Formed in 2010, the Middle East Advocacy and Research Center (MARC) encourages and supports active civic participation through the promotion of transparency and accountability. The specific objectives of MARC include:

• sensitizing individuals from various backgrounds on issues that directly affect them;
• to create dialogue in rural areas between communities, utilizing a human rights based approach;
• to support and establish independent citizen initiatives;
• to advocate for socioeconomic and environmental alternatives to local, regional, and national level problems
• to harness new forms of media to raise awareness about grassroots initiatives being implemented; and
• to build capacity of civil society organizations.

MARC holds the following core values: 1) dialogue and awareness are essential for achieving coexistence and diversity within communities; and 2) freedom of expression, association, and belief are the foundations of vibrant and healthy society.