ANNUAL REPORT

The bare essentials of life remain a daily struggle for far too many of our citizens. Whilst societies continue to face wide inequalities, for which future generations will hold us accountable, progress will always be checked and imbalanced. Our endeavours to enhance human development must therefore be uncompromising in the pursuit of these fundamental Sustainable Development Goals.

First and foremost, this work must start with ensuring safe access to water for all and the newly developed UfM Water Agenda has provided much needed clarity and momentum in this area. As always, collaboration is at the heart of its successful implementation as UfM Member States and the private sector alike have a role to play in providing this vital resource and unlocking sustainable growth. Food security is likewise being achieved as many partners come together, this time from academia, to create innovative solutions for food production and consumption. Meanwhile, providing fulfilling employment, educational opportunities and sometimes even a second chance all form part of our efforts to provide dignified lives for our region’s citizens.

Interested to find out how?

The UfM Water Agenda
Water for Gaza 
Finding food security in education: discover the project Higher Education on Food Security and Rural Development
Promoting the transition from informal to formal employment 
Rebuilding confidence, restarting futures: the Mediterranean New Chance project

Women, young people and vulnerable citizens are particularly at risk of exclusion. But, they all deserve a voice and they all can perform a role. Doing what is fair, more than just doing what is right, is therefore also about doing what makes sense. An empowered citizen, is an active, engaged and productive citizen. Quite simply, working to achieve these Sustainable Development Goals means leaving no one behind.

Nevertheless, the women and girls of our region do not want to hear pledges. They want to see change. That’s why the UfM has been establishing a monitoring mechanism to help close the gap between promises of gender equality and actual legislative and regulatory measures. Empowering vulnerable groups themselves to lead the march towards equality remains a central tenet of the UfM’s efforts to create opportunities for all. This includes promoting women in business, building inclusive labour markets, advocating strongly for young people’s representation in the decision making process and motivating young leaders to lend their voice to the argument for consensus building and integration. This call for integration can be heard loud and clear in the UfM’s work in education, building bridges across the region and taking essential steps towards the recognition of qualifications, but also in its efforts to build future-proof economies by focusing on digital skills and the importance of creativity.

Find out the full story below!

Promoting women’s economic leadership 
Agents of change
Shaping the young leaders of tomorrow 
A new education paradigm :  The Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes and the HOMERE project 
Recognition of Higher Education qualifications: where does the Euro-Mediterranean region stand? 
Creating jobs, skills and opportunities for all 
Preparing the Mediterranean for the future of work 
Promoting trade and investment 
Fostering the economic potential of culture and creativity 

The urgency of action needed to fight the climate emergency in the Mediterranean is being felt daily by countless threatened ecosystems and millions of the region’s citizens. Since no country can reverse these dangerous trends on its own, achieving these Sustainable Development Goals needs to be the priority of all. Only together can we reach our common goals. We need each other, now more than ever.

This collaborative spirit was powerfully evidenced by the publication of the first ever scientific study of the region’s climate. Made possible by the research from over 600 scientists, the UfM backed project will serve as a milestone for data-driven public policy. At COP25, the UfM joined others leading institutions with the commitment and conviction that climate change can be stopped. By pooling resources, sharing knowhow and investing in technical solutions, UfM projects have been protecting our forests, putting the brakes on desertification and fighting pollution. Disaster response, energy security and the move to circular economies are likewise being advanced through the UfM’s success at bringing the right actors to the table, to debate, discuss and commit to a greener future. The resilience of our communities depend on it.

Our planet depends on actions like these, read on to learn how!

Landmark scientific study on climate change in the Mediterranean 
The UfM at the COP25 
The UfM Energy Platforms 
Going local: 2nd UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum 
Sustainable consumption: a win-win situation: MED Green Growth
The fight against pollution: MedCoast for Blue Growth and Plastic Busters projects
Saving our forests
Desertification: a rampant threat 
Power in numbers when tackling disasters together 
Exploring drivers of human mobility in the Mediterranean 
Towards sustainable, resilient and inclusive cities and communities
Euro-Mediterranean policy dialogue on transport connectivity