Audience measurement organisations

There are a number of statistics and research centres in Libya, including public and private ones with very high capacity and staffing, but the governments have been too busy to order for any research to be carried out.

These researches are only conducted with international funding for the purpose of helping the Libyan authority to understand or to better plan better future campaigns. Such research projects are conducted through international tenders and organisations such as Altai Consultancy and USIP. However, competing pressures and an emergency mindset have made the use of statistics for long-term policy making a difficult affair.

This applies to private research companies that usually receive funding or have been established by any interest group. Among the most known research centres is the Libya Institute for Advanced Studies (LIAS) founded and chaired by Dr Aref Ali Nayed, former Libyan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, and presidential candidate in the general elections of December 2018. There is also the Libyan Organization Of Policies & Strategies (LOOPS) which is led by Muslim Brotherhood member and former minister of economy Dr Abdullah Shamia.

The University of Benghazi, the University of Misrata, the University of Tripoli and others have research centres that conduct surveys and various types of studies on a regular basis, but the authenticity of these reports requires further validation, as academics are considered part of the elites and major players in the political circles, where they drive the public opinion by putting out stats and research outcomes to prove a certain political viewpoint. For example Dr Fathi Majbari who headed the Research Center at the University of Benghazi after the 2011 uprising, has presented a number of surveys and polls which were favourable to the incumbent government. One controversial poll was on whether Libyans favour a federal system of governance or a centralised one. This came after a group from East Libya demanded autonomous rule, but the stats in question stated the general public opposes a federal system and deems it as division. Dr Fathi Majbri moved up the ranks to become Minister of Higher Education and is currently a member of Presidential Council of the UN-backed GNA.

Similarly the Parliament in Tobrouk formed a Strategic Studies Center, but its publications tend to reaffirm the official parliamentary position on the various issues. Not to discredit all academic institutions in Libya, but most of these academics are employed during the Gaddafi era and they are age in their 50's. Which makes them somewhat disconnected from the current status quo. Also they are burdened by the lack of credibility which was inherent from the previous regime.