ICZM in North Africa

On the occasion of the closing meeting of the project "Effective Integration of integrated coastal zone management in the countries of North Africa: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia", which was held in Hammamet, Tunisia, on 30 March 2017, WWF North Africa brought together many actors from the three countries, and primarily the NGO partners of the project. A PAP/RAC representative has taken part in the welcome addresses together with representatives of APAL, the Ministry in charge of the environment of Morocco, the Directorate-General in charge of tourism in Algeria and the WWF NA, as well as in the discussions that followed.

The meeting was an opportunity to review the results of the project and to share good practices, as well as the difficulties encountered. The regulatory perspectives in north Africa regarding the ICZM Protocol have been discussed, with particular emphasis on the support needed for its ratification in Algeria and Tunisia. Partners have proposed various actions to develop the network of “ICZM-engaged” NGOs in the Maghreb, which emerged within the project lifetime. In order to keep it alive, all associations present at the meeting promised to organize awareness raising actions in each country, and in parallel, especially during the forthcoming Week of the sea and the Coast Day. On the other hand, a Manual for the implementation of ICZM by the associative networks will be widely disseminated (400 copies will be printed and distributed).

Finally, a common agenda has been established by the partners to anticipate the second phase of financing of the CEPF-Med (the donor who financed the project), for which a Call for proposals should be launched in September 2017.