Overview
The National State Academy (NSA) is an academic and research institution committed to advancing a shared national identity through the promotion of active citizenship and the institutionalization of democratic participation that transcends regions, sectarian affiliations, and sectoral divisions.
The National State Academy is a flagship initiative of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, translating the Foundation’s founding mission of state-building into civic innovation, community empowerment, and developmental practice.
Programs
The National State Academy operationalizes its mission through a structured set of programs, including forums, educational and engagement programs, and sector-specific programs across a wide range of themes and sectors. Together, these domains constitute an integrated model that combines scientific inquiry, participatory learning, and co-productive mechanisms to advance interdisciplinary research and contribute to both local reform and global knowledge production.
Forums
NSA forums function as institutionalized platforms for national dialogue, collective reflection, and policy interpretation. They provide spaces for structured readings, sectoral analysis, and evidence-based deliberation on Lebanon’s foundational texts and strategic directions. Designed as co-learning environments, the forums convene citizens, scholars, and policymakers to interrogate commitments, identify systemic gaps, and co-develop actionable frameworks.
Educational & Engagement Programs
NSA’s educational portfolio combines academic rigor, participatory pedagogy, and experiential civic engagement. These programs are designed to capacitate institutions, organizations, and individuals with the analytical and practical tools necessary to practice democracy, address complexity, and advance the theory and practice of citizenship.
Sectoral Programs
NSA’s sectoral programs deploy research methodologies, assessment tools, and co-productive approaches to address Lebanon’s developmental challenges. These initiatives actively contribute to the production, interpretation, and dissemination of international, regional, and national assessments, reports, and guidelines, situating Lebanon within global scholarly and policy debates.
Featured Projects
Session on “Urban Co-Production”
The Hariri Foundation’s National State Academy organized a session titled “Urban Co-production” in partnership with Beirut Arab University – Faculty of Architecture (Design and Built Environment) at the academy’s headquarters […]
Readings in the Inaugural Speech
The election of President Joseph Aoun on January 9, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s history—restoring hope, reaffirming national unity, and laying the foundation for institutional recovery and a […]
IB Day: Mindful Education for Tomorrow
Under the patronage of Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr. Rima Karami, and with the support of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development, the Association of IB World […]
Saida Discusses the Ministerial Statement
A National Dialogue Platform within the National State Forum In alignment with its mission to promote inclusive dialogue and participatory governance, the National State Forum at the Hariri Foundation launched […]
The First Forum for Preventing Violent Extremism
On the occassion of the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Rafic Hariri the founder of the Hariri Foundation — and in conjunction with the International Day for the Prevention […]
Center & Geographic Reach
The National State Academy operates across the entirety of the geographical scope covered by the Hariri Foundation. While most programs are run across global, regional, and national landscapes, a special campus is designated for academy operations and management in the city where the Hariri Foundation was first incepted, Saida.
The NSA Center is integrated within the Rafic Hariri High School complex, situated at the northern entrance to the city of Saida. The center includes a multipurpose assembly hall, a grand theater, along with multiple office and conference spaces and their amenities.
Partnerships
The National State Academy engages in a wide ecosystem of partnerships, networks, and frameworks built on genuine reciprocity. This ecosystem is made possible through the genuine partnerships and platforms that the Hariri Foundation has built over more than four decades.
This ecosystem capitalizes on both human capital and social capital, as it engages with committed institutions and curious citizens, ensuring continuous dialogue and interdisciplinary knowledge capture aligned both with global agendas and local contexts.
National Partnerships
Collaboration with ministries, municipalities, universities, syndicates, and NGOs to institutionalize dialogue and ensure broad uptake of research outcomes
International Engagement
Collaboration and association with global and regional frameworks, including but not limited to UN Plan of Action for the Prevention of Violent Extremism, UN Agenda 2030, Pact for the Future, UNEP environmental and sustainability frameworks
Knowledge Co-production
Convening academic institutions, civic actors, and policymakers in joint research, deliberative planning, and participatory evaluation
