• English
  • Français
  • 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 16 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 2022 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   

    • Inclusive 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

      17 February 2023 – La Tribune Afrique – Nasser Kamel : « L’Europe doit regarder de près l’idée d’emmener ses centres d’approvisionnement en Afrique »
      View article
      28 March 2023 – Il sole 24 ore – Anna Dorangricchia (UfM) on women entrepreneurs in MENA region
      View article
      11 May 2023 – ANSAmed – ‘Più integrazione Ue-Sud la chiave per gestire le migrazioni’
      View article
      See more
  • Contact

First UfM Member States meeting of 2023 approves support to Smart DESERT project, fighting water scarcity in Jordan

Institutional
  • The first meeting of the UfM Member States’ Senior Officials of 2023 took place today in Barcelona. In this occasion, the main priorities and strategic orientations for the year were discussed. UfM support for the project Smart DESERT, addressing water scarcity in Jordan while fostering the economic empowerment of the vulnerable local and refugee populations, was also endorsed by granting it the UfM label.
  • 2023 will see a variety of important initiatives taking place: from multiple ministerial meetings and regional conferences to the launch of two grant schemes to fund green jobs and trade-related projects, the presentation of the UfM’s Youth Action Plan, and the launch of the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture initiative in the framework of the Day of the Mediterranean, amongst others.

Barcelona, 28 February 2023. The Senior Officials of the Union for the Mediterranean held today their first meeting of the year to discuss the main actions planned for 2023, and unanimously endorsed a new cooperation project. Smart DESERT is implemented in Jordan, a country burdened by extreme water scarcity, where the related challenges have been aggravated by an increasing influx of refugees since the year 2011. The population’s growth has caused additional demand for water, resulting in local shortages and, ultimately, enormous pressures on the sewage network and wastewater treatment plants.

Striving for the economic empowerment of vulnerable populations (including the refugee communities from Syria and Palestine, as well as Jordanians in need) in the agricultural sector, the Smart DESERT project is designed to achieve two key objectives within the next 36 months: increased year-round income, and improved working conditions for those involved in farming-related activities in the northern highlands, proofing the concept of sustainable agriculture. Funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for a total cost of 10.6 million €, the project proves a high potential replicability to other countries of the region.  

Additionally, Senior Officials were briefed on the 2023 priorities and activities of the UfM Secretariat in several key sectors, notably the upcoming launch of two grant schemes to fund projects on green jobs and trade, the presentation of the UfM Youth Action Plan and the holding of regional conferences and working groups on key issues such as energy and climate change, food security, disability, civil protection, youth entrepreneurship, digitalization or social economy, among others. They also discussed the upcoming ministerial meetings on Urban Development (Croatia, May), Trade (Spain, October), Higher Education (Morocco, November), additionally to the one on Transport (which took place online on February 9th).  

The UfM Secretary General, Nasser Kamel, emphasized: “In 2023, protecting our populations and building their resilience will continue to be our top priority. Amidst the current regional context, civil protection and food security remain high on our agenda, while we strive to leave no one behind, through an inclusive growth with particular focus on vulnerable populations such as youth, women, and people with disabilities. In parallel, we will continue promoting sustainability and leading regional efforts in the fight against climate change and the environmental crisis, ensuring that our region tackles not only the challenges of today, but is also well prepared to address those of tomorrow”.

He also briefed the Senior Officials on the ongoing work to launch the Mediterranean Capitals of Culture initiative within the framework of the next edition of the Day of the Mediterranean.

Share this:

Latest news

Empowering businesses to drive sustainable change
29 / 05 / 2023
Accelerating the Mediterranean’s transition to a green, circular and inclusive economy and to climate resilience
26 / 05 / 2023
See more

Agenda

Consultation webinar to support the establishment of the UfM Regional Platform on Disability
05 / 06 / 2023
Climate change and Civil protection – Towards an efficient Euro-Mediterranean Cooperation
05 / 06 / 2023
See more

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
  • Français
  • العربية
  • English
  • Français
  • 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 */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Content template for Posts - end */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - start */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* ----------------------------------------- */ /* Content Template: Loop item in NewsRoom – Related News (Sidebar) - 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!