IUCN and AECID launch the Tamkeen project to empower Mediterranean communities and promote climate resilience

The Masar al'an programme, "Masar Now" in English, is the regional programme of the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) with the southern shore of the Mediterranean. It updates the Masar Programme to adapt it to the changing needs of a new development situation in the region. With a cross-cutting nature, the programme prioritizes support for youth, the promotion of collaborative spaces, and inclusiveness in its interventions, strengthening local entities and their participation in development. The Tamkeen project's mission is to strengthen the capacities of civil society organizations (CSOs) and local actors to design and implement projects that integrate NbS, while promoting climate resilience, sustainable employment, and social inclusion. Special emphasis is placed on involving women and youth in sustainable development initiatives, thus ensuring greater equity in the benefits. Tamkeen also seeks to foster regional collaborative networks that facilitate the exchange of experiences and good practices, consolidating solid cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

Renewing Partnerships 

The Director of the IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation, Maher Mahjoub, expressed his satisfaction with the continued collaboration with AECID: “Since AECID began supporting our Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation in Malaga in 2001, through programs such as AZAHAR, we have worked hand in hand to promote transformative projects in the region. Tamkeen is a further example of this strong partnership and our shared determination to strengthen the capacities of civil society in North Africa, promoting its key role in the ecological transition and in building a more resilient, inclusive, and equitable Mediterranean.” Tamkeen is closely aligned with the priorities of IUCN Med’s Mubadarat Strategy, which prioritizes continued support to civil society in North Africa, and with AECID’s Masar al-‘An Programme, focused on sustainable job creation, the ecological transition, and gender equality. This convergence ensures that the project not only addresses environmental and climate challenges but also promotes economic development and social justice in the Arab countries of the Mediterranean region, establishing synergies between the strategic objectives of both organizations.

Main activities

The initiative will be developed around six key thematic areas: sustainable tourism, nature-based solutions in productive systems such as agriculture and fisheries, spatial planning and coastal zone management, wetland management and transboundary water resources, ecological restoration of forest landscapes, and conservation of species and natural spaces. Each of these areas will feature strategic partnerships with relevant institutions in the region. Tamkeen's core activities include the implementation of theoretical and practical training modules focused on nature-based solutions (NBS), as well as specific training for proposal development and funding searches. The project will also prioritize the consolidation of regional collaboration networks, facilitating the exchange of experiences. Furthermore, to ensure broad access to the knowledge generated, online platforms and mentoring programs will be launched to share good practices and lessons learned.

The first workshop on "Sustainable Tourism & Ecotourism", part of a training cycle aimed at strengthening Mediterranean civil society organizations (CSOs) around Nature-based Solutions (NbS), is taking place in Tunisia from 23 to 25 June 2025, with the participation of 43 participants representing civil society organizations and partners from six Mediterranean countries.