International Development Grant

Mediterranean Wetlands Capacity Building

Project Number: CA-3-Z020803002

Status: Closed

Country/Region: Unknown

Regional Focus:

North of Sahara 66.67%
Middle East 33.33%

Maximum Contribution: $1,709,306.00

Start Date: May 10, 2007

End Date: June 29, 2012

Duration: 5.1 years

Project Description

The purpose of the Mediterranean Wetlands Capacity Building project is to build the capacity of civil society to dialogue with governments about improved wetlands management. By encouraging the inclusion of civil society the project aims to reduce possible tensions and to ensure that the opinion of the people living off the wetland resources many of whom are the poorest of the poor is taken into account in wetlands management. The Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region is one of the most water-deprived regions of the world. Annual water consumption outstrips renewable resources. The wetlands forming part of these resources were destroyed over the past century because of a failure to recognize their importance and value. Many of the communities living near these wetlands are impoverished and are often left out of the decision-making and resource planning processes.

Progress & Results Achieved

Results achieved as of the end of the project (June 2012) include: (1) in Jordan an integrated management plan and a Local Strategic Water Plan for 2012-2016 for the Mujib Nature Reserve was produced; (2) in Morocco a network of civil society entities called the Green Platform was formed and produced an ecologically based water quality monitoring protocol in cooperation with the River Basin Agency that will be integrated into the Sebou River Basin’s monitoring program; (3) in Tunisia a decision-making support tool to optimize the allocation of Lac Ichkeul water resources among different users such as Tunisia’s urban and agriculture areas was produced in cooperation with civil society stakeholders and presented to decision-makers for adoption; (4) the project findings were adopted for further implementation in the Mediterranean region and were shared regionally and internationally. These contributed to improving the management of wetlands by facilitating dialogue between civil society organizations and government.

Key Information

Executing Agency:
Wetlands International

Reporting Organization:
Global Affairs Canada

Program:
EGM Europe Arctic Middle East and Magh

Last Modified:
September 19, 2025

Development Classifications

DAC Sector:

Water sector policy and administrative management 20%
Water resources conservation (including data collection) 10%
Democratic participation and civil society 30%
Environmental policy and administrative management 20%
Environmental education/training 20%

Aid Type: Contributions to specific-purpose programmes and funds managed by implementing partners

Collaboration: Bilateral

Finance Type: Aid grant excluding debt reorganisation

Selection Mechanism:
Pre-APP

Policy Markers
Level 1 Gender equality
Level 1 Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting)
Level 1 Participatory development and good governance
Major Funding (>$1M)
Budget Breakdown
2008-04-01 to 2009-03-31 $1,709,306 CAD
Geographic Information
793";Budget Type:Original;Start Date:2009-04-01;End Date:2010-03-31;Value Date:2007-05-10;Value:"$490
Project Number: CA-3-Z020803002