In May 2021, Dr. Martin Accad, founder of Action Research Associates, was mandated by the Forum for Memory and Future (FMF) and with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to facilitate the development of a strategic plan for the movement, entitled: “Strategy for Dealing with the Past in Lebanon.” One of the objectives of FMF, which includes fourteen organizations, is to advance various issues related to dealing with the past in Lebanon, as it ultimately seeks to lead Lebanon from the brink of collapse to a state of reconciled citizens by healing the wounds of the past. As Dr. Accad led the FMF through a process of strategizing, a strategic plan took shape, which included the following recommendations for the forum:
- Establish a Strategy Task Force to give direction to the FMF by setting and regularly recalibrating priorities,
- FMF as a Think Tank: Establish a Research Task Force that makes the FMF into an authority regarding Dealing with the Past in Lebanon that shapes the national discourse,
- FMF as a Pressure Group: Establish a Political Task Force to manage lobbying activities to lead to national change.
In line with the vision and work of Action Research Associates, and after the issuance of the report of Dr. Accad on a strategy for dealing with the past, Action Research Associates joined the Forum for Memory and Future, hoping to be an active member contributing to a better future for Lebanon.
