The Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC) is one of the eight specialised centres of the United Nations Environment Programme/Mediterranean Action Plan (UNEP/MAP).
Our mandate is to support the 21 Mediterranean countries and the European Union – the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention – in the implementation of the Protocol on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM Protocol), in the framework of the Barcelona Convention. As one of the Regional Activity Centres of UNEP/MAP, we provide technical assistance, policy guidance, and capacity building to ensure the sustainable development of coastal areas. Using an integrated approach, we help Mediterranean countries tackle pressing challenges and balance environmental protection with social and economic needs to build coastal resilience.
PAP/RAC is a Croatian public institution with a regional (Mediterranean) mandate. In cooperation with the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention, it supports integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) and sustainable development across Mediterranean coastal areas.
We are an interdisciplinary team of experts in natural, social, and economic sciences. Our staff has extensive experience working across Mediterranean countries with diverse institutional, political, and cultural backgrounds. For a complete list of our staff members, please visit our Team page.
Our work programme and budget are reviewed and approved every two years at the Meetings of the Contracting Parties (COP) to the Barcelona Convention. Before each COP, PAP/RAC National Focal Points and MAP Focal Points review the progress of our Programme of Work, while the Coordinating Unit is monitoring budgetary expenditures and activities progress on a half-yearly basis. Additionally, in line with the Croatian law on public institutions, PAP/RAC’s work is overseen by a Management Board with representatives from the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the City of Split, the University of Split, and a PAP/RAC employee.
Our core activities are funded by the Mediterranean Trust Fund (MTF), to which all Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention contribute. We also receive project-based support from external funding sources such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF), European Union, and other donors.
Our headquarters have been in Split, Croatia, since our establishment in 1977, hosted by the Croatian Government.
We work through a network of National Focal Points representing the 21 Mediterranean countries and the European Union. These designated officials ensure our activities align with national priorities and the requirements of the Barcelona Convention.
Beyond this institutional framework, we maintain a broad network of regional partners, including the UNEP/MAP Coordinating Unit and its components, international organisations, and environmental NGOs to strengthen the implementation of sustainable coastal policies and build climate resilience across the basin.
Our commitment to the sustainable management of coastal zones directly supports the achievement of the 17 SDGs. PAP/RAC’s core activities are closely linked to SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Furthermore, implementing the ICZM Protocol helps strengthen SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by enhancing coastal governance and advancing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through regional cooperation across the Mediterranean. We also embed Gender Equality (SDG 5) into our coastal management policies and project activities, ensuring diverse perspectives are reflected in our work.
Each year, we publish technical reports, guidelines, and studies on the key pressures facing the Mediterranean coasts. We also produce a variety of tools and monitoring resources, fact sheets and case studies, mostly available in English and French. You can find these in our Publications section.
All open calls for expert services and consultancies (tenders) are advertised in the Tenders section of our website. Our procurement processes follow specific procedures in line with our Statute and Croatian law.
Each tender announcement contains detailed instructions, including required documentation and submission deadlines. Applications for consultancy services must be submitted electronically to the designated email address provided in the call.
Yes. We welcome graduate students (MSc students or PhD candidates) with a strong interest in coastal zone management and fluency in English or French. For more details, contact us via email (paprac@paprac.org) or by calling our office.
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