About Us

The Middle East Next Generation of Arms Control Specialists (MENCAS) Network develops and nurtures indigenous arms control, nonproliferation, and disarmament processes and expertise in the Middle East. The Network has a proven track record of over four years of collaborative, on-going projects of a unique nature in the region. It has an established expertise in matters of arms control, nonproliferation, and regional security, with a fresh perspective from within the region, and out-of-the-box thinking. Its members are committed to making a difference through cooperation across borders.

The Network is composed of emerging specialists in a variety of fields and backgrounds from throughout the region. Our specialists have expertise in a range of nonproliferation and regional security issues, with an emphasis on weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, chemical), arms control, and disarmament. They have experience working in academia, think tanks, governments, and international organizations.

Considering the continued and growing threat of weapons of mass destruction throughout the region, and the fact that collaborative endeavors in the region on these issues are rare, the Network has a unique track record of bringing together specialists from the region who are committed to working together and contributing to a more secure and peaceful climate in the region. The Network works around projects identified, managed, and executed by its members.

The MENACS Network aims to develop a regional approach to arms control and nonproliferation through:

  • Regional dialogue: Create protected space where dialogue among local young experts can take place on regional security issues. Such a dialogue among Middle Eastern arms control experts exists nowhere else.
  • Capacity building: develop indigenous human resources, academic programs, and expertise; create a community of peers and future negotiators to support a sustainable arms control culture, treaty compliance, and a future regional arms control process.
  • Collaborative endeavors: working cooperatively on jointly-developed projects to advance the Network’s goals and take the dialogue that has been established to another level.
  • Knowledge dissemination: The free flow of information and the empowerment to scrutinize current policies in an informed manner provides a much needed support for public involvement and influencing government policies.
  • Teaching by example: fostering win-win cooperative security solutions to pressing inter-regional threats.