Shaping the next Mediterranean agenda for women’s empowerment
On 23 and 24 November 2026, the UfM Regional Platform on Women Empowerment meets at the Palau de Pedralbes in Barcelona. The meeting starts the preparations for the 6th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society. Representatives in charge of women’s affairs from across the region will review progress since the Ministerial Declaration adopted in Madrid in 2022 and begin setting the priorities for the next regional agenda on gender equality.
The meeting comes at an important time. Women’s rights and participation have moved forward in many areas, but structural inequalities, overlapping crises and growing economic and environmental pressures still hit women and girls hardest. More and more, gender equality is seen as a condition for sustainable development, inclusive growth, democratic governance and resilience. The EU’s new Gender Equality Strategy and the Pact for the Mediterranean, which puts weight on inclusive development and gender-responsive governance, point the same way.
Euromed Civil Society Conference on Gender, Civil Society and Resilience in the Mediterranean
23 November 2026. The first day opens with the Euromed Civil Society Conference on Gender, Civil Society and Resilience in the Mediterranean. It is organised by IEMed with the UfM and the European Commission, with support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation. Around 50 participants from civil society, women-led initiatives, networks and research will work on three policy labs which recommendations go straight into the Platform discussions the next day.
Stakeholders Dialogue on Women Empowerment
On 23 November, a Stakeholders Dialogue will bring together representatives of governments, international organisations, civil society, academia, development partners and the private sector. The conference will showcase major policy achievements and initiatives developed throughout 2026 to advance the implementation of the 2022 UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society and help shape preparations for the next Ministerial process.
Euro-Mediterranean Women Journalists Award
The afternoon will open with the first Euro-Mediterranean Women Journalists Award, launched by the UfM together with the Euro-Mediterranean Network of Women Journalists, the Anna Lindh Foundation, IEMed and the International Federation of Journalists. The Award celebrates outstanding women journalists from across the Euro-Mediterranean region whose reporting contributes to a more inclusive and informed public debate through gender-sensitive, solution-oriented and cross-border perspectives. The ceremony will feature the participation of HRH Princess Rym Ali, President of the Anna Lindh Foundation, Senén Florensa, President of IEMed, and representatives of the International Federation of Journalists.
Women Leading Change Award
The conference will then recognise inspiring leadership through the Women Leading Change Award, organised by the UfM and the Catalan Agency for Development Cooperation. The award highlights institutions and initiatives that are fostering more inclusive leadership models and creating tangible opportunities for women across the region. This year’s awardees, EuroMed University of Fez and Notre-Dame University of Beirut, exemplify the role of universities as drivers of social transformation and gender-responsive governance.
Assessing Progress on Gender Equality
The discussion will continue with an overview of the state of women’s empowerment in the Euro-Mediterranean region. Participants will review key findings from the second UfM Gender Equality Progress Report and hear recommendations emerging from the Euromed Civil Society Conference on Gender, Civil Society and Resilience in the Mediterranean, organised by IEMed in partnership with the UfM and the European Commission. Together, these contributions will provide a comprehensive assessment of achievements, remaining gaps and priorities for the future regional gender equality agenda.
Launch of New Regional Initiatives
The Stakeholders Dialogue will also serve as a platform for the launch of two important regional initiatives aimed at advancing women’s economic empowerment.
The first is the UfM Regional Agenda on Women Entrepreneurs in Agri-Food Value Chains, developed through a regional task force with the support of AECID, PRIMA, FAO and CIHEAM. Building on discussions held during the Regional Conference on Women Empowerment in Agri-Food Systems in Tunis, the Agenda proposes concrete recommendations to strengthen women’s entrepreneurship and leadership across Mediterranean food systems.
Participants will also witness the launch of the InclusiveNISSA Digital Knowledge Hub on Access to Finance, developed under an EU-funded project led by COSPE. The platform will provide a space for knowledge sharing, capacity building and dissemination of good practices aimed at improving women’s access to financial services and opportunities across the Southern Mediterranean.
The day will conclude with a networking dinner, providing participants with an opportunity to exchange experiences, strengthen partnerships and contribute to a common vision for a more inclusive and gender-equal Euro-Mediterranean region.
Streaming of the Stakeholders Dialogue session will be available on this page.
