Who are we?
Priority Actions Programme/Regional Activity Centre (PAP/RAC), established in 1977, is one of the six Regional Activity Centres of the Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP), itself part of the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment). Twenty one Mediterranean countries as well as the European Union make up the MAP, and their common objective is the creation of a healthier Mediterranean environment, resting on the principle of sustainable development.
PAP/RAC is the people who work in the Centre, as well as the large network of Mediterranean institutions and experts. Based in Split with the support of the Government of Croatia, PAP/RAC has a core staff of nine multidisciplinary experts who co-operate with National Focal Points (NFPs) appointed by the national governments of all Mediterranean countries and the EU, international and national institutions, and with the network of external experts.
The mission
PAP/RAC’s mission is to support Mediterranean countries on their path towards sustainable coastal development. Contracting Parties defined the PAP/RAC’s mission with their decision and that is to provide support to Mediterranean countries to ratify and implement the ICZM Protocol, as well as to implement the Mediterranean Strategy for Sustainable Development (MSSD).
Main activities
All PAP/RAC activities are aiming to support the Mediterranean countries on their path towards sustainable coastal development. This support is realized through several lines of activities:
- on-the-ground activities (Coastal Area Management Programmes - CAMPs, coastal or ICZM plans, national ICZM strategies, etc.);
- capacity building (different trainings, workshops, consultations, conferences, on-the-job trainings related to particular projects, as well as through MedOpen – PAP/RAC’s on-line training on ICZM);
- awareness raising (Mediterranean Coast Day campaign, different awareness-raising activities in the framework of the on-the-ground projects);
- development of methodologies, providing support to development of regional and national policies and preparation of legal documents.
The principal activity of PAP/RAC is the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). This approach to managing coastal zones is recognised as the way forward for the sustainable development since the 1992 Rio Conference for its ability to provide solutions to the complex environmental, social, economic and institutional problems of the coastal zones.
Challenges to sustainable coastal development are subject to constant change. Recently, strengthening coastal resilience became the key issue for the sustainability of the coastal zones. Eco-system approach (EcAp), marine spatial planning, green and blue economy are only some of the new themes the ICZM approach deals with.
MAP Institutional Structure
Location
PAP/RAC is situated in Split, Croatia, a magnificent roman city which is one of the UNESCO heritage sites. Our premises are located in a superb Renaissance palace, at the Perystile within the Diocletian's Palace which dates back to the 3rd century A.D. Split is a Croatian gateway city with excellent connections with other Mediterranean countries.
© TZ Split
History of PAP/RAC
Mandate / Progress Reports / Assessments