislative consultations. Ultimately, the change sought is a shift in how statelessness is understood and acted upon—from fragmented, anecdotal engagement to coordinated, evidence-based action that bridges research, teaching, and policy

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Who are the key partners? Lead Organization: Hawiati (the MENA Statelessness Network) - A member of the Global Alliance Key Partners: Lawyers involved in statelessness case work and advocacy, NGOs, participants from the former Regional Roundtables on statelessness held jointly by UNHCR, Hawiati and the Global Campaign for Equal Nationality Rights (GCENR).

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Who is the target population for this project? PrimaryStateless persons in the MENA region: These individuals are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project, as the legal reforms and advocacy campaigns aim to secure their rights, reduce and prevent statelessness, and improve their overall legal status and living conditions. This includes individuals at risk of statelessness and those whose nationality has been revoked. Lawyers and legal professionals in the MENA region: These are direct beneficiaries who will be equipped with enhanced knowledge, resources, and networks to engage in strategic litigation and advocacy on statelessness issues. The project will build their capacity to utilize case law effectively and contribute to legal reform.

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OtherCivil society organizations and stateless-led groups in the MENA region: These organizations will benefit from increased access to information, strengthened advocacy tools, and enhanced collaboration opportunities, enabling them to support stateless communities and advocate more effectively for policy change. Policymakers and government officials in the MENA region: While not direct beneficiaries, these stakeholders are a crucial secondary target, as the project's advocacy efforts and legal reform recommendations aim to influence their decisions and policies regarding nationality laws and statelessness. International community and regional governance mechanisms: The project's findings and advocacy will inform and influence international and regional bodies, contributing to a more coordinated and effective global response to statelessness.

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Funding and costs What is the total cost of this project?95,000 USD

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How much funding is needed?95,000 USD

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