Activity Report 2017 medcitites.org

1 The current annual report takes as a structure the Action Plan for 2017 presented and approved at the MedCities General Assembly held in Tetouan in 2016. Although entitled “2017 Annual Report”, it describes the activities carried out between the Tetouan General Assembly (December 2016) and the General Assembly (November 2017).

Index

• Welcome letter by the President 04

• Welcome letter by the Secretary General 05

• MedCities, a platform for projects 06 - To promote, implement and assess City Development Strategies (CDS) in the Mediterranean 06 - Accompany members in developing projects 08 - Develop multilateral and bilateral cooperation projects 13 - To capitalize Mediterranean initiatives with a local dimension 15

• MedCities, an efficient and sustainable network 18 - To increase ownership by members 18 - To achieve effective and transparent management 19

• MedCities, a cooperative and reliable regional actor 20 - Act as a facilitator for multilevel 20 - Establish joint initiatives with relevant actors on Urban in the Mediterranean 22 - Advocate for the role of Mediterranean local authorities in international debates 24

2 Activity Report 2017 3 Welcome letter Welcome letter by the President by the Secretary General

Dear members, The activity report shows that 2017 has been a very active year for the association. MedCities is year by year reinforcing its role as a reliable actor, One year after the General Assembly held in Tetouan, MedCities is both vis-à-vis our members and at a regional level. This is the result of presenting its annual report full of activities and hard work. This has been intense work and cooperation, not only from the General Secretariat but a crucial year for our organisation. After 25 years working as a network of also from the Knowledge Transfer Centres and through the involvement cities, MedCities has become a fully operative association. This has been Mohamed Xavier of all members. Idaomar the culmination of a political mandate made by our Assembly at our Tiana President annual meeting in in November 2013. Secretary Three issues appear particularly relevant among the activities this year. First, the beginning of our work as an association, which opens a new Becoming an association opens the door for more and better activities, General period for MedCities, its capacities to implement projects and to establish led by our General Secretariat and underpinned by the important work of partnerships with other organisations. Intense work has been needed in our branches, the Knowledge Transfer Centres established in the cities of order to set all juridical, administrative and financial measures in order to Sfax (Tunisia) and the Urban Community of Al Fayhaa (Lebanon). have a fully operative organisation. Apart from the large amount of activities, projects and seminars organised Second, the strengthening of the relationship with historic members this year, which you will have the chance to discover through this annual such as , Rome, Limassol, Ancona and Tirana is very positive news report, I would like to particularly highlight the enormous work done for all of our members. Having established new contacts with these cities in order to strengthen our organisation. Firstly, in consolidating and will allow the network to enlarge the scope of its activities and to increase enlarging the team at the Secretariat in Barcelona, a group of vibrant the impact of our work. and committed professionals who I would like to thank particularly for their task and dedication. Secondly, the new financial and administrative Third, the international seminar celebrated in Sfax with the participation scheme of the association allows a more efficient system of reporting and of eleven Libyan cities, cooperating with our members from Tunisia and monitoring of expenses, which increases the capacity of the Secretariat Morocco deserves particular recognition. This is one of the few regional to implement new projects. Finally, efforts have been made to increase initiatives involving Libyan local authorities in the region and we are very available resources in order for the activities of the network to have greater glad to have cooperated with the Committee of the Region and the impact in promoting sustainable urban development in the region. German Agency for Cooperation in a common objective.

Each year MedCities is becoming a more reliable actor, ready to partner Beyond these three points, the rhythm of projects and seminars organised and work in cooperation with other actors, in order to improve the has been hectic, showing once again the great work and commitment of delivery of urban services in our cities. We all know that the challenges MedCities to embark on new and successful initiatives. ahead are huge and complex. Nevertheless, I am convinced that the I am convinced that the work carried out so far has prepared us for a very approach our association is promoting is on the right track, searching fruitful year in 2018, in which we will have to renew our Board of Directors complementarities of our actions and tangible results through the to face a new mandate of four years full of challenges. implementation of specific projects.

Finally, I would like to call on our members to continue working together through this promising cooperation scheme of MedCities. I am sure that

cities will play a greater role in the future development of the region. Being together is the first step to make this happen.

4 Activity Report 2017 5 MedCities, a platform for projects

MedCities, a platform for projects

To engage in CDS mented in 2017. The Convention foresees the revision To promote, initiatives in Libya. of the Urban planning and Development Plan (PAU) and the Urban Transport Plan (PDU); the implementa- implement and assess In the framework of the General Assembly of ARLEM tion of a plan for mobilizing resources and promoting (Malta, 22-23.02.2017), Medcities held a high-level Eco-construction criteria for the new municipal buil- City Development working meeting with the Mayors of the cities of Tri- ding; as well as setting up an energy master plan fo- poli, Zirte and political representatives from Gharyan, cusing on efficient and non-polluting public lighting. Strategies in the Sirte, Bengaz and Toubruk. MedCities shared with the Mediterranean Libyan representatives the activities and projects of the network. The Lybian representatives pointed out Tripoli launches an Action Plan for the city several issues on which they need assistance, such to drive development in the coming years Support members in defining, as water and waste management. As a result of this During this period, the municipality of Tripoli laun- implementing and reviewing City meeting, and with the aim to contribute in the AR- ched its action plan for the coming years. On May Development Strategies. LEM Initiative of Nicosia for Libyan cities, MedCities, 26th, 2017, Tripoli presented, through a 20 minutes with the support of the GiZ Programme for Libya, or- video clip, the five components of the action plan Madinatouna Project ganised an international seminar in Sfax with a high which deals with most of the priorities of the city and Launched in November 2016, this initiative is imple- Finally, I would like to call on our members to conti- level of participation of Libyan municipal representati- the aspirations of the people of Tripoli: administrative mented within the framework of the Cities Alliances nue working together through this promising coo- ves (16-17.10.2017). One of the issues dealt with in the organization and planning, improvement of the qua- country program in Tunisia under the coordination peration scheme of MedCities. I am sure that cities seminar included City Development Strategies. lity of life, urbanization and infrastructure, social di- of the United Nations Development Programme will play a greater role in the future development of mension and economic dimension. Each priority has (UNDP), and in partnership with MedCities, the Ger- the region. Being together is the first step to make subsequent core concepts to be implemented. This To communicate the CDS man Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), The this happen. promising Action Plan is a milestone for the new pro- International Development Centre for Innovative Lo- of MedCities members. Also, during this period, MedCities elaborated a me- gramming period and for the project implementa- cal Governance (CILG –VNG), National Federation of thodological proposal, which was adopted and will Sousse signs an agreement with tion of the city. MedCities will support and contribute Tunisian Cities (FNVT) and The Centre for Training and be implemented by all nine cities and international SECO to implements its CDS to its deployment through technical projects and ac- Supporting to the Decentralization (CFAD). partners for the elaboration of their City Development tivities undertaken with the support of KTC Al Fayhaa. MedCities acts as a channel for the communication of The project is addressed to nine Tunisian cities and Strategy. It has also participated in the training for tra- the implementation process of the city development aims at developing participative strategic urban plan- iners activity, in order to enhance their capacity to use strategies of its members. ning strategies. MedCities is responsible for the me- such methodology. This proposal will be reviewed at In 2017, an agreement was signed between the city thodological component of the project and for ac- the end of the project in order to be adapted and of Sousse and the Swiss Cooperation Agency (SECO) companying the cities of Kairouan and Gabès in the capitalised by the national stakeholders, as a tool for for support in the implementation of the CDS with a definition of their urban strategies. Currently, the local strategic planning of Tunisian municipalities. Kai- grant of 2.3 million Swiss francs. The CDS of Sousse was CDS teams have been constituted and the cities are rouan, Gabès and Monastir are the three MedCities developed under the USUDS project, led by MedCities. working in the elaboration of their diagnosis as well members participating in this project. as the preparation of the conference that will officially The first phase of the programme “Sousse Urban Sus- launch the strategy to the general public. tainable Development and other cities” will be imple-

6 Activity Report 2017 7 MedCities, a platform for projects

Accompany members Support to tourism To continue The project aims to improve the capacities on waste management of development in Batroun implementing projects the municipalities through the implementation of changes in their waste management systems and the exchange of experiences and knowledge in developing projects In April 2017 the KTC of Al-Fayhaa undertook a te- in member cities, about efficient waste management. chnical mission to the Union of Municipalities of Ba- particularly related To carry out capacity-building and troun, in order to take an in-depth look at the Union to integrated urban In the case of Kairouan, support was given for the optimisation of waste technical assistance activities for strategic priorities and the possibilities of collabora- collection circuits in order to cover a larger part of the city; accompanied management and members in cooperation with the tion and technical assistance within the network. The by the provision of new collection bins to support collection in new parts social cohesion, such KTCs. municipalities underlined the need to define and im- of the city as well as the creation of a commercial route. Also, a big black plement a master plan for the coastal zone extending as GeDeTun in Bizerte point of illegal deposit of waste in the socially deprived neighbourhood of Support Djerba Midoun in implementing from Chekka to Kfar Abida, which should identify and and Kairouan and Menchia is being transformed into a green space for residents, after the energy efficiency measures in the give response to the main challenges related with COOPVERD in Nabeul implementation of a door-to- door collection system in the area. municipal building the tourism sector in the mountainous region of In the case of Bizerte, an important part of the pilot project was imple- A technical assistance in Djerba Midoun on energy the Union. Waste Management mented in 2016. During 2017 the project focused on two issues. Firstly, efficiency and renewable energy is being developed in Tunisia (GEDETUN - As a result of this meeting, MedCities is providing support the municipality in its decision to implement collection throu- along the last semester of 2017. The project consists GEstion de DÉchets en technical support to identify tourism development gh underground waste containers, by funding a benchmarking analysis of the implementation of an energy audit and refur- TUNisie) priority actions in Batroun City and the Union of Mu- about the most adequate system for the city of Bizerte, as well as propo- bishment works of the Djerba Midoun City Hall, with nicipalities as a strategic tool to facilitate fundraising. During 2017, MedCities conti- sing a thorough set of terms of reference and technical and economic the aim of becoming a high energy performance buil- The action includes field visits to identify key natu- nued with the implementation of specifications for subcontracting the implementation of the new system ding model throughout the island territory. ral and cultural assets in the region and participatory the GeDeTun project. The project in the Corniche. Also, the project is currently supporting the city in the The development of an energy audit of the building workshops to pursue a SWOT analysis and the defini- is financed by the Barcelona City optimisation of its waste collection circuits and routes in order to maxi- will analyse the current energy performance framed tion of a common vision and action plan for the deve- Council, the Metropolitan Area mise efficiency. by comfort in buildings standards together with an of Barcelona and the two local lopment of sustainable tourism, including a number Lastly, in May 2017 a technical seminar was organised in Bizerte with optimization of the energy demands contextualized counterparts, the Municipalities of of well-defined priority actions. the participation of different municipalities of Tunisia and engineers from in the Mediterranean climate. Also, it will dictate a set Bizerte and Kairouan, with a total Barcelona in order to foster a debate among technical municipal staff of measures likely to reduce energy consumption by budget of 146,500€. on the issues of optimisation of waste collection based on the different increasing indoor comfort through passive architectu- options of containerisation. re solutions and renewable energy systems.

The main objective is the development of an energy COOP-VERD - Promotion of recycling and green efficiency action plan that will describe in detail the employment in Nabeul set of solutions likely to reduce waste of energy re- The project, launched in December 2016, is coordinated by the Metropo- sources. Also, a set of photovoltaic panels is being ins- litan Area of Barcelona, in cooperation with MedCities, the Municipality of talled to cover over 60% of the energy demand, as an Nabeul and the local association ETE+, and financed by the Municipality alternative to fossil fuels. of Barcelona. The pilot project aims at promoting recycling and green employment by improving the working conditions of informal waste co- llectors (waste-pickers) in the city of Nabeul.

8 Activity Report 2017 9 MedCities, a platform for projects

Creation of a “Social To integrate gender, and to implement pilot projects Agreement” with displaced and for sorting at source initiatives and associations in Tetouan refugee dimension in separate collection and transfer of municipal solid waste. The municipality of Tetouan, in members projects. collaboration with the Association Solid waste management ex- Improved Solid Waste America-Europe of Regions and perts from different institutions Management in Al Fayhaa Cities (AERYC) and in partnership participated in the assessment (ISWMF) Project with MedCities has been working of the situation in the four cities to establish a new framework of MedCities has supported the ela- of the Urban Community of Al cooperation with the associations boration of a project for the “Im- Fayhaa (Tripoli, El Mina, Beddawi of the city. This project is replica- proved solid waste management and Qalamoun) and visited was- After a diagnosis of the situation of the waste-pickers Towards the establishment of a Cultural ting a methodology developed in in Al Fayhaa” funded by different te management infrastructures. and their working conditions as well as the opportu- observatory in Al Fayhaa Barcelona, to foster a cooperation Catalan institutions and imple- Furthermore, a mission was held nities presented for circular economy activities in Tu- model between associations and mented in partnership with UNDP in Catalonia in early September The Urban Community of Al Fayhaa (Union of Tripoli, nisia, the pilot project was launched in the Neapo- municipalities in order to work and the Urban Community of Al 2017, where political and techni- Mina, Baadawi and Kalamoun) has implemented a lis district of Nabeul. In order to assure engagement together in the definition, imple- Fayhaa. The total budget of the ac- cal representatives from Al Fayhaa project towards the establishment of a cultural Ob- and encourage the residents to separate plastic and mentation and follow-up of social tion is 730.000€ and is being im- became familiarised with the was- servatory in Al Fayhaa. MedCities supported Al Fayhaa recycle at source, a communication campaign was policies in the city. plemented during 2017 and 2018. te management strategies and in- in attaining a grant for the project from the Diputació launched as well as a participation process for the frastructure in Barcelona and its de Barcelona, which is funding the project. BIAT, who The project has set the basis for The objective of the project is to installation of recycling points for plastic in the nei- vicinity. MedCities is thus fulfilling signed an MOU in 2016 with Al Fayhaa, acted as the this model and reinforces the strengthen capacities for social ghbourhood. one of its missions articulating de- Beneficiary of the grant. role of local authorities of articu- stability in host communities centralized cooperation among Furthermore, the Municipality prepared and made lators or stakeholders of the city, affected by the Syrian crisis by The specific objectives of the Cultural observatory are members, since the Municipality available to ETE+ a green point for plastic collection in order to find and strengthen supporting basic services provision to protect and safeguard the cultural heritage of Al of Barcelona and the Metropolitan in the city centre, in order to facilitate the work of the alliances with those actors, alig- for the vulnerable Lebanese and Fayhaa cities in order to preserve the idea of their Area of Barcelona are among the chiffonniers. The collectors that participate in the pro- ned with the objective of impro- Syrian population. The project aims cultural diversity and to deepen the citizenship and partners of the project as well as ject will be provided with medical and social covera- ving social services and social co- to elaborate an Integrated Solid belonging of the inhabitants to this urban space of the local authorities of Al Fayhaa. ge; as well as appropriate hygienic conditions, inclu- hesion in the city. Municipal Waste Management Plan Lebanon. Thanks to its cultural heritage Tripoli has se- ding uniforms, vaccination campaigns and training in veral touristic identities: it can be a gastronomic city, occupational risks. In order to give added value to the an artisan city par excellence, and still a city rich in plastic collected and thus improve the revenue of this museums of arts and popular traditions. activity, the green point was provided with a pressing machine to transform the plastic into pressed bales. To fulfil its objectives, the Cultural Observatory should identify the cultural potential, compile an inventory of COOP-VERD is implemented in a broader frame of cultural practices, modes of access and participation optimisation of waste collection in Nabeul, contri- of the Tripolitans to cultural life, document the impor- buting to ACTE pilot project for energetic transition tance and role of culture in Tripolitan society, value through reorganisation of waste management. As the existing database on the cultural sector, interact part of this project, MedCities is also supporting the with producers of statistics or knowledge in the cultu- city in auditing the energy consumption of the mobi- ral field, promote dialogue and partnership between le park used for waste collection. different actors and facilitate the transfer of knowled- ge for the benefit of stakeholders.

10 Activity Report 2017 11 MedCities, a platform for projects

To accompany members in After successful meetings, technical visits and ex- seeking funding opportunities. Develop multilateral changes, different cooperation opportunities were Accessibility Plans in the cities and evaluation process. Training included a hands- identified. Actions will be specifically developed in of Tanger and Tetouan on session where all participants were engaged in a and bilateral one of the following fields: urban planning, green and group discussion about the different components of public space, public markets management, waste re- In the last six months of 2017, two new urban projects cooperation projects a Log Frame analysis. collection or public lighting. are being launched in and Tetouan, with an estimated implementation period of 18 months. In The training, allowed for a significant level and inte- To submit projects to the ENI CBC These missions showed the willingness of the two ci- July 2017, MedCities organised a mission to both cities raction which was highly appreciated by the parti- MED Programme. ties to work for a stronger partnership and to establi- to identify possible initiatives and projects to be imple- cipants. This event was identified as a priority action sh a concrete framework for cooperation. MedCities Medcities has worked during the last months on the mented, under the cooperation agreement signed be- during the MedCities mission last June to member welcomes and promotes these types of bilateral coo- inclusion of its members in proposals to be submit- tween MedCities and the Municipality of Barcelona. cities in Lebanon and Cyprus and is part of the Cata- peration among its members. ted for funding, according to their priorities. Apart from lan Agency for Development and Cooperation (ACCD) The objective of the technical mission was to exchan- linking proposals with our members’ priorities, the Se- support to the strengthening of activities in the area. ge the initiatives and work programmes of the two cretariat has actively worked on two project proposals: Exchange between Barcelona and Gaza cities in terms of sustainable urban development and on water cycle management • Recuperation and Reuse of Non-Conventional Wa local economic development. Promotion of the participation ter Resources, where two member cities participate MedCities collaborated with the initiative of the Mu- of MedCities members in The meeting output was the identification of needs as partners together with the MedCities network. nicipality of Barcelona to organise a visit of a dele- multilateral projects and priorities for intervention on socio-economic as- gation from Gaza. From 2 to 8 May 2017, a technical • Energy efficiency auditing and renovation of public pects in both cities. Taking into account the prio- In the framework of the next call for projects of the exchange mission on water cycle management took buildings, where three member cities participate rities outlined and the initiatives presented by the ENI Mediterranean Sea Basin Programme, MedCi- place, with the participation of various stakeholders as partners together with the MedCities network. PAC services and the social action services, the po- ties has received several projects proposals. Fulfi- from both cities. MedCities organised visits to water tential projects identified were to provide technical lling our mission to encourage the participation of treatment infrastructures, use of regenerated waters support actions for the development of Municipal the members to multilateral initiatives, the General To promote bilateral as well as to the desalinization plant in the Barcelo- Plans on City Accessibility. Secretariat contacted several cities in order to as- cooperation among members. na Metropolitan Area (AMB). Such exchanges are an sess their interest in joining some of these project important element for MedCities since they allow the Bilateral cooperation between the proposals. Thus, MedCities acts as a facilitator to fos- technical exchange of experiences among its mem- Building capacity for applying to Municipality of Barcelona and the ter the participation of Mediterranean local authori- bers and the sharing of knowledge, creating condi- European funds in Lebanon: Training Municipality of Tunis ties in region-wide cooperation schemes. tions for bilateral cooperation to arise. Workshop on ENI CBC MED Programme The Municipalities of Barcelona and Tunis signed a On 9th September MedCities and its KTC in Al-Fayhaa Twinning agreement on 1969. Currently, both muni- Technical assistance to Jordanian cities a training workshop gathered in Tripoli 46 represen- cipalities are willing to renew their political relation tatives of Lebanese municipalities and stakeholders During the last quarter of 2017 MedCities, through into concrete actions. (universities, private institutions, associations, etc.). its KTC Al-Fayhaa, is developing new technical assis- In March 2017, a delegation of the Municipality of The purpose of this training was to break the ice and tance initiatives to Jordanian member cities, as well Barcelona visited the city of Tunis for a technical diag- make participants acquainted with the main features as the possibility to strengthen the presence of the nostic mission, in order to identify new possibilities of of the new ENI CBC MED programme on time for the network in the country. A technical mission to the collaboration. In summer 2017, a delegation of Tunis submission of proposals to the first call for standard member cities of Zarqa and Jerash, as well to other representatives developed a technical mission to Bar- projects with deadline by the end of 2017. potential members as Madaba, Irbid and Salt, has celona, aiming at starting the definition of concrete been organised and will be followed by a training The trainer went into depth on the components of practices on urban development which were identi- workshop aimed at strengthening fundraising and the ENI Strategy, the main characteristics and requi- fied as priority concepts for both cities. project management capacity to respond to an in- rements of the Standard Call, and the award criteria creasing demand for municipal services.

12 Activity Report 2017 13 MedCities, a platform for projects

Exchange between Exchange between To participate in To capitalize and on Oran, Bizerte and other multilateral economic development Nabeul in Algeria projects calls and Mediterranean and culture Representatives of the cities of opportunities that initiatives with a From 10 to 14th May 2017, a Bizerte, Nabeul and Oran parti- may arise. delegation of high-level officials cipated last November in an ex- In the framework of the Cities local dimension from Tangiers, led by the Mayor change in the Algerian city on Alliance country programme for Mr. Abdellaoui, visited Marseille waste management and energy Seminar on “Urban strategies, tools and Tunisia, under which the MADINA- To disseminate good as part of a process of rapproche- efficient projects. This activity technologies in the era of sustainability” - TOUNA project for the promotion practices on social cohesion and ment between the two cities in aimed at reinforcing the inte- Sfax (Tunisia) of sustainable urban development order to facilitate exchanges for raction between the three cities, integrated urban management in strategies is being developed. This This seminar, organised in Sfax with the participation the economic and touristic deve- fostering best practices exchan- Mediterranean projects. is a multilateral project for promo- of over 30 municipalities from Morocco, Tunisia and lopment of the two territories. ges and knowledge sharing. Seminar on waste management - ting the implementation of CDS Libya, explored the practice of urban sustainability Bizerte (Tunisia) The cooperation between the ci- This exchange took place in the through the engagement of civil from the conception of Sustainable Development ties of Tangiers and Marseille has framework or the EET project, society and citizens. The project, In collaboration with the Municipality of Bizerte, the Strategies (SDS) to the tools and technologies for strengthened over the past three managed by the organisation with a budget of 600.000 USD, Municipality of Kairouan and the National Federation its implementation, through concrete and tangible years. This visit represented a ca- Data Processing Development will be implemented by the same of Tunisian Cities, MedCities organised a seminar for projects. It took place in a context of consolidating talyst for cooperation, which will and Studies (IDEE) and in coo- partnership of MADINATOUNA, technical staff involved in municipal waste manage- decentralization in Tunisia, which is organizing the be materialised by the signature peration with MedCities. The led by the German cooperation ment in Tunisia, on 9th May in the city of Bizerte. next municipal elections in March 2018. of a letter of intention in coopera- delegation of Tunisian partners agency (GIZ) in Tunisia. Kairouan, The technical seminar, part of the GeDeTun project, This seminar is complementary to the Nicosia initiati- tion with the following domains: was hosted by the association Gabès and Monastir, members addressed the whole cycle of waste management ve, promoted by the Committee of the Regions and economic and port development, R20MED, and included repre- of MedCities, will be among the and focused especially on the two issues that were the ARLEM, encouraging decentralized cooperation sustainable and touristic develo- sentatives from all three muni- cities that will benefit from the tackled during the project lifespan in the cities of Bi- towards Libyan cities, in order to strengthen their pment, higher education and cipalities and other actors. This activities of this project for the zerte and Kairouan: the different systems of containe- public services, and the City Development Strategy research, sport and cultural ex- activity has been relevant since it implementation of quick-win ur- risation for waste collection; and the optimisation of (CDS) Programme in Libya, promoted by the German changes, international mobility represents a new link with Oran, ban projects. municipal waste management, including collection Cooperation Agency (GIZ). for young people, Francophonie a very active city in our network routes and localisation of containers. (promotion of French language in the past, whose commitment The introduction of new tools in the management of and culture). with the activities of the associa- This knowledge sharing activity included the expe- the city is necessary in order to optimise resources tion is now reinforced. riences of the city of Barcelona, the Barcelona Metro- and achieve the objectives set by the CDSs, adapting politan Area and the city of Tangier. Two workshops them to the socio-economic context and drawing were held around these two issues, where a lively de- new scenarios for innovative solutions. In this context, bate took place among the participants. In addition the seminar focuses on CDS from the perspective of to these subjects, the seminar addressed the issue transversality of tools and new technologies in the era of mobilisation of actors around sustainable waste of sustainability. management, with presentations of the organization The sessions were structured under the guiding Regions for Recycling and Sustainable Resource Ma- thread of innovation, from planning and manage- nagement (ACR+), the cities of Sfax and Nabeul ment of resources (Energy, Water and Waste) to the implementation of concrete projects.

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Participation in the EU Interreg PANACeA – The Mediterranean Each city organised during the first half of the year two metropolitan workshops to address cross secto- MED Program with the following Biodiversity Protection Community rial challenges and opportunities in their territory. The PANACeA is an Interreg MED Horizontal project projects. next step is to bring the discussion to transnational aiming at streamlining management efforts in GO-SUMP – Improving Sustainable Urban level, through international meetings of stakeholders Protected Areas for enhanced Nature Conservation Mobility Plans and Measures in the MED around the six thematic concepts. & Protection in the Mediterranean Sea. The project MedCities participates as a partner within the GO- has led to the articulation of an EU Interreg Med The project is led by the Agency for Sustainable Medite- SUMP Project, which is an EU Interreg MED project on Community focusing on Biodiversity Protection (the rranean Cities and Territories (AViTeM) and partners inclu- Sustainable Urban Mobility, dealing with Communica- “MED Biodiversity Protection Community”), bringing de ANIMA Investment Network, CHIEAM-MAIM-Agro- tion and Promotion of Results in the Mediterranean re- together a comprehensive network of experts from nomic Institute of Montpellier, Metropolitan City of gion. GO-SUMP guides and supports the Urban Trans- public & private institutions actively working to protect Bologna, Aristotle University of and the port Community (UTC), which is currently composed biodiversity and natural ecosystems in Mediterranean Agricultural University of Tirana. The project will run of the modular projects under development and other Protected Areas. till July 2017. The project is co-financed by the Eu- stakeholders. All listed projects work towards sustai- MADRE, capitalising efforts towards urban ropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by an PANACeA creates synergies between relevant Medi- nable mobility solutions that are tailor-made to meet agriculture as instrument to promote 85% and the remaining 15% is co-financed by the terranean stakeholders around several policy aspects challenges in the respective areas, and are based on local development project partners. including biodiversity protection, coastal and marine sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMPs). MedCities has taken the challenge to capitalise the conservation, fisheries, Maritime Spatial Planning, cli- Medcities is also participating in the following MED success of the ENI CBC MED project SIDIG MED The partnership is formed by Malaga City Council mate change, governance mechanisms, marine litter projects as associated partner (without receiving fi- (2013-2015) on the promotion of urban and peri-ur- (lead partner), REC Slovenia, EUROCITIES, MEDCITIES, or waste management are addressed under the um- nancing). The BlueTourMed project in maritime tou- ban agriculture as a local development instrument CODATU and UNIMED and the duration of the project brella of these MPs. rism and led by Arco Latino and the MedNice project is 3 years up to 2019. By capitalizing good and espe- to fight social exclusion and poverty, with the parti- led by Nice in the domain of the energy efficiency. Last 23rd to 25th October, MedCities organised in cially bad practices, the horizontal project contributes cipation of the Barcelona Metropolitan Area and the Barcelona the first PANACeA Knowledge Sharing and to a unique identity on SUMPs in the Mediterranean Municipalities of Mahdia and Rome among others. In Community Building Event towards linking the needs cities, enhancing their peculiarities as a key to imple- doing so, MedCities is a partner to the Interreg MED of regional practitioners to researchers and to facilita- ment low carbon transport & mobility measures Project MADRE, which aims to pave the way for a te evidence-based policy making. transnational cluster on metropolitan agriculture in MedCitiesis dealing with the on-going definition, The Metropolitan Area of Barcelona showcased its the Mediterranean, to make it a key factor for econo- synthesis and methodology of the Med Urban territorial strategy for biodiversity protection and its mic, social and sustainable development to promote Transport Community, in order to find a functional practice experience addressing coastal pressures and a new design of urban agricultural planning suitable protocol to transfer and to involve the MedCities ne- beach management. The city of Lanarka, which has for integrating agriculture into urban development. twork within the project progresses and solutions biodiversity protection as one of its strategic develop- developed, especially the Southern Mediterranean Six Mediterranean metropolis (Barcelona, Montpe- ment priorities, was one of the guests to this knowle- cities which have a high potential to design and im- llier, Marseille, Bologna, Tirana and Thessaloniki) are dge sharing opportunity. plement SUMPs from a ‘learnt lessons’ criteria. The engaging stakeholders on the discussion around six project is co-financed by the European Regional The project, led by the European Topic Centre - Univer- strategic topics on metropolitan agriculture, namely Development Fund (ERDF) by an 85% and the re- sity of Malaga (ETC-UMA) in partnership with the Con- farmers’ innovation, consumers’ innovation, academic maining 15% is co-financed by the project partners. ference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR), UNEP research, territorial innovation, social innovation and MAP Plan Bleu, UNIMED and REC Montenegro will last transnational innovation. till November 2019. The project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) by an 85% and the rest is co-financed by the project partners.

16 Activity Report 2017 17 MedCities, an efficient and sustainable network

MedCities, an efficient and sustainable network To define a sustainable funding framework for the Association (increase payments of fees, consolidate the financial contribution of AMB To strengthen internal communication. To increase and Barcelona City and search for new donors). MedCities has continued to issue internal communications to members to MedCities has worked to continue diversifying the sources of financing in keep them updated on the relevant questions affecting the structure and ownership order to become more sustainable. The budget of the association increa- functioning of the Association. This Communications are complementary To achieve sed significantly in 2017 and will continue to do so next year. by members to the newsletters issued regularly to the general public and respond to the mandate to maintain a vibrant and transparent relationship between effective and The different sources of funding allow MedCities to be able to cope with To formalize the the General Secretariat and the member cities. transparent and co-finance participation in various projects with benefit to the ne- structure, tasks and twork. On the other hand, the contribution of fees by members continues competences of the To better communicate members’ initiatives to management to be an important aspect necessary for the stability and ownership of the network activities. regional antennas all members and third parties.

(KTCs). During 2017, the General Secretariat has continued producing periodic To make MedCities To highlight accountability vis-à-vis members After the approval of the Rules of newsletters, including different sections where updates on urban develo- association fully Procedures in the General Assem- pment and decentralized cooperation actions in the Mediterranean have operative, defining and third parties. bly of Tetouan in 2016, MedCities been released by city members. internal procedures MedCities is currently implementing all measures to make all relevant has worked to formalize and re- Throughout the period, the MedCities website contents have been enri- and assuring the information related to the Association fully operative, becoming an ad- cognise the role of its branches, ched by 48 news articles with insights from a large majority of member performance of its vanced and transparent organisation. To that end, MedCities website is the Knowledge Transfer Centres. cities. It has also included the participation of the General Secretariat in a actions. being modified in order to include all relevant documents that can be of To that end, two Memorandums large set of international meetings and seminars. interest to all members and third parties. of Understanding have been sig- Since 1st April 2017, MedCities star- In the last semester, external support is being provided by a consultancy The accounting of the association and specifically the revenue and ex- ned between the members hos- ted operating for all purposes as an firm specialised in media and communications, in order to improve com- penditure account is the faithful economic reflection of the day-to-day of ting these two branches, the Mu- association consolidating its struc- munication of the different projects to enlarge the scope of our activities. the association. On the other hand, the economic balance of the year is nicipality of Sfax and the Urban ture and capacities. The formal in- the image of the consolidation of the entity. As the standard and always Community of Al Fayhaa. corporation of the technical staff with the spirit of transparency, all financial information is made availa- To carry out activities with existing and future and the definition of tasks was key These agreements strengthen the ble to the general public. Moreover, the audits of all projects closing in members of Italy, Balkans and Adriatic region. to the strategic reinforcement of decentralisation of the network, 2017 have been undertaken with satisfactory results. the association. This process has and reinforce its capacity to bet- This year MedCities has made an important effort to reinforce the rela- been accompanied by restructu- ter assist our members in imple- tionship with its European member cities and to consolidate its position in ring of internal procedures both To promote a gender dimension in all projects menting projects and offering te- the Adriatic region. at financial, operative and admi- chnical assistances and training, and internal structures. In July, representatives from the Secretariat, in collaboration with the nistrative levels, in order to better as a result of the geographic MedCities considers gender dimension in its operating structure, pro- KTC of Al Fayhaa, visited Larnaka and Limassol, in order to explore and rein- deliver good quality assistance proximity that the KTCs offer to moting equal hiring, with absolute gender independence, valuing the force the existing paths of cooperation. Both cities reaffirmed their com- to its members. The completion the network structure. key technical factors for the proper performance of the entity’s tasks. mitment and their willingness to contribute to the activities of the network. of this process is a success of the MedCities projects and activities actively search gender balance in the In September, another mission was organised in Rome, Ancona and Tirana, strategy defined by all members composition of roundtables and other activities, as a way to actively three important member cities with a key position in order to further deve- at the General Assembly of 2013 promote equality. lop the role of the association in the Adriatic region. The mission was also an held in Barcelona. occasion to meet representatives of the city of Durres (Albania) which has applied to become a full member of MedCities after this General Assembly.

18 Activity Report 2017 19 MedCities, a cooperative and reliable regional actor

MedCities, a cooperative and reliable regional actor

Act as a facilitator for multilevel governance

To reinforce decentralization Lastly, in our current project proposal on Non-Conven- processes and increase interaction tional Water Resources (NCWR) for ENI CBC Mediterra- with national authorities. nean Sea Basin programme, we are working on a mul- tilevel approach, proposing the elaboration of national MedCities advocates for greater decentralisation and strategies on reuse and recovery of non-conventional the recognition of the role and competences and fi- water resources as well as the definition and imple- nancing of the municipalities as an important element mentation of local action plans at city level, for both of multilevel governance. MedCities tries to foster inte- Lebanon and Tunisia. raction of its projects with national initiatives in order to contribute to the challenges faced by the Mediterra- nean countries from a municipal approach. To go further into dialogue

In Tunisia, for example, we are contributing to the im- with EU institutions and EU To ensure complementarity Furthermore, MedCities participated in the 1st Re- plementation of the programme Municipal Alliance for Delegations. gional Consultation Roundtable on Water-Emplo- Energy Transition (ACTE from its acronym in French) of actions at local level with The interaction with EU institutions and Delegations yment-Migration, which was held on 7 December by linking the COOP-VERD project to the pilot project regional initiatives. is crucial in order to achieve MedCities objectives. This 2016, in Tunis, led by GWP-Med and the Secretariat that it implements in Nabeul. Furthermore, the MADI- year, two main activities have been developed. Firstly, MedCities aims to promote the active role of muni- of the Union for the Mediterranean. More than 25 NATOUNA project has established strong links with na- the close cooperation with the Committee of the Re- cipalities in the regional initiatives on sustainable de- distinguished participants from 13 institutions and tional authorities in order to take into consideration re- gion around the Nicosia Initiative, in order to establish velopment. For this reason, we represent local autho- organisations across 10 countries gathered to elabo- levant national strategies, like the Annual Programme cooperation frameworks with Libyan local authorities. rities in various international forums, but we also try rate on the linkages among water insecurity, endu- of Communal Investments or the Sustainable Cities of to assure that our projects contribute to regional or Secondly, to increase the exchanges with EU Delega- ring unemployment and increasing migration in the the Ministry Programme, and to make sure that the national initiatives. tions. In that sense, last May MedCities Secretary Ge- Mediterranean, also underlining youth and gender city development strategies contribute to the objecti- neral held a meeting at the EU Delegation in Tunisia A clear example is the implementation of the Impro- challenges. ves of these programmes. to present the activities of the network and identify ved Waste Management project in Al Fayhaa, which is MedCities is also participating in the debates on cli- Furthermore, we are promoting through the MA- collaboration in the framework of EU programmes. coordinated by the UNPD under the initiative of the mate change in the Mediterranean. DINATOUNA project, a strong interaction between Lebanese Host Community Support Programme. This Medcities is a member of the EU Structured Dialo- Finally, together with The Mediterranean world Eco- cities and the respective regional representatives of is a regional multi-stakeholder initiative which en- gue with European Structural and Investment Funds. nomic Foresight Institute (IPEMED from its acronym national authorities, as part of the methodological compasses a large part of humanitarian and deve- During 2017 we have participated in two meetings in French), MedCities is acting as a facilitator of one approach, which focuses on multilevel partnerships lopment assistance projects, implemented in Leba- of this platform in Brussels where we have advocated of the working groups of the 3rd Mediterranean Wa- for the elaboration of city development strategies. non to support municipalities to face the effects of for a more urban and metropolitan cohesion policy ter Forum, to be celebrated early 2018 in Cairo as a Also, a strong focus on capitalisation and mainstrea- the Syrian crisis. showing a special focus on the needs of the Medite- preparatory regional meeting of the 8th World Water ming of the approach at national level is foreseen at rranean Area. Forum to be held in Brasilia in March 2018. the end of the project.

20 Activity Report 2017 21 MedCities, a cooperative and reliable regional actor

Establish joint To make the participation in the To strengthen cooperation with Mediterranean Commission for strategic allies towards a greater initiatives with Sustainable Development (MCSD) integration of actions (CRPM, relevant actors on profitable for members. AVITEM...). MedCities ended its mandate as member of the MedCities has continued to foster its cooperative and Urban Sustainable Steering Committee of the Mediterranean Commis- collaborative approach to its actions. To that end, sion for Sustainable Development (MCSD), started in the General Secretary of MedCities participated in Development in the 2015. At the meeting of the MCSD held in Athens in the General Assembly of the CPRM last July in Na- Mediterranean July 2017, MedCities presented its commitment to ples (Italy). In the Assembly Medcities showed their contribute to the flagship initiative of creating an ur- views on the EU Neighbourhood policy through the ban toolbox for Mediterranean cities. This is one of the experience of different projects like the USUDS or the To participate in multi-actor To participate in the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Experts eleven flagship initiatives of the Mediterranean Stra- SIDIGMED. Medcities and the CRPM are participating cooperation schemes on tegy for Sustainable Development (MSSD), approved in common projects and they are also joining forces Group on Urban Development urban development in the in 2016. in joint activities in the area. Mediterranean: CMI Urban Hub and the preparatory works of the Currently, MedCities is leading the development of The complementarity between networks of cities and Mediterranean Urban Agenda. initiative on Territorial Cohesion. this flagship initiative during a pilot phase, intended networks of regions appears as an important step to MedCities has continued to participate in the mee- MedCities has continued to participate in the UfM to be completed by January 2018 and to serve all promote stability and prosperity in the whole region. tings and activities of the Urban Hub of the Centre Experts Group on Urban Development, particularly members and relevant stakeholders, as a meeting MedCities has also strengthened its cooperation with for Mediterranean Integration. The Urban Hub of the linked to the consultative task to prepare the 2nd point for sharing knowledge and best practices. Med- AViTEM, sharing actions plans and identifying common CMI is a working group gathering the main institu- Ministerial Conference on Urban Development, cele- Cities has also supported the 1st edition of the Istan- initiatives to join effort for the development of actions tions working on urban sustainable development in brated in Cairo (Egypt) in May 2017. As a result of the bul Environment Friendly City award in which several addressed to cities and territories in the region. the Mediterranean region. On 4th-5th May, it partici- Declaration, a regional process, led by UfM Secretariat members have presented their candidacies. The reso- pated in the Seminar “Addressing the Challenges of with all relevant actors working on this domain in the lution will be made public in December 2017. In 2017 the Conference of the Atlantic Cities, the Territorial Cohesion and Promoting the Role of Cities region, has been launched in which MedCities is acti- Iberian network of Cross-border Cities, and Medci- in the MENA Region”. MedCities organised a parallel vely participating. ties have celebrated two meeting where for the pre- session entitled “Strategic Planning and Multi-level paration of a position paper on the future of the EU Governance” with the participation of different expe- Territorial Cooperation Policy after 2020. This posi- riences of planning at multiple levels. The experiences tion paper calls among others for an increase of the presented came from the Ministry for Development funds to this policy, a more urban and metropolitan and International Cooperation of Tunisia, the munici- dimension and a better integration with the Neigh- pality of Saida and the association of the Barcelona bourhood policy with a bigger simplification of the Metropolitan Strategic Plan. procedures. Medcities has invited the Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Cities to join this group. Around forty experts and policy-makers of the region gathered together to discuss the challenges of territo- The position paper will be officially presented to the rial cohesion in the region. Apart from the General Se- European Commission before the end of the year. cretariat, three members of the network participated in the discussions: Saida, the Union of Municipalities of Dannieh and Tetouan.

22 Activity Report 2017 23 Advocate for the role To participate in international Climate Change Forums.

of Mediterranean In February, MedCities participated in the Conference local authorities in “Quelles solutions pour la Méditerranée?” organized in Paris by the French Government. The event was chai- international debates red by Ms Ségolène Royal, Minister for the Environ- ment, Energy and Sea and in charge of International To participate in international Relations on Climate and President of COP21. Forums on local governments: The objective of the Conference was to present the ARLEM, UCLG. actions of the French Government on sea protection in the Mediterranean and to gather support on future In November 2016, MedCities participated in the 4th initiatives for the region concerning coastal protec- Forum of Local and Regional Authorities of the Me- tion, maritime transport, and the prevention of pollu- diterranean. It was held in Tangier on 6th November, tion from terrestrial origin. chaired by Mr. Boudra, Mayor of Al Hoceima and pre- sident of the Political Council of the Mediterranean MedCities participated in a roundtable on how ne- Commission of UCLG, and by Mr. Roatta, Deputy Ma- tworks of local authorities can contribute to making yor of Marseille representing the presidency of the Me- interventions long-lasting and sustainable, since they diterranean Commission of UCLG. are stable platforms of cooperation. The initiative counted on the participation of the Mediterranean The President of Medcities participated in the last Ge- Action Plan and the Union for the Mediterranean, two neral Assembly of the ARLEM in Malta in Februrary institutions with which MedCities cooperates on a re- 2017 and he addressed some words to the Executive gular basis on these domains. Board of the Committee of the Regions on the needs of the cities in the Mediterranean. Moreover, MedCities To participate in international confirmed Mr Jean Roatta, Deputy Mayor of Marseille, debates on local public policies as its representative in the Euro-Mediterranean Local on social cohesion. and Regional Assembly (ARLEM), for the next term In the framework of the Social Agreement in Tetouan (2017-2019). implemented by the Association AERYC and the Municipality of Tetouan, MedCities co-organised an international seminar on social policies which took place in Barcelona in February. This seminar served to scale-up and capitalize the results of the project, in order to have a broader debate on the implemen- tation of social policies in Mediterranean cities. This activity showed how the implementation of a specific project can trigger broader debates in order to enrich the definition of policies at local and national levels.

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24 Activity Report 2017 25 26 Activity Report 2017 27 MedCities General Secretariat Metropolitan Area of Barcelona C. 62, 16-18 - Zona Franca 08040 Barcelona [email protected] www.medcities.org

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