Aswat is a place for voicing opinions. It is a place for sharing experiences. A place to gather practical information and resources for making politics and governments more responsive to citizens, transparent in operation and effective in delivering results that matter in people’s everyday lives.
The site is intended to promote dialogue and sharing on politics and reform across the Arabic-speaking world. Time and again, political activists—whether elected officials, political party leaders, civic representatives or journalists—have called for ways of connecting with their peers, recognizing that they have success stories, experiences and resources to share. Aswat provides a platform for like-minded people to explore reform topics at all levels and network together. Relying on the content that users provide, the site is a tool for activists to amplify their voices and forge solidarity in counter-balancing anti-democratic forces.
Aswat is envisioned as an online resource center that provides one-stop access to regional news; a comprehensive, multi-lingual library of documents and training manuals; and opportunities for direct dialogue, sharing and collaboration among users. The site promotes democratic values in its own operation, with open forums, blogs, commentaries and rating systems that allow for a full range of opinions. Over time, this portal can evolve into a virtual home for a growing network of reformers in the Middle East and North Africa, shaped by their needs and interests, and act as a repository for their experiences and resources over time.
Aswat is guided by input from a regional advisory board composed of reform leaders from many different sectors: media, political parties, academia, civil society. The development of the site has been based on input from activists and technology specialists across the Arabic-speaking world through focus groups, surveys and interviews. Input and advice from users will continue to guide on-going development to make the site as useful as possible.
The planning and development of the portal was facilitated initially by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a non-profit organization working to strengthen and expand democracy worldwide. NDI works with democrats in every region of the world to build political and civic organizations, safeguard elections and promote citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. Technological support and guidance was provided by Meadan, a non-profit organization whose mission is to advance global understanding and tolerance by providing people with new tools for online cross-cultural dialogue. Aswat has been developed with initial financial assistance from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).