Organizational Background

The Arab Economic Forum (AEF) is a non-profit institute established in 2012 that implements projects that aim to lead to a substantial change in the economic and social status of Arab society in Israel and accompanies those projects with evaluation and socio-economic policy research of Arab society in Israel.

The Forum is directed by a Board of Trustees composed of academics and well-known Jewish and Arab public figures from Israel and from abroad which sets the policy of the Center, approves its programs and its budget, and supervises the implementation of programs. The AEF has no party or sectarian affiliation.

Vision and Theory of Change

The Forum envisions a future characterized by equality of opportunity and economic prosperity for Arab citizens of Israel. Such a fundamental change necessitates action at the level of the Israeli government, local authorities, businesses, and individual households. Guided by rigorous research and analysis, the AEF seeks to supply each of these stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and tools required to advance socio-economic equality. Accordingly, in addition to producing original, evidence-based research on the socio-economic conditions in the Arab community, the AEF issues and promotes policy recommendations for local and national state actors; provides consultations, trainings, and networking opportunities to support Arab local authorities and businesses; and coordinates workshops to equip individuals—particularly women and youth—with skills in financial management and entrepreneurship.

The Forum’s Objectives

• To promote local and national policies that more effectively contribute to the development and economic growth of the Arab society through the application of the Forum’s research findings and recommendations in policymaking circles
• To foster improved communication and cooperation among stakeholders working in areas related to socioeconomic development, including academics, businesspeople, policymakers, local authorities, and the banking sector, so that they can work together to identify problems, devise solutions, and form partnerships in order to more effectively contribute to the socio-economic development of the Arab society
• To build public support for more equitable socio-economic policies through the dissemination of the Forum’s findings regarding the socio-economic conditions in the Arab community
• To promote and strengthen entrepreneurship and technological innovation in the Arab community through workshops, enrichment seminars and networking programs
• To develop relations with academics working in fields related to economics and sociology in order to attract and recruit talented researchers to leverage their skills to contribute to a better understanding of socio-economic challenges facing the Arab community
• To strengthen the financial management capacities of Arab individuals and households through trainings and the dissemination of tailored
• To foster peer-to-peer learning among Arab businesspeople through the coordination of the Club of Arab Businesspeople
• To enhance socio-economic research capacities in the Arab community

The Arab Business Club

In order to advance the socioeconomic standing of the Arab community, the AEF seeks to strengthen Arab businesses and entrepreneurs. To this end, the AEF established the Arab Businessmen and Women Club in 2017 with the aim of fostering engagement and cooperation between Arab businesspeople from various industries. The Arab Business Club aims to promote the following goals:

• To increase the volume of Arab production and economic activity through the development and promotion of plans and mechanisms to further economic activity, as well as the development and promotion of practical solutions to eliminate obstacles to the development of the Arab economy
• To promote joint projects that take into account the comparative advantage and the existing resources in the various sectors of the Arab community
• To formulate a common position for Arab businesspeople through which they can more effectively propose solutions to obstacles to economic growth and advance their interests before state and financial institutions
• Building the capacities of Arab entrepreneurs through the development and dissemination of of tools and resources and the coordination of trainings and consultations so that they have the knowledge and skills needed to grow their businesses
• To promote more participation and representation of the Arab Businesspeople in local and international events and forums

The Forum’s Main Activities

• Conducting theoretical and applied research in economics, sociology, and related fields
• Issuing an annual report entitled “Monitoring of the socio-economic situation of Arabs in the country.” The objective of this report is to provide comprehensive data and analysis on the level of socio-economic development in the community, including areas requiring attention such as education, employment, local authorities, poverty and housing
• Organizing conferences, seminars and workshops to present research projects and discuss their results with the active participation of policymakers, businesspeople, and academics
• Systematically and continuously monitoring social and economic developments in the Arab community in order to identify initial trends and predict future developments
• Disseminating the findings of the Forum’s reports and studies through a dedicated website (http://arab-forum.org) aimed at increasing public awareness of socio-economic conditions in the Arab community and equipping local authorities, civil society organizations, and policymakers with resources to more effectively advance economic growth in the Arab community
• Coordinating with stakeholders such as the Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Finance.
• Creating scientific reference lists and databases that contain economic and social data that cater to the needs of Arab researchers.
• Creating a training program for young researchers to enhance local research skills and integrate them into the center’s research programs.
• Holding coaching and mentoring workshops for businesspeople in cooperation with professional entities, such as the Stock Exchange, the Israeli Securities Authority, the Israeli Association of Business Managers, and the Israeli Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
• Establishing research teams with specific goals that seek to solve the most pressing economic problems in Arab society, chief among them poverty and crime.