Building with a views to the sea

GEF MedPartnership & ClimVAR

MedPartnership was a large-scale regional initiative addressing key environmental challenges affecting Mediterranean marine and coastal ecosystems. It supported countries in implementing agreed regional priorities, including the Strategic Action Programmes SAP-MED (pollution reduction) and SAP-BIO (biodiversity protection), as well as National Action Plans and the ICZM Protocol.

The project combined policy support, capacity building and on-the-ground demonstration actions to promote integrated and ecosystem-based management of coastal and marine areas. A total of 78 demonstration projects were implemented, providing practical solutions and promoting replication across the region.

Funding programme​

Global Environment Facility

Implementation period​

2010 - 2016

Partnership

UNEP/MAP Barcelona Convention system

Participating countries : Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Montenegro, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Turkiye

 

Key objectives

MedPartnership aimed to strengthen environmental governance and support coordinated implementation of regional commitments across the Mediterranean.

In particular, it sought to:

  • support implementation of SAP-MED and SAP-BIO priorities
  • advance the implementation of the ICZM Protocol
  • strengthen national legal, policy and institutional frameworks
  • promote integrated approaches to coastal and marine management
  • support development and implementation of National Action Plans
  • test and replicate practical solutions through demonstration projects

 

Main results

MedPartnership generated a comprehensive set of policy, methodological and practical outputs supporting integrated coastal and marine management.

The main results include:

  • implementation of 78 demonstration projects addressing key environmental challenges
  • strengthened legal and institutional frameworks supporting ICZM implementation
  • development and application of integrated management approaches across sectors and scales
  • enhanced capacity building and knowledge transfer across participating countries
  • improved alignment of national actions with regional priorities under the Barcelona Convention

 

Role of PAP/RAC

Within the MedPartnership project, PAP/RAC played a central role in advancing ICZM policy, methodology and implementation across the Mediterranean.

In particular, PAP/RAC contributed to strengthening national legal and institutional frameworks for ICZM, including support for harmonisation with the ICZM Protocol through analytical work, case studies and regional workshops. It developed key methodological outputs, including the Integrated Methodological Framework (IMF) for coastal, river basin and aquifer management, and the Guidelines for the preparation of National ICZM Strategies.

PAP/RAC also led several demonstration activities, including the preparation of National ICZM Strategies for Algeria, Croatia and Montenegro, and coastal plans in Reghaia (Algeria) and Šibenik-Knin County (Croatia), including a focus on climate variability and change. In addition, it contributed to transboundary planning through the development of the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) for the Buna/Bojana area.

Through these contributions, PAP/RAC established a strong technical and policy basis for implementing ICZM across the region, supporting both national processes and regional coherence under the Barcelona Convention framework.

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Partners

Featured publications

Explore key reports, guidelines and knowledge products that support sustainable coastal and marine management

January 27, 2026

Capacity building on IMAP Indicator 25: a training organized by PAP/RAC in Rabat

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Capacity building on IMAP Indicator 25: a training organized by PAP/RAC in Rabat

January 27, 2026

Renforcement des capacités sur l’indicateur IMAP 25 : une formation organisée par le PAP/RAC à Rabat

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Capacity building on IMAP Indicator 25: a training organized by PAP/RAC in Rabat

December 14, 2025

PAP/RAC Hosts Expert Retreat on the Guidelines for Coastal Plans

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PAP/RAC Hosts Expert Retreat on the Guidelines for Coastal Plans