<s>
ma3bar	B-Application
( معبر	O
)	O
is	O
the	O
Arab	O
Support	O
Center	O
for	O
Free	B-Application
and	I-Application
Open	I-Application
Source	I-Application
Software	I-Application
( المركز	O
العربي	O
لدعم	O
البرمجيات	O
الحرة	O
والمفتوحة	O
المصدر	O
)	O
initiated	O
by	O
UNESCO	O
and	O
UNDP-ICTDAR	O
and	O
hosted	O
by	O
The	O
University	O
of	O
Balamand	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
center	O
's	O
main	O
goals	O
are	O
to	O
develop	O
FOSS	B-License
awareness	O
and	O
to	O
encourage	O
FOSS	B-License
use	O
and	O
development	O
in	O
the	O
Arab	O
Region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
target	O
groups	O
for	O
the	O
Center	O
are	O
Universities	O
,	O
Research	O
Centers	O
and	O
Governmental	O
Institutions	O
all	O
over	O
the	O
Arab	O
Region	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
Arab	O
FOSS	B-License
communities	O
and	O
interested	O
agencies	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
United	O
Nations	O
Educational	O
,	O
Scientific	O
,	O
and	O
Cultural	O
Organization	O
(	O
UNESCO	O
)	O
,	O
and	O
the	O
United	O
Nations	O
Development	O
Program	O
–	O
Information	O
and	O
Communication	O
Technology	O
for	O
Development	O
in	O
the	O
Arab	O
Region	O
(	O
UNDP	O
–	O
ICTDAR	O
)	O
have	O
come	O
together	O
to	O
initiate	O
Ma3bar	B-Application
,	O
the	O
Arab	O
Support	O
Center	O
for	O
Free	B-Application
and	I-Application
Open	I-Application
Source	I-Application
Software	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
objectives	O
of	O
Ma3bar	B-Application
are	O
three-fold	O
:	O
</s>
<s>
Capacity	O
building	O
by	O
providing	O
the	O
necessary	O
training	O
and	O
assistance	O
in	O
developing	O
the	O
necessary	O
skills	O
and	O
competences	O
in	O
the	O
public	O
and	O
the	O
private	O
sectors	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
in	O
non-government	O
organizations	O
,	O
and	O
encouraging	O
the	O
inclusion	O
of	O
Free	B-Application
and	I-Application
Open	I-Application
Source	I-Application
Software	I-Application
(	O
FOSS	B-License
)	O
courses	O
as	O
part	O
of	O
the	O
standard	O
course	O
offerings	O
in	O
universities	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
networking	O
the	O
various	O
FOSS	B-License
communities	O
that	O
exist	O
in	O
the	O
Arab	O
Region	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Support	O
the	O
creation	O
of	O
applications	O
(	O
or	O
toolkits	B-Library
)	O
that	O
will	O
meet	O
the	O
needs	O
of	O
the	O
local	O
market	O
and	O
lead	O
to	O
the	O
strengthening	O
of	O
local	O
and	O
regional	O
expertise	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Raise	O
awareness	O
at	O
the	O
government	O
and	O
business	O
levels	O
on	O
the	O
potential	O
and	O
viability	O
of	O
open	B-License
source	I-License
solutions	O
and	O
applications	O
as	O
solid	O
alternatives	O
to	O
proprietary	B-Application
software	I-Application
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
University	O
of	O
Balamand(UOB )	O
,	O
with	O
existing	O
initiatives	O
and	O
active	O
FOSS	B-License
development	O
,	O
has	O
joined	O
the	O
consortium	B-Application
as	O
a	O
first	O
partner	O
.	O
</s>
