Name of Initiative: Coexistence Network Goal: Strengthen The Coexistence Field and Increase Public and Media Awareness of Jewish-Arab Coexistence and Equality In cooperation with: The Citizen’s Accord Forum Activities: Information exchange, dissemination of research, trends and activities in the field amongst member  organizations and with wider population through workshops and website and Network Directory; Professional development, enrichment and support of organizations through training and study days, conferences; Coordination of local, regional and national coexistence activities initiated by members

Background and Significance:

The Jewish-Arab coexistence movement has come a long way in the last 15 years.  What was once just a handful of projects and a few individuals has become a field of over 150 organizations leading the path towards coexistence.  Despite the growth of coexistence activity, these organizations still operate mostly at the local level with little day-to-day interaction and coordination between each other, and practitioners still work without the professional training necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of their projects or organizations. The lack of contact between organizations and projects resulted in feelings of isolation for coexistence workers and prevented them from learning from the successes, failures, and innovations of their peers.  The lack of professional training has left many practitioners without technological skills like Internet and email, and without the means to raise awareness and funds for their work, for example.

For these reasons, in 2001 THE ABRAHAM FUND INITIATIVES and the Citizen’s Accord Forum co-initiated and sponsored The Coexistence Network—a multi-year project that unites, supports and professionalizes coexistence practitioners and organizations across Israel.  Since its launch four years ago, The Coexistence Network has mapped the field of coexistence activity and built a membership of 166 organizations, providing them with support, thematic seminars (e.g. exploring different models of coexistence education, a study day on Northern Ireland, etc.), and professional training (e.g. in the areas of improving media coverage and PR, fundraising, technology (computer and Internet), program evaluation, etc.)  A communal website has also been developed for member use at www.coexnet.org.il.

While maintaining these essential services, the Network now also aims to enable its membership to act together as an organized, coordinated body exerting a significant societal force for the advocacy and promotion of cooperation, coexistence and equality among Jews and Arabs in Israel.  To achieve this, the Network will focus in two main areas:

1) Creating a synergy and coordination between the member organizations, and
2) Further professionalizing the coexistence field.

Objectives for 2005-06 include:

• Form a member-based leadership committee for the Coexistence Network which will meet regularly to plan strategic directions and activity for the committee and the Network membership as a whole.
• Create forums (task teams) of organizations operating in a defined geographical area or work fields (e.g. the Northern Region, the Negev, the Central Region, and the Jerusalem Region) and convene monthly facilitated forum meetings, hosted by each participating organization, by rotation which will address the following subjects:
  * Presentation of the organizations
  * Familiarization with the Coexistence Network and the services it provides
  * Mapping the domain and its principal players
  * Mapping the needs for strengthening the common goals of the organizations
  * Formulation of a platform for coordinated action in the field
  * Specific issues related to organization empowerment
• Develop and advance frameworks for the education of coexistence professionals potentially including a) thematic seminars, b) training workshops, c) a social programs management course, and d) the development of an accredited course in coexistence.
• Establish and intensify inter-organizational coordination and communication to work more collaboratively on projects of mutual interest and need.