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

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)

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

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 

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 

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 

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 Maher.MAHJOUB@iucn.org with the subject line: Partners for North Africa Region.

35 Mediterranean Members in the North African Region 

ALGERIA                                                                                                            

• Association Ecologique Boumerdes                                                       
• Mouvement écologique algérien
• Ministère de l’Environnement

EGYPT 

• Arab Network for Environment and Development
• Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe
• Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency
• El Maktab El Arabi Lei Shabab Wal Biah
• Nature Conservation Egypt
• The Society of Writers on Environment and Development

LIBYA

• Alhaya Organization for the Protection of Wildlife and Marine Organisms
• Libyan Wildlife Trust

TUNISIA 

• Alliance Femme et Environnement
• Association de Continuité de Générations
• Association Jeunes Science Kerkennah ASJK
• Association "Les Amis des Oiseaux"
• Association pour la Protection de l'Environnement et le Développement Durable de Bizerte
• Association Tunisienne de Taxonomie
• Association Tunisienne pour la Protection de la Nature et de l’Environnement 
• Exploralis
• Fédération Nationale des Associations des Chasseurs et des Associations de Chasse Spécialisées
• Green Compass
• Notre Grand Bleu 

MOROCCO

• Association de Gestion Intégrée des Ressources
• Association des Enseignants des Sciences de la Vie et de la Terre
• Association Marocaine pour la Chasse Durable
• Association Marocaine pour la Protection de l`Environnement et le Climat
• Association Marocaine pour le Développement des Aires Protégées
• Association Ribat Al Fath
• Club Marocain pour l’Environnement et le Développement
• Fondation EcoSylva
• Groupe de Recherche pour la Protection des Oiseaux au Maroc
• Ministère de l'Agriculture, de la Pêche Maritime, du Développement Rural et des Eaux et Forêts 
• Observatoire pour la Protection de l'Environnement et des Monuments Historiques
• Reseau Association Khnifiss
• Réseau des Associations de la Réserve de Biopshère Arganeraie
• Societé Protectrice des Animaux et de la Nature (SPANA)

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.