SIDA – UfM Secretariat annual meeting: setting common priorities for the region
Barcelona, 16 February 2021 – In the framework of our cooperation agreement with Sida, the annual meeting between Sida and the UfMS was held virtually on the 16th of February, counting with the presence of the UfM Secretary General, the Directorate for Operations and Partnerships and the Water, Environment and Blue Economy Division of the UfM Secretariat, and the Swedish Ambassador in Jordan and representatives from the Sida regional office in Amman.
The meeting served to present the UfM mission and the UfM Secretariat work methodology, give an overview on the main achievements of the Sida – UfM Secretariat Partnership, inform on the Sida upcoming regional cooperation strategy and discuss on the potential future cooperation between Sida and the UfM Secretariat.
The Cooperation Agreement between Sida and UfMS encompasses a core support to the activities to the UfM Secretariat activities as well as a dedicated support to the regional water agenda implemented in collaboration with GWP-Med. The agreement covers the period 2017-2022 and benefits from a total budget equivalent to € 8,1 million.
The Cooperation agreement with Sida aims at enhancing and amplifying UfMS regional activities in the MENA countries, in three priority areas of common interest:
1) Women Empowerment;
2) Water, Environment and Blue Economy;
3) Energy and Climate Action.
The intervention logic of the programme is structured around Regional policy dialogues, Promotion of regional portfolio and Technical support.
During the meeting Sida and the UfMS confirmed that the cooperation agreement is being fruitful and generating concrete results for the benefit of the region. The concurrence of the priority areas addressed by both institutions in the Mediterranean, means that the UfMS and Sida are natural partners to enhance sustainable and human development in the region.
