The European Commission has granted a second project extension for Human Dynamics‘ multi-country CES-MED project as of July 2017. Our team of experts will continue delivering technical assistance to affiliated municipalities, authorities, and cities in the South Mediterranean, and the project will continue until April 2O18. Key activities and deliverables during the extension phase include the preparation of SEAPs for Jordan and Egypt, consolidation of the role of the National Coordination Group and the SEAP Support Mechanism (SSM) in each of the eight countries covered by the project (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine and Jordan).
‘‘We will take concrete steps to facilitate the funding of priority projects, selected from those prescribed in the prepared SEAPs from the first phase, and thus help define best future financing schemes for affiliated municipalities in the Southern Mediterranean. The CES-MED team greatly values the support from all focal points, national authorities, cities’ staff and many other stakeholders who continue to contribute with their dedication for the implementation of the project’’, said Nadya Boneva, Deputy Head of Implementation and Project Director for Human Dynamics. By July 2017, 28 SEAPs and SECAPs were prepared with the technical assistance of CES-MED and JRC experts.
The CES-MED project is also a vehicle for local authorities in the region to adhere the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (former Covenant of Mayors) and thus to design and implement the related Sustainable Energy Action Plans. Nineteen of the cities affiliated with CES-MED have effectively joined the Covenant. In total fifty-one municipalities in the South Mediterranean region have effectively applied to the COM and are pending membership status for further preparation of their SEAPs. Since 2013, CES-MED operates two Help Desk Offices (in Rabat, Morocco for Maghreb countries and in Beirut, Lebanon for Mashreq countries) to coordinate the efforts of CES-MED municipalities and coordinators for the Covenant. The CES-MED website also boosts the awareness levels of the local population with regard to sustainable policies and serves as a knowledge hub for other municipalities in the region, who seek affiliation with the Covenant of Mayors. The website is already a trustworthy source of information for a wider group of ENPI local authorities. With the potential for more collaborations with European institutions, cities and funding agencies, who are offering their support to CES-MED, the prospects are good for Human Dynamics to contribute to significant advancement towards a sustainable future for South Mediterranean cities.