Bootcamp 1: Addressing the ecological challenges in the Mediterranean

Overview

This 1st edition gathered 31 Leaders at a 5-day Bootcamp and was held in Tunisia on January 27th – 31st, 2020. It focused on enhancing the capacities of young civil society leaders, selected through an open call for interest, from 10 Arab countries, to strategise, cooperate and advocate for rights and equality in the region. It was an opportunity for them to develop their project ideas, and finally launch simultaneously in their own towns or areas, in June 2020, a common action under the slogan “10 Days for the Mediterranean”, inspired by ecological restoration principles and/or addressing environmental challenges that countries of the region are faced with today.

Goals

Med Dialogue Leaders Programme gathered young leaders in this Bootcamp to:

  • Be familiarized with the main environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region, principles of ecological sciences, political ecology and eco-management, by means of interactive presentations and discussions with the facilitators, and working groups,
  • Be coached on elaborating and implementing a regional common action within a commonly agreed framework and a central operational coordination; building the concept, identifying common characteristics, planning and operational aspects, etc.
  • Participate in study-visits to local environmental CSOs and projects working on ecological transition,
  • Participate in a public debate on “Endangered Mediterranean: which policies to address the region’s environmental and climate challenges?”.

Accomplishments

The Bootcamp resulted in coaching, funding and implementing 31 common action initiatives across the region under the slogan “10 Days for the Mediterranean”, where 31 participants conducted local awareness-raising campaigns, training and advocacy actions within a common framework, to help promote sustainable practices and environmental protection measures around the following four themes: Climate change, Agroecology and forests, Plastic waste, and Marine pollution. This campaign took place during the month of June 2020, World Environment Day. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, many of the activities were carried out virtually. However, some of them, took place in presence after the set timeframe.

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Facilitators’ bios

Saber Ben Mbarek

Saber is a Tunisian Engineer Agronomist and a PIFEDian (member of International Program of Evaluation for Development) holding an advanced degree From Maryland University on Innovative entre…

Saber is a Tunisian Engineer Agronomist and a PIFEDian (member of International Program of Evaluation for Development) holding an advanced degree From Maryland University on Innovative entrepreneurship. He has more than 16 years of experience in several fields, including agronomy, environment, value chain and local development. As Monitoring & Evaluation expert, Saber has been conducting several consultancies with UNDP, FAO, EU and other international organizations to support private sector, NGOs and governments to develop suitable tools and conduct evaluations.

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Wassim Chaabane

Wassim is a Tunisian PhD candidate in the department of waste and resources management at the University of Rostock. He has more than 8 years of experience, and is currently working as Envir…

Wassim is a Tunisian PhD candidate in the department of waste and resources management at the University of Rostock. He has more than 8 years of experience, and is currently working as Environment and Circular Economy expert for Cyclos GmbH in Germany, where he is leading the MENA region department. Wassim works also as an independent consultant for several international organisations, such as WWF, GIZ, WRI, KAS, HBS, etc. He is also active as a trainer in strategic planning – results-based management approach. Experience covers different functions with the private, public sectors, NGOs and the international cooperation.

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Sergio Andreis

Sergio is since 2008 Executive Director of the Rome-based non-profit climate change NGO Kyoto Club. He has served as member of Lombardy’s Regional Parliament (1985-1987), as well as of the I…

Sergio is since 2008 Executive Director of the Rome-based non-profit climate change NGO Kyoto Club. He has served as member of Lombardy’s Regional Parliament (1985-1987), as well as of the Italian House of Representatives (Parliament, 1987-1992), and has co-authored many of the first Italian environmental laws. He has been Euromed youth and citizenship expert for the European Commission (1996-2001) and an Advisor to the Greens/EFA Group in the European Parliament.

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Agenda

  • Day 1 1st of March 2020, Sunday
    17:00-18:00Registration
    18:00 - 20:00Welcome and Ice-breaking Session
    -What is the Programme about?
    Gianluca Solera, Capacity Development Expert

    -Few words about Communication
    Suhair Muhye Al Deen, Communication & Networking Expert

    -Ice-breaking: Participants to introduce themselves and talk about their expectations
    20:30Welcoming Dinner at Olive Tree Hotel
  • Day 2 2nd of March 2020, Monday
    09:00 – 09:30Opening Session

    In the presence of the EU Ambassador in Jordan, H.E. Mrs. Maria Hadjitheodosiou
    Screening of The Middle Sea short cartoon movie, an Irénia – Jocs de Pau production
    09:30 – 10:30Plenary Session: North and South, what we have in common across the Mediterranean
    10:30 – 10:45Coffee Break & group photo with EU Ambassador
    10:45 – 12:30Plenary Session: Establishing “Maghreb – Mashrek” Links
    12:30 – 14:00Lunch
    14:00 – 15:30Group Work: Overcoming existing challenges facing integration across the Mediterranean
    15:30 -15:45Coffee Break
    15:45 – 17:45Plenary Session: Existing active actors and institutions across the Mediterranean
    17:45 – 18:00Coffee Break
    18:00 – 20:00Debate: The role of civil society in promoting a common vision for the Mediterranean
    20:00 – 22:00Dinner at Olive Tree Hotel
  • Day 3 3rd of March 2020, Tuesday
    09:00 – 10:30Group Work: Topics to be addressed
    10:30 – 10:45Coffee Break
    10:45 – 12:30Group Work: Role and function of the civil society
    12:30 – 14:00Lunch
    14:00 – 15:30Stakeholders’ identification and engagement
    15:30 – 15:45Coffee Break
    15:45 – 17:00Activity: Building a formal dialogue within an action plan for an advocacy campaign
    20:00 – 22:00Gala Dinner at Mallol Restaurant, Amman
  • Day 4 4th of March 2020, Wednesday
    09:00 – 10:30Developing and building on the existing statement
    10:30 – 10:45Coffee Break
    10:45 – 12:30Final discussion on the action plan for an advocacy campaign
    12:30 – 13:30Lunch
    13:30 -14:00Workshop’s final evaluation
    14:00Departures