Building capacities for species conservation in North Africa
June 2026 - Thirty representatives from six Mediterranean countries came together in Tunisia to strengthen their species conservation skills through a regional training that combined IUCN tools, field learning and project design, with the support of IUCN Members in Tunisia
How can civil society organisations better protect threatened species across North Africa?
Through its Mubadarat platform and with the support of the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID) and the Tunisian Ministry of Environment, the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation (IUCN Med) brought together 30 representatives of civil society organisations and public institutions from six Mediterranean countries (Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia) for a regional training on species conservation.
The three-day programme combined theoretical knowledge, field-based learning, and practical project design, enabling participants to move directly from tools training to applied conservation planning. This integrated approach also strengthened participants' capacity to design Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in line with the IUCN Global Standard, ensuring that biodiversity outcomes can be effectively planned, measured and monitored throughout project implementation.
The practical component was made possible through partnerships with IUCN Members in Tunisia. The Association Les Amis des Oiseaux (AAO), the Association de l'Environnement et du Développement (AEDS) and the Association Tunisienne de la Vie Sauvage guided field visits to areas of interest such as Key Biodiversity Areas and Ramsar sites, demonstrating how conservation frameworks translate into on-the-ground protection of species and ecosystems.
From Knowledge to Implementation
Through this workshop, participants were introduced to several IUCN's key conservation frameworks and knowledge products: the Red List of Threatened Species, the Red List of Ecosystems, Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs), and DNA barcoding for species identification. Hands-on exercises demonstrated how these tools apply to real conservation. Participants were able to trial the application of these tools on scenarios specific to their own region. Beyond the technical content, the workshop fostered peer dialogue, allowing CSOs to exchange experiences and learn from one another's approaches to biodiversity conservation.
“This training course provided an excellent opportunity for exchange between civil society organisations in the southern Mediterranean basin. Beyond the technical knowledge gained, it enabled us to share experiences, learn from initiatives in other countries and strengthen regional cooperation for biodiversity conservation.”
- El Mokhtar Saied, General Authority for the Environment of Libya (EGA)
On the second day, participants stepped out of the classroom and into the field. Visits to Sebkha Sijoumi and Sebkha Soliman, a Ramsar site, showcased how conservation tools are applied in practice, while exchanges with a local women's cooperative and an agroecological farm highlighted the close connection between biodiversity and community livelihoods.
Hands-on sessions in species identification and biodiversity monitoring rounded off the workshop, giving participants practical skills to support conservation action in their own territories. Guided by the IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG) methodology, participants learned to translate observations and data into strategic conservation planning. As participants strengthened their project development capacity, which will enable them to access and mobilise international and regional funding, they worked in collaboration with one another.
Through this collaborative setting, this workshop created space for regional exchange and peer learning. Participants networked with technical partners and counterparts from across the Mediterranean, strengthening the collaborative relationships that sustain long-term conservation work. The Mubadarat platform weaves collaboration and connection into all of its work, going beyond financial aid and capacity building. By connecting actors and CSOs, Mubadarat facilitates exchanges at regional level and fosters connections that will reinforce capacities across the North African region.
This training was run as part of the Tamkeen project, supported by AECID, with co-funding from PPI OSCAN 3 (Fonds français pour l'environnement mondial (FFEM)) and MedProgramme Libya (UNEP/Global Environmental Facility).
Learn more about the Mubadarat platform and its initiatives
For more information about IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, visit Mediterranean | IUCN
