The UfM in action: acting today for a sustainable tomorrow

In a rapidly evolving Mediterranean, building inclusive and fair societies is not just a goal—it is a necessity. By fostering social cohesion, empowering youth and women, and ensuring equal opportunities, we create a stronger, more resilient region.

Young people continued to inspire us with their ideas and leadership. Through the UfM Med Youth Lab and the Youth Engagement Series, we created spaces for youth to shape policy, build skills and connect across borders. Together, we tackled shared priorities such as climate action, education, and decent work.

We also broke new ground on disability inclusion, launching the Euro-Med Agenda on the Socioeconomic Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities. We shone a light on refugee entrepreneurship, advocated for safer public transport for women, and supported innovative startups working for social impact.

As global uncertainties continue to affect trade, inflation, and supply chains, fostering a stable and inclusive economic environment in the Mediterranean has become more urgent than ever. That’s why we’ve doubled down on regional cooperation to unlock opportunities for sustainable growth, investment, and innovation that benefit people and communities across the region.

At the 6th UfM Trade and Investment Forum in Rabat, we explored how green and fair trade can boost competitiveness and job creation while supporting the region’s environmental goals. This focus was echoed across our work to foster circular economy practices, promote sustainable value chains, and increase access to climate finance.

To support real impact on the ground, we expanded the UfM Grant Scheme, funding innovative projects across eight Southern Mediterranean countries—from digital inclusion to social entrepreneurship. By connecting economies and communities, we’re helping to shape a Mediterranean that’s more competitive, cohesive, and prepared for the future.

GREEN&FAIR will enhance employability and entrepreneurship for 120 women and youth in agriculture across Egypt, Lebanon, and Palestine, focusing on sustainability and access to funding.

GREENSTEP will provide training for 150 youth and 110 MSMEs in Jordan, Lebanon, and Tunisia, boosting skills for green economy sectors.

The Youth Employability and Entrepreneurship Booster (YEEB) in Egypt will train 100 young people, primarily women, on green entrepreneurship, supporting green enterprise development, job creation, and gender equality in Assiut’s green sectors.

The Women and Youth Driving Sustainable Transformation project will empower 270 women and youth in Jordan, Palestine, and Tunisia with green entrepreneurship skills, helping 90 micro and small enterprises adopt sustainable practices.

In a region increasingly exposed to climate risks, environmental degradation, and resource scarcity, we’ve worked in 2024 to turn urgent challenges into drivers of sustainable transformation.

We amplified the Mediterranean voice at COP29 through a dedicated Mediterranean Pavilion. Hosting over 40 events and more than 200 speakers, we showcased success stories and best practices such as the TeraMed Initiative, which aims to deliver 1 Terawatt of renewable energy capacity in the Mediterranean by 2030. We also launched two groundbreaking MedECC reports, providing essential, science-based insights to support evidence-driven policymaking across the region:

• Special Report on Climate and Environmental Coastal Risks in the Mediterranean
• Special Report on the Climate-Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus

We also advanced the energy transition through the 4th UfM Energy and Climate Business Forum, bringing together public and private actors to explore investment opportunities in hydrogen, emissions abatement, and renewable energy. In the water sector, we supported strategic dialogue and financing through the 5th Mediterranean Water Forum in Tunis and the 5th Annual Water Finance Conference in Cairo, highlighting integrated solutions to water scarcity and climate resilience.

On the blue economy front, the Blue Mediterranean Partnership began mobilising over €20 million in donor funding for sustainable blue economy investments, while the 2nd UfM Stakeholder Conference on Sustainable Blue Economy reinforced regional action on marine innovation, renewable energy, and coastal tourism.