Up to 55k USD available under MedFund

The Fund provides financial support by awarding grants to the management and co-management structures of Mediterranean MPAs in order to make a sustainable contribution to the recurrent management costs of these protected areas.

This call for interest is part of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project “Build back a blue and stronger Mediterranean”. This project is conducted in partnership with the Mediterranean MPA managers’ network MedPAN. This call for interest is open only to MPAs from the following 6 eligible countries who have expressed their interest namely: Albania, Algeria, Lebanon, Montenegro, Morocco and Tunisia.
The MedFund also benefits from the financial support of Le Fonds Francais pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM), Agence francaise de developpement (AFD), the Government of Monaco and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.

Funding Information

• The support granted by The MedFund will be a maximum 55kUSD per year per MPA over 5 years according to the context and the planned activities.
• The purchase of major equipment, except in exceptional cases, if it is essential for the launch or continuation of the project and cannot be financed otherwise. For any request for equipment (vehicles, boats and others) exceeding €10,000, a specific motion of The MedFund’s Board of Directors will be required.

Activities

• Co-management
  • Specify how coordination between NGOs and the National Authority is envisaged (regular meetings, co-management agreement, etc.).
  • Specify how the implementation of the management plan is monitored (annual work plan, reporting etc.).
• Sufficient and competent human resources
  • Specify the expected evolution of the team, its composition, job titles and attach job descriptions.
  • What is the training plan to support the implementation of the management plan?”
• Adapted and maintained equipment
  • List small equipment and maintenance/renewal requirements
• Surveillance and enforcement 
  • Specify the planned surveillance effort (patrols, number of eco-guards, etc.).
• Active governance and stakeholder engagement 
  • Specify the committees set up and the frequency of meetings
• Awareness raising of different audiences/communication
  • List and detail planned communication and awareness-raising activities
• Scientific monitoring (in particular on the 3 conservation targets)
  • Monitoring of conservation targets should be simple and focused. Specify which protocols are being considered. Specify whether these activities are outsourced or not.
• Management activities (conservation/restoration/management of pressures including fisheries, tourism activities, invasive species, etc.) protecting conservation targets
  • List key management actions that will limit pressure on conservation targets
• Promotion/support of environmentally friendly socio-economic activities 
  • List the activities and sectors concerned
• Consideration of climate change-related issues
  • Specify the climate change-related activities planned or carried out
• Gender approach: how to promote gender equality
  • How do you intend to promote the participation and leadership of women in MPA management activities and governance bodies?
• Long-term and financial sustainability
  • Reflection on financial sustainability, diversification of funds, human resources over the long term, etc.

Eligible Funding

• Eligible recurring management costs:
  • Co-management activities,
  • Salaries (excluding administrative salaries),
  • Equipment and infrastructure maintenance, and small equipment purchases,
  • Surveillance and enforcement,
  • Active governance and stakeholder participation,
  • Awareness raising and communication,
  • Scientific monitoring (3 conservation targets),
  • Management activities for the protection of the conservation targets,
  • Promotion/support of socio-economic activities,
  • Consideration of climate change,
  • Gender approach,
  • Establishment of income-generating activities for the MPA.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be considered, your application must meet the eligibility criteria:
  • Must be officially designated MPA or under designation process;
  • Must have a management document or management plan;
  • Must have some management structure and management team in place.

For more information, visit The MedFund.