The Conservation Trust Fund
Today, MPAs represent 8%* of the Mediterranean, of which 0.04% is under strong protection. Gathered within the Barcelona Convention, the Mediterranean countries have committed themselves to protect at least 30% of the Mediterranean, including 10% in strong protection by 2030.
However, due to the lack of real management means deployed in the long term, many Mediterranean MPAs are only “paper” MPAs and do not give the expected results.
The MedFund aims to mobilize public and private stakeholders to promote the development and effectiveness of Mediterranean MPAs.
*sources MAPAMED 2019
Established in 2015 by France, Tunisia and Monaco with the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, this Fund embodies the commitment of several Mediterranean States and international environmental organizations convinced that the future of the Mediterranean and its populations require immediate action.
The Fund is administered by an alliance of Mediterranean states and regional organizations (see members)
Since October 2019, the Conservation Trust Fund benefiting from the Union for the Mediterranean label.
The MedFund is an environmental trust fund based in Monaco, specifically dedicated to the financing of marine protected areas in the Mediterranean.
The MedFund is based on funding from bilateral and multilateral donors who are historically interested in this theme, but also on funding from other sources, particularly the private and philanthropic endeavours.
By 2025, the MedFund’s goal is to support 7000km² in more than 20 sites.
To date, we are supporting
How does it work?
Endowment fund
The capital raised is invested over the long term and investment revenues are used to finance field activities. The capital is preserved.
Sinking fund
The capital raised and investment revenues are dedicated to directly finance field activities over a period of 5 to 10 years. The capital is consumed.
Revolving fund
Regular annual revenues from our partners are used to finance field activities.
The MedFund is a hybrid environmental fund composed of an endowment fund, a sinking fund and a revolving fund.
The target of the endowment fund is to reach a capital of 30 million euros in the mid-term, which will make it possible to generate regular and sufficient interest to provide a long-term support to around 20 MPAs in the Mediterranean.
To date, more than 15 million euros of which 9 million euros capitalizated have already been mobilized for the Mediterranean MPAs (see financial support).
International buy-in
The initiative received political support from the countries bordering the Mediterranean at the Union for the Mediterranean Ministerial Meeting on Environment and climate change in 2014 and at the meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention in 2016 (Mediterranean regional sea convention).
The MedFund contributes to the implementation
of several international agreements
United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Goal 14 that calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources.
The Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that highlights the role played by the oceans and marine protected areas in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The Barcelona Convention roadmap to establish a comprehensive and coherent network of Mediterranean MPAs.
Aichi target 11 adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity that calls for at least 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of marine protected areas.
Governance
Its Board of Directors consists of States, international organizations and NGOs. Its governance is supported by advisory bodies: the investment committee and the grant award committee, as well as adhoc technical committees.
The executive management, based in Monaco, monitors and implements the Fund’s actions, in accordance with the strategic action plan.
The MedFund is committed to integrating gender issues into the governance and strategy of the Trust Fund and to raising awareness on this issue among its members and beneficiaries.
Board of Directors Members of the Board of Directors (since November 29, 2021)
President, Ms. Leila Chikhaoui, Minister of the Environment of Tunisia
Vice-president, Ms. Sylvie Lemmet, French ambassador for the Environment
General Secretary, His Excellence Mr. Bernard Fautrier, Minister Plenipotentiary, Special Adviser of HSH the Sovereign Prince on environmental issues, Member of the Executive Board of Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation
Treasurer, Mr. Fabrice Bernard, Delegate for Europe and International, Conservatoire du Littoral
Ms. Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Government Advisor, Minister of External Relations and Cooperation of the Principality of Monaco
Mr. Mahmoud Elyes Hamza, Director of UNEP/MAP- SPA/RAC
Mr. Renaud Dupuy de la Grandrive, President of the MedPAN organisation
Mr. Maher Mahjoub, Director/Programme Coordinator of IUCN Med
Experts on the grant award committee
Ms. Melina Marcou, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus
Dr. Antonio Di Franco, Senior Researcher at Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Italy
Mr. Habib Ben Moussa, Adviser to the Tunisian Minister of the Environment
Experts on the investment committee
Ms. Sophie Biro-Rouillon, Expert in sustainable finance and blue economy. CEO of Adelwise, Paris-France
Ms. Anne-Catherine Husson-Traore, expert in sustainable finance, Managing Director of Novethic, Paris – France
Mr. Robert Laure, former Management Director of the Compagnie Monégasque de Banque in Monaco
Executive team An executive team is responsible for the day-to-day management and development of The MedFund.
Mr. Romain Renoux, Executive Director
Ms. Laura Marrucchelli, Administrative and Financial Executive Assistant
Ms. Emna Ben Lamine Halimi, Project manager, Eastern Mediterranean
Ms. Awatef Abiadh, North Africa Coordinator
Members
Founding member countries of the Environmental Fund
Principality of Monaco
France
Tunisia
Active member countries
Morocco, Albania and Spain joined The MedFund and are now part of the group of volunteer countries to carry out this initiative.
Morocco
Albania
Spain
Member organizations
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation is dedicated to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development on a global scale.
MedPAN is the network of Mediterranean marine protected area managers.
The Specially Protected Areas Regional Activity Centre (SPA/RAC) was established by the Contracting Parties to the Barcelona Convention and its Protocols with the aim of assisting the Mediterranean countries in the implementation of the Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity in the Mediterranean.
Founded by the French State in 1975, Conservatoire du Littoral is a unique public institution in Europe. Its mission is to acquire coastal land plots that are either threatened by urbanization or degraded, in order to transform them into restored and managed sites that are welcoming for visitors, while maintaining natural balances.
IUCN Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation: the International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organization which helps the world find pragmatic solutions to the most pressing environment and development challenges.
The Oceanographic Institute is committed to enhancing the knowledge of the richness and fragility of the oceans, and promoting their sustainable management and rational and efficient protection. The Institute acts as a mediator between scientific and socio-economic actors on the one hand and the general public and major decision-makers on the other.
WWF Mediterranean is part of the World Wide Fund for Nature network which is an international non-governmental organization working for nature conservation and committed to sustainable development.
Joint initiative of the French Development Agency, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank, CEPF has a unique strategic role in addressing the biodiversity crisis, mobilizing international, regional and local partners to protect the world’s biodiversity hotspots.
Mediterranean Small Islands Initiative (NGO) is an international program promoting and supporting the management of Mediterranean islands.
