• English
  • العربية
Follow us
Union for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfMUnion for the Mediterranean – UfM     Mediterranean Day
  • Who we are
    • Who we are

      The Union for the Mediterranean is an intergovernmental institution bringing together the European Union Member States and 15 countries from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean to promote dialogue and cooperation.

      Overview   

    • Who we are

      • Member States
      • Meet the team
      • Partners
      • History
    • Key documents

      UfM Annual Report 2021 Regional Integration
  • What we do
    • Notre action

      The UfM seeks to enhance regional cooperation, dialogue and the implementation of concrete projects and initiatives with tangible impact on our citizens to address three strategic objectives: human development, stability and integration.

      Overview   

    • Human development

      • Economic Development and Employment
      • Higher Education & Research
      • Social & Civil Affairs

      Sustainable development

      • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
      • Transport & Urban Development
      • Energy & Climate Action
    • How we work

      • Political Framework
      • Regional Dialogue Platforms
      • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • The UfM Secretariat is the operational platform of the Union for the Mediterranean. The staff of the UfM is made of more than 17 nationalities working in a multicultural environment that fosters cooperation and intercultural communication and exchange.

    • Work with us

      • Vacancies
      • Secondments
      • Internships
      • Procurement
      • Roster of experts
  • Info center
    • Info center

      Find our latest press releases, press invitations, visual identity, key institutional documents, photos and other relevant information


      Download the UfM Visual Identity Guidelines and Logos (zip file)   

    • Info center

      • Media corner
      • News
      • Agenda
      • Publications and key documents
      • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
    • UfM in the Media

      26 Juillet – L’Orient Le Jour – UfM closes energy efficiency project in Lebanon on a positive note
      View article
      18 Juillet – La Presse de Tunisie – Nasser Kamel, Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean: “Tunisia is a shining example of women empowerment”
      View article
      14 Juillet – Le Vert – Closing Ceremony of the UfM Grant Scheme Program: Regional Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

The MedFund: Environmental Fund for Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas

Water & Environment
Ongoing

Context and objectives

The aim of the MedFund project is to contribute to the long-term management of Mediterranean Marine Protected Areas by strengthening their financial sustainability through the establishment of an environmental fund (or “trust fund”) financing mechanism. It is a unique and innovative financial tool, but also a political dialogue tool for the Mediterranean basin countries and stakeholders, with high potential of evolution to provide multiple services to MPAs such as covering their operating costs. Well-managed MPAs can help reduce poverty and improve well-being.

The Mediterranean basin is identified as a biodiversity hot spot and a global priority ecoregion. For now, the Mediterranean has 1,231 MPAs covering 7.14% of its area. Overall, Mediterranean MPAs are underfunded and/or funded discontinuously, which severely limits their effectiveness, and many MPAs face operational difficulties in functioning, particularly in non-European countries. Currently, the financial resources of MPAs are unpredictable, short-term, and highly irregular.

In this context, the MedFund project aims to contribute to the long-term management of Mediterranean MPAs by strengthening their financial sustainability through the establishment of an environmental fund (or “trust fund”) financing mechanism. The initiative is a 4-year project 100% funded by the promoter and member countries, founded by France, Monaco and Tunisia, and since joined by Morocco, Albania and Spain. The priority for Fund assistance is given to MPAs from the Southern and Eastern shores of the Mediterranean, and the objective is to create an Environmental Fund that will operate throughout the Mediterranean basin through different steps and activities.

Location

Key figures

Duration:

48 months

Partners:

6

Total cost:

€14M

Countries:

6

Financial contribution

€8.4 million in contributions

€6 million in-kind cofinancing

Promoter

Created in 2015, the Association for Sustainable Financing of Mediterranean MPAs is a non-profit organization based in Monaco. It aims to mobilise public and private stakeholders to promote the development and sustainable management of Mediterranean MPAs. The Association is a platform for cooperation aimed at creating an environmental fund-type financing mechanism. It is composed of States that have confirmed their commitment to an ambitious policy for MPAs and explicitly expressed their support for the initiative (so far, Albania, France, Morocco, Monaco, Tunisia and Spain), regional organizations involved in the conservation of Mediterranean marine and coastal ecosystems (RAC/ASP, MedPAN, WWF-Mediterranean, IUCN-Mediterranean, Conservatoire du Littoral, Initiative Petites Iles de Méditerranée, etc.), from the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco and the Oceanographic Institute, Albert I Foundation, Prince of Monaco. The Association thus aims to develop and to improve sustainably the management of Mediterranean MPAs by contributing to their financial autonomy and territorial integration.

Key partners

RAC/SPA

MedPAN Association

IUCN-Mediterranean

WWF-Mediterranean

PIM Initiative

CEPF

Beneficiaries

  • The beneficiaries of the Fund are mainly the managers of MPAs, NGOs, local associations and the bordering populations of the Mediterranean MPAs;
  • Fishing and Tourism activities as they are often the main sources of market profits from MPAs.

Key actions

Lay the groundwork for, establish and structure an environmental fund for
Mediterranean MPAs.

Develop partnerships and communicate around the initiative.

Mobilise the financial resources needed to capitalise the Fund from both public and
private financial partners.

Moderate the development of the initiative.

Finance the first support for Mediterranean MPAs.

Expected Results

Financial sustainability of MPAs.

The possibility of longer-term planning tools and financial support for MPA managers.

Integration of the MPA into its territory.

Reduced poverty and improved well-being: improved fish catches, new jobs, women benefitted.

Fund established for Mediterranean MPAs to mobilise the financial resources needed to capitalise the Fund and to finance sustainably the management of Mediterranean MPAs.

Approaches involve civil society in the planning and management of marine resources.

Better managed MPAs of the participating countries and of the Mediterranean region; financial support provided to cover recurring management costs.

Share this:

Printable version

Who we are

  • Member States
  • Meet the team
  • Partners
  • History

What we do

  • Economic Development & Employment
  • Higher Education & Research
  • Social & Civil Affairs
  • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
  • Transport & Urban Development
  • Energy & Climate Action

How we work

  • Political Framework
  • Regional Dialogue Platforms
  • Projects and Initiatives

Work with us

  • Vacancies
  • Secondments
  • Internships
  • Procurement
  • Roster of experts

Info centre

  • Media corner
  • News
  • Agenda
  • Publications and key documents
  • Human Stories of the Mediterranean
  • Photo gallery
  • Video gallery
Co-financé par l'Union européenne  -  Cookie Privacy  |  Privacy Privacy  |  Legal notice
  • Who we are
    • Member States
    • Meet the team
    • Partners
    • History
  • What we do
    • Economic Development and Employment
    • Higher Education & Research
    • Social & Civil Affairs
    • Water, Environment and Blue Economy
    • Transport & Urban Development
    • Energy & Climate Action
  • How we work
    • Political Framework
    • Regional Dialogue Platforms
    • Projects and Initiatives
  • Work with us
    • Vacancies
    • Secondments
    • Internships
    • Procurement
    • Roster of experts
  • Info centre
    • Media center
    • News
    • Agenda
    • Publications and key documents
  • Contact
  • Social media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Youtube
    • Linkedin
    • Flickr
  • English
  • العربية
  • English
  • العربية
Union for the Mediterranean – UfM
/* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in Megamenu – Latest Ufm in the news - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */

 

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.


3rd Party Cookies

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Cookies Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Read more

3rd Party Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.

Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.

Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!