Regional Focus - North Africa Organisations, supporting the development and implementation of conservation strategies and influencing national and regional sustainable development policies. 

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Biodiversity Knowledge and Action Ecosystem Resilience and Spatial Planning Marine Biodiversity and Blue Economy Nature Conservation and Food Systems Nature-based Solutions and Climate change Regional Focus - North Africa
Supporting civil society organisations in the Mediterranean

IUCN in North Africa 

IUCN-Med has a long-lasting presence and collaboration with North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) working with governmental and non-governmental organisations. Since 2009, a specific IUCN Programme has been regularly developed and implemented every four years, with IUCN members and partners in the region.

IUCN-Med has a long-lasting presence and collaboration with North African countries (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) working with governmental and non-governmental organisations. Since 2009, a specific IUCN Programme has been regularly developed and implemented every four years, with IUCN members and partners in the region.

Network 

The special regional focus on North African countries aims to work with:

  • Governmental: Organisations, supporting the development and implementation of conservation strategies and influencing national and regional sustainable development policies.
  • Civil Society: Organisations, building their capacities for more effective contribution to conservation related national strategies and action plans.
  • University and Academia: Developing biodiversity standards and indicators to influence conservation strategies towards priority themes, species and ecosystems.

Environmental challenges 

North African region’s mostly semi-arid and arid environment makes it historically one of the most vulnerable to natural stresses, and currently to climate change. Over the past two decades, major changes such as population growth, economic development and accelerated urbanisation –especially in the coastal areas–, have further exacerbated the most pressing environmental challenges shared throughout the region, among them: ecosystems degradation, biodiversity loss, desertification, water scarcity and air pollution.

Current Activities 

Empowering emerging civil society organisations

North Africa Programme

Since 2014 IUCN-Med has launched the Small-scale Initiatives Program for Civil Society Organisations (CSO's) in North Africa. So far 80 CSOs have participated in the Program and beneficiated from the technical and financial support to achieve their conservation projects in the four involved countries: Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.

See Current Project PPI-OSCAN 2. 

Donors: MAVA Foundation and The French Global Environment Facility
 

Reporting OECMs (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures)

OECMS Tunisie

IUCN-Med and the World Commission on Protected Areas, have been supporting Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries in identifying potential OECMs to advance Aichi Target 11.

See recognition of new OECMs in Algeria and Morocco.

 

Identifying Nature-Based Solutions within Nationally Determined Contributions

Avenir des jeunes gafsa colour

IUCN-Med, in collaboration with the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), supports climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in Morocco and Tunisia.
 

 

Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas 

Protected areas North Africa

IUCN-Med is responsible for the implementation of the Green List Programme in the Maghreb countries (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). We supported the setting up and the training of the Green List Expert Assessment Group for the Maghreb countries (EAGL-Maghreb) composed of members from the three countries. 7 candidate sites have been proposed and assessment by the EAGL is progressing. IUCN-Med aims at improving governance and management effectiveness of the network of PAs in North Africa through the Green List Programme.
 

Gazella cuvieri Tim Wacher 

gazella north africa

Species Conservation. IUCN-Med reinforces the capacities of wildlife managers and relevant stakeholders for the preparation of Conservation Strategies and the implementation of appropriate conservation measures for flagship species in North Africa.

See new action plans developed for the Cuvier’s gazelle in North Africa, the Barbary sheep in Tunisia, the Barbary macaque in Algeria, and the Great bustard in Morocco.


Strengthening Our Network 

Government partnerships North Africa

Building long-lasting partnerships with 35-member organisations in North Africa, including 31 large and small NGOs, and 4 governmental organisations with whom collaboration agreements have been firmed.


IUCN-Med is looking for PARTNERSHIPS to build alliances, fund and implement projects on:

  • Empowering civil society organisations in the implementation of conservation actions in North Africa Increasing the recognition and use of Nature-Based Solutions in key ecosystems as a tool to combat climate change and support resilient development and recovery for people and nature.
     
  • Supporting countries to enhance the coverage and effective management of a strong network of marine and terrestrial protected areas pursuant to the post 2020 protected areas target, and as a basis for improving socio-economic wellbeing of rural communities.
     
  • Supporting governments in managing reliable data to effectively apply tools and standards (RLS, RLE, KBA, GLPCA)1 to effectively inform and advance National Conservation Strategies and Actions Plans.
     
  • Supporting innovative and scaled up solutions for people and nature led by civil society organisations, building on the achievement and legacy of the two phases of PPI-OSCAN.
     
  • Consolidating Mediterranean North-South and South-South collaboration through targeted initiatives and projects on capacity building, policy influencing and marine conservation challenges.
     
  • For those interested or looking for more information, please send a message to [email protected] with the subject line: Partners for North Africa Region.

35 Mediterranean Members in the North African Region 


ALGERIA                                                                                                            


EGYPT 


LIBYA


TUNISIA 


MOROCCO

Current Projects

TransCap- Supporting Civil Society Organisations in the Maghreb aims to strengthen the technical, administrative and financial capacities of CSOs working protecting the environment in specific areas of Morocco and Tunisia, in the Mediterranean. The programme supports the implementation of biodiversity conservation actions, as well as measures for climate change adaptation and mitigation.