Egypt hosts multi-stakeholder workshop to strengthen support for civil society action on biodiversity conservation

The event was organised by the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med), in partnership with the Egyptian INGO and IUCN Member RAED – Arab Network for Environment and Development, with the collaboration of the IUCN member Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), The MedFund, and several national and international stakeholders.

The workshop was organised under Mubadarat, IUCN Med’s platform dedicated to strengthening and supporting civil society engagement in nature conservation and community resilience across the Mediterranean region, notably through the PPI OSCAN (Small Initiatives Programme for Civil Society Organisations in North Africa).

A platform for dialogue and collaboration

The event aimed to create a space for dialogue between Egyptian civil society organisations, institutional stakeholders and international partners working on biodiversity conservation, sustainable development and community-based approaches across the country.

The opening session, moderated by Dr. Emad Adly, General Coordinator of RAED and Chair of the IUCN North Africa Regional Committee, brought together representatives from national institutions, international organisations and civil society networks. Opening remarks were delivered by Maher Mahjoub, Director of IUCN Med, alongside representatives of CEPF, the Convention on Biological Biodiversity (CBD) National Focal Point, the National Council for Women, the Desert Research Center, the Ministry of Environment, as well as former Egyptian Minister of Environment, Dr. Laila Iskandar. In his opening remarks, Dr. Emad Adly highlighted the importance of networking, exchange and collective action among civil society organisations, while underlining the value of collaboration through the IUCN network and partnerships between IUCN Members.

Identifying priorities and strengthening support for civil society organizations

Over three days, participants exchanged on:

• key thematic and territorial priorities for biodiversity conservation in Egypt;
• operational challenges and support needs faced by Egyptian CSOs;
• opportunities for collaboration and complementarities between initiatives; and
• recommendations for future support programmes and partnerships.

A strong emphasis was placed on understanding local realities and recognising the important role played by Egyptian civil society organisations in addressing environmental and socio-economic challenges on the ground.

PPI OSCAN Phase 4 in Egypt

The workshop also marked the announcement in Egypt of the fourth phase of the PPI OSCAN programme (the Small-scale Initiatives Program for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in North Africa). Since 2024, the programme has supported pilot initiatives led by Egyptian CSOs focusing on biodiversity conservation and local development.

Presenting the experience of the programme in Egypt, Ghada Ahmadein, Programme Manager at RAED and National Coordinator of PPI OSCAN, stressed that one of the key added values of the initiative is its ability to support smaller and emerging civil society organisations that often struggle to access international funding opportunities due to limited capacities or visibility. She highlighted that PPI OSCAN deliberately invests in local actors and seeks to build trust-based partnerships with organisations that are deeply rooted in their territories and communities.

Key recommendations and next steps

The workshop provided an opportunity for several international initiatives and partners to engage with Egyptian stakeholders and explore future collaboration opportunities in the country.

“The diversity of actors present during the workshop reflects a growing recognition that stronger coordination and long-term support for local civil society are essential for achieving meaningful biodiversity conservation outcomes in Egypt,” said Maher Mahjoub, Director of IUCN Med.

The workshop concluded with a series of recommendations highlighting the need for:

• stronger coordination between initiatives;
• long-term support mechanisms for local CSOs;
• greater investment in local capacities and community-based approaches; and
• increased collaboration between civil society, institutions and international partners.

This event represents an important step toward reinforcing dialogue and cooperation around biodiversity conservation and civil society engagement in Egypt and the wider Mediterranean region.

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