Online, 12 May 2026 – The UfM Regional Platform on Women Empowerment brought together 60 representatives of 26 UfM Member States, EU institutions, international organisations and regional stakeholders to discuss progress on the implementation of the 2022 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society and prepare the ground for the in-person Regional Platform meeting planned for November 2026 in Barcelona. The meeting provided a platform for regional policy dialogue and exchange on gender equality priorities and concrete strategies across the Euro-Mediterranean region. Discussions took place in the context of evolving regional and global frameworks, including… read more
The 2030 UfM Action Plan on Civil Protection and Disaster Risk Management has just been formally endorsed. The Plan provides the strategic framework underpinning Euro-Mediterranean cooperation on fire and disaster risk. The 3rd Euro-Mediterranean Workshop on Fire Risks takes place on 7-8 May 2026 in Nicosia, Cyprus, co-organised by the European Commission (DG ECHO) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. Discussions address wildfire and industrial fire risks as a systemic regional challenge, with a focus on satellite and AI-based early detection, integrated fire risk management and cross-border… read more
30 March 2026, Barcelona, Spain. The Union for the Mediterranean Secretariat has launched a call for tenders for the design and delivery of a Youth Mainstreaming training programme and the co-creation of an operational toolkit. This assignment supports the implementation of the UfM Youth Mainstreaming Plan 2026–2030. Opportunity overview The selected contractor will design and deliver a structured training programme for UfM staff and facilitate the development of a practical Youth Mainstreaming Toolkit. The work will combine online learning with a 1.5-day in-person workshop in Barcelona. The assignment will run from May to December 2026. The training and toolkit must… read more
5 March 2026, online – The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and CIHEAM jointly organised the online webinar “Justice in the Fields and in our Plates: Women’s rights as a driver of sustainable food systems transitions”, within the SFS-MED Platform. Held in the context of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and ahead of International Women’s Day, which this year is under the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, the discussion brought together around 100 Mediterranean stakeholders to reflect on a question that is increasingly central to food systems debates: how can women’s access to… read more
The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and CIHEAM will co-host a high-level webinar on 5 March 2026, ahead of the International Women’s Day (8 March), focusing on women’s access to justice in rural areas and agrifood systems. The event is anchored in the IWD 2026 theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls” and aligns with the United Nations International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026, recognising women farmers as key drivers of agricultural development. Speakers include senior voices from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon, the American University of Beirut and the Ethical… read more
19-20 November 2025, Amman, Jordan. Around 80 representatives from governments, civil society, international organisations, youth networks and research institutions met in Amman for the Regional Capacity Workshop and Stakeholder Dialogue on Climate, Women, Peace and Security (WPS), organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) under the haut-patronage of Wafa Bani Mustafa, Minister of Social Development of Jordan who honored with her presence the Dialogue Conference. The event, held in partnership with the Jordanian National Commission for Women (JNCW), and UNDP, marked an important milestone for regional cooperation with the launch of the UfM WPS-Climate Network. This new mechanism aims… read more
12 November 2025, Barcelona. Representatives from UfM Member States, gender equality institutions, civil society organisations, experts, and regional partners convened in Barcelona for the in-person UfM Technical Meeting on Women Empowerment. The gathering marked a key milestone in advancing the implementation of the 5th UfM Ministerial Declaration on Strengthening the Role of Women in Society (Madrid, 2022) and in shaping the region’s future gender equality agenda. Hosted by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) the meeting took place at a pivotal moment: 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the launching of the new Pact for the Mediterranean… read more
21–22 October 2025, Cairo. Around 80 regional stakeholders – including women entrepreneurs, innovation hubs, representatives of women-led cooperatives, research institutions, national institutions, donors, investment funds and financial institutions and international organisations – gathered in Cairo for the Regional Stakeholder Dialogue and Training on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the MENA Agro-Food Sector through Social and Technological Innovation. The event, organised by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) with the financial support of AECID, and in collaboration with CIHEAM, the FAO Near East and North Africa Regional Office, the American University in Cairo (AUC) Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI), and the… read more
29 September – 2 October 2025, Tirana – The city of Tirana, Albania, hosted the 2nd edition of the UfM Med Youth Lab, where 58 young leaders from 14 Euro-Mediterranean countries came together to exchange, connect and co-create solutions for a more inclusive, sustainable and united region. The event was organised by the UfM with the support of German Development Cooperation (GIZ), in partnership with Anna Lindh Foundation, European Institute of the Mediterranean , and Euro-Mediterranean University of Fes and with the support of the Albanian Ministry of State for Youth and Children and the National Youth Agency of Albania. Building on… read more
A High-level Dialogue at the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) headquarters gathered national authorities, international organisations, and regional disability organisations to push forward a common agenda for the socio-economic inclusion of persons with disabilities. Participants discussed the foundations of a Euro-Mediterranean Disability plan, drawing on the findings of a recent study on socio-economic inclusion in the region. 23 September 2025, Barcelona. People with disabilities in the Mediterranean face systemic exclusion, with unemployment rates often exceeding 70% and limited funding for disability programmes. While these challenges may mirror those of other regions, the Mediterranean’s heterogeneity and the stark socio-economic disparities between… read more
