Istanbul – Focusing on the promotion of sustainable development, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and environmental in the Mediterranean region, the meetMED project funded by the European Union participates in “UfM Mediterranean Green Week” taking place from 14 – 16 May 2024.

The Mediterranean Green Week (MGW) aims to encourage collaboration, dialogue, and action among Mediterranean countries to tackle such challenges. The event also serves as a platform for policy and strategy formulation, knowledge exchange, and partnership building.

meetMED delegation represented by Roberta Boniotti, the Secretary  General of MEDENER, and Jauad El Kharraz, the Executive Director of RCREEE reflected the project commitment to accelerating the transition towards sustainable, climate-neutral, and green economies in the Mediterranean region.

The event includes the UfM Regional Energy Platform and working groups on energy, environment, and climate action, as well as a series of dynamic and impactful multi-thematic workshops, ensuring contributions from a wide range of actors committed to collaborating for a sustainable and inclusive future in the Mediterranean.

 

Hammamet – Within the activities of the meetMED II project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region), funded by the European Union, the third edition of the meetMED Weeks took place in Hammamet, Tunisia between 22 – 24 April. The three-day event brought together more than 250 energy experts representing officials, policymakers, stakeholders, municipalities, and private sector from the Mediterranean region with the aim of promoting the energy and climate transition.

 The third edition of the meetMED Weeks, funded by the European Union, was organised by the Tunisian National Agency for Energy Control (ANME), in partnership with the Algerian National Agency for the Promotion and Rationalisation of Energy Use (APRUE). The event provided a platform for exchange of experiences and to explore avenues of cooperation between the Southern Neighbourhood countries in the field of energy efficiency, with a particular focus on the buildings and appliances sector.

During the opening plenary, Fethi Hanchi, General Director of ANME stressed the importance of national and international cooperation to achieve greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and to minimise the impacts of energy price fluctuations on the Tunisian economy. He also described the agency’s efforts to prepare a platform for assessing the carbon footprint of industrial products, scheduled to be operational by the end of the year. 

Likewise, Merouane Chabane, General Director of APRUE underlined the strong commitment of Algeria, with its regional partners, for the promotion of energy efficiency, and for the development of decarbonisation policies within the context of sustainable development.

Cristina Casella, Programme Manager – Climate Action, DG NEAR, European Commission, recognized the importance of the meetMED Week, as a flagship event in the South Mediterranean to discuss how best to advance the energy transition in the region. Casella also recalled that the energy transition is at the top of the EU agenda driven by EU’s climate objectives with the European Green deals ambition to achieve a 55% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

From her side, Milou Beerepoot, Programme Manager – Energy,  DG NEAR, EU Commission, highlighted the European Union support to just energy transition policies in the southern Mediterranean and how different types of instruments, varying from technical assistance to financial support, can foster a just energy transition.  She illustrated this with a few examples of EU supported regional projects that offer contributions to a fair and equitable energy transition.

Jauad El Kharraz the Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE) pointed out that the support of the European Commission has been fundamental to mainstream energy efficiency efforts in the Mediterranean. “We definitely need more support in the next period to continue consolidating our member states and the national agencies in their energy transition journey” El Kharraz added.

Roberta Boniotti, the Secretary General of the Mediterranean Association of National Energy Management Agencies (MEDENER), further added “we are currently focusing on supporting the member countries in their efforts to achieve energy efficiency and renewable energy. In the second phase of the project, our focus was on the building sector, which plays a significant role in energy efficiency since it is one of the most energy-consuming sectors”.

Throughout 16 sessions, the conference offered participants multiple opportunities for active engagement, with high-level sessions and technical parallel sessions to reflect on implementing Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy measures, focusing on Buildings and Appliances, and demonstrating successful pilot projects led by partners.

Discussion topics included how collaborative work can enhance energy transition in the Mediterranean region, stimulating dialogue towards net zero emissions in the building sector, and presenting innovative financing mechanisms to foster investments in sustainable energy. One session also explored synergies between the meetMED and the PeebMED projects, both EU-funded programs.

The event was concluded by a workshop training session on energy transitions for journalists followed by two site visits at Municipality of Nabeul and Sky Energy Company.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager
Email: [email protected]

Background:

meetMED is an EU-funded project (ref: GRANT CONTRACT ENI/2020/420-413) that aims to contribute to enhancing the energy security of beneficiary South Mediterranean Countries (SMECs)1, while fostering their transition to low carbon economy, thereby contributing to more stable, efficient, competitive, and climate-resilient socioeconomic contexts. Launched in 2021, meetMED second phase activities aim at strengthening the implementation of Energy Efficiency (EE) measures and improving countries’ energy mix focusing on building and appliances’ sectors through a multiscale, multi-partner and inclusive approach at local and regional levels, thereby fostering regional cooperation.

The second phase of the project is implemented by the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE).

Within the current energy context in the region, one of the priorities of the South Mediterranean countries (SMECs) is to secure energy provision and to promote energy saving and EE applications. High risk linked to new technologies, lack of regulatory framework, cumbersome administrative procedures, absence of national standards and incentives and clear financing instruments can be challenging for EE projects implementation basically in the financing phase.

Although financing institutions (including international and commercial banks) are keen on financing energy efficiency, and relevant instruments are indeed available, project developers still encounter obstacles in accessing finance. Constraints and barriers could come indicatively from the diversity of sources of funding, the lack of visibility on conditions, processes, financing modalities, the sizing of projects, the loan inadequacy and financing instruments (inappropriate grants) regarding the type of projects (maturity of loans, liquidity, and cash flow measurement, etc.). Constraints are both on the offer side and demand side.

Hence, there is an essential need to set up guidelines and/or an online platform providing comprehensive and clear tools and guidance to assist in the development of bankable energy efficiency projects in general and more particularly for building and appliances.

Objective of the Assignment:

The objective of this assignment is to engage a proficient Web Developer to implement an Interactive and User-Friendly web-tools and guidelines on the platform dedicated to project developers /owners. This platform will serve as a comprehensive online tool designed to assist users in identifying and accessing financing options for energy efficiency projects in South Mediterranean Countries (SMECs). The Web Developer will be responsible for creating a seamless digital experience that aligns with the meetMED brand identity and communication guidelines, ensuring the platform is both informative and engaging for its target audience.

The content of the Finance Navigator is detailed in the “Report on the content of the web-tool and funding guide” document, which will be provided to the Web Developer at the initiation of the project works. Additionally, a preliminary layout design of the platform is included in the Annex IV of this RFP to provide clarity regarding the scope of work. Kindly be advised that the finalized version of the layout design document will be furnished at the initiation of the project works, subsequent to the awarding of this contract.

Relevant Documents:

Submission Deadline:

  • Date: 27/04/2024 1:00 PM EGYPT Time Zone
  • Time: 1.00pm (Local Time)

Following a successful experience last year, the meetMED project – funded by the European Union actively participated at the 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) hosted by Dubai between 30 November and 12 December 2023.

Kicking off meetMED’s presence on December 4, where the RCREEE pavilion hosted a high-level session titled “Energy efficiency finance: mobilisation challenges in the Mediterranean region”. The event emphasised the importance of energy efficiency dialogue and collaboration among stakeholders in the MENA region to accelerate investments in energy efficiency projects.  In addition to showcasing experiences of Mediterranean Sustainable Energy Investment Forums, realized by the meetMED Project as well as innovative financing models, and lessons learned from different EU-funded projects such as the  Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB), that will foster collaboration to replicate or adapt successful approaches in their contexts. 

Followed by a joint session “Development of energy services in Africa: For a just transition” co-organized in cooperation with the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency – AMEE, at the Moroccan pavilion. This event highlighted the role of energy services and the potential they present in terms of climate change mitigation and sustainable economic development in Africa. The agenda focused on key achievements and shared experiences, which will help paint a picture of the booming African market. The meetMED project “Initiatives to enhance energy efficiency in public buildings” was reviewed during the panel.

The French pavilion hosted meetMED and Programme for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB) side event “Building a climate-friendly and resilient future for sustainable construction in the Mediterranean region and West Africa: Mobilizing local construction value chain for decarbonization of buildings”. Bringing together stakeholders from different implementing and donor agencies to exchange lessons learned in the implementation of sustainable building projects across the Mediterranean and West Africa.

Our high-level session “Importance of capacity building for cooling sector in the MENA Region” was held the RECREEE pavilion in partnership with the Cool up Programme. The session was designed to raise awareness about the significance of investing in human and institutional capabilities for sustainable development in the cooling sector. 

On December 11th our participation at COP28 was concluded with a side event that focused on energy performance standards, which was aimed at optimizing energy consumption of appliances in the Arab Mediterranean countries.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager
Email: [email protected]

Madrid – Within the activities of the meetMED II project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region), funded by the European Union, a “Knowledge Transfer Program on EE in Buildings and Appliances” took place in Madrid from 06 – 07 November 2023. The event was organised in close collaboration with the Spanish E.P.E. Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy – IDAE, the Spanish Association for Standardisation (UNE), and the Test, Innovation, and Services Centre (CEIS).

The two-day program aimed at enriching national policymakers and key stakeholders representing project beneficiary countries with knowledge about the EU experience and expertise in the energy efficiency of buildings and appliances and their implementation.

Day 1: Study tour at CEIS appliances testing laboratories in Móstoles

The tour was an opportunity for participants to gain deep insights into testing centers, Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), and labeling promotion for appliances, with a particular emphasis on air-conditioning. 

During the visit, participants were provided with a comprehensive description of CEIS, one of Europe’s leading independent testing laboratories, which has more than 20 years of experience in the field of conformity assessment of various products for a wide range of appliances.  Participants visited various testing labs including the Balanced calorimeter room method, Indoor Air enthalpy test method, and Sound power and pressure test method.

Day 2: Regional workshop on energy efficiency in buildings 

The regional workshop’s main objective was to share and exchange experience with regulation of the heating sector, as well as gather relevant data and information from existing district cooling projects, case studies, and research papers.

Throughout four sessions, approximately ten presentations were given to explain various experiences of the EE in the building sector in Spain, EU Energy Efficiency MEPS, and Labelling with a special focus on energy services companies and case studies showcasing the ESCO model and refrigeration manufacturers. Additionally, an overview of district heating and cooling technologies.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager
Email: [email protected]

Background

meetMED is an EU-funded project aims to contribute to enhancing the energy security of beneficiary countries (namely Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia) while fostering their transition to low carbon economy, thereby contributing to more stable, efficient, competitive and climate-resilient socioeconomic contexts. Launched in 2021, meetMED second phase activities aim at strengthening the implementation of EE measures and improving countries’ energy mix focusing on building and appliances’ sectors through a multiscale, multi-partner and inclusive approach at local and regional levels, thereby fostering regional cooperation.
The second phase of the project is implemented by the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) in partnership with the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE).

Overview:

Within the current energy context in the region, one of the priorities of the South Mediterranean countries (SMECs) is to secure energy provision and to promote energy saving and EE applications. High risk linked to new technologies, lack of regulatory framework, cumbersome administrative procedures, absence of national standards and incentives and clear financing instruments can be challenging for EE projects implementation basically in the financing phase.

There are difficulties for project developers to access finance unless relevant instruments exist (transition funds, incentives) and financing institutions (international and commercial banks) are keen on financing energy efficiency.

Constraints and barriers could come indicatively from the diversity of sources of funding, the lack of visibility on conditions, processes, financing modalities, the sizing of projects, the loan inadequacy and financing instruments (inappropriate grants) regarding the type of projects (maturity of loans, liquidity, and cash flow measurement, etc.). Constraints are both on the offer side and demand side.

Hence, there is an essential need to set up guidelines and/or an online platform providing comprehensive and clear tools and guidance to assist in the development of bankable energy efficiency projects in general and more particularly for building and appliances.

This RFP will be under the framework of meetMED activity 5.2.1 Develop Interactive Tool and Guidelines on a Dedicated Platform for the South Mediterranean Countries.

Objective of the Assignment:

This assignment aims to:

  • Prepare the contents and structures of the Interactive Tool and Guidelines to be published on the dedicated Platform, based on the review of the currently existing meetMED funding guide on financing capabilities with specific focus on efficient buildings and appliances in the SMECs, and complete any missing data/information to ensure high quality contents of the Interactive Tool and Guidelines.
  • Provide comprehensive technical assistance on developing a webtool for the project users / owners in the SMECs to get information and assist them in designing their projects in terms of financing energy efficiency in buildings and in appliances.
  • Develop the layout design of a platform that will be online and consisting of two components, 1) Webtool and 2) Interactive funding guide.
  • Prepare the Terms of Reference (ToR) for consulting firm specializing in web development to create the platform and follow up the implementation processes.

Submission Deadline:

  • Date: 14.09.2023 1:00 PM EGYPT Time Zone
  • Time: 1.00pm (Local Time)

Special Instruction:

  • Proposer must mention the project ref (GRANT CONTRACT ENI/2020/420-413) in the proposal and invoice.

Initiated by The French Agency for ecological transition (ADEME), with the support of its international partners, the special “building and construction” edition of the Medadapt Awards rewarded three projects for their exemplary and reproducible practices, on 9 May, during the meetMED Week 2023, in Marrakech. The winners are the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), the Palestine Green Building Council (PALGBC) and the company Agua de Sol.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency for public schools in vulnerable communities in Jordan
Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF)

PROJECT: JREEEF’s objective was to improve the teaching conditions in public schools in territories hosting vulnerable communities in Jordan. To this end, after an audit phase, JREEEF implemented a program to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and to integrate solar equipment (installation of photovoltaic systems and solar water heaters). This project was followed by a large-scale campaign to raise awareness of the problems of energy poverty and the thermal renovation of buildings among students, teachers and those involved in the building industry. Inspiring for future generations!

RESULTS: 67,950 beneficiaries were reached with cumulative savings on energy bills of 500,000 (JOD/year) and a decrease in CO2 emissions of 2,101 (T/year).

Building retrofitting and improving energy efficiency
for Palestinian refugees in Qaddoura camp
Palestine Green Building Council (PALGBC)

PROJECT: PALGBC’s objective was to improve the living conditions of the refugees in Qaddoura camp by renovating the buildings to improve the thermal comfort and energy efficiency of the buildings. After an audit phase and the training of local contractors in energy efficiency and building renovation, PALGBC carried out renovation and insulation work on doors, windows, walls and roofs, and implemented energy efficiency measures such as replacing lighting, electrical appliances and installing solar water heaters.

The project included taking a survey of residents before and after the housing improvements were carried out.

RESULTS: 14 houses have conducted retrofits with an average reduction in energy consumption of over 30%.

Production of drinking water: Sun Air Fountain® solution
Agua de Sol

PROJECT: The company Aqua de Sol has developed the SunAir Fountain®, an effective solution for the production of drinking water from moist air, using solar thermal energy. This drinking water production solution reduces the pressure on ecosystems by avoiding the exploitation of rivers, lakes and underground aquifers, limits the costs of water treatment and allows the supply of drinking water in an off-grid context.

RESULTS: The SunAir Fountain® solution allows the production of 1.2 l/day, per panel of 0.7 square meters while reducing the consumption of fossil fuels (no plastic bottles, pumping, filtration, etc.).

This edition of the Mediterranean Climate Change Adaptation Awards is an opportunity to raise awareness of the urgent need to take action and the importance of sharing experiences to inspire and mobilise Mediterranean stakeholders!

MORE INFORMATION

PRESS CONTACT
Elodie LOCH-BÉATRIX — Langevin & Associés
+33 7 66 07 00 47
[email protected]

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The second edition of meetMED Week 2023, that took place in Marrakech, Morocco from 09 to 11 May, witnessed the announcement of the fourteen Mediterranean cities selected for the twining agreements. The thee-day conference, is the meetMED largest annual event, funded by the European Union, aimed at fostering the regional cooperation for the energy and climate transition in the Mediterranean countries.

The announcement came during one of the meetMED Week sessions devoted to the role of local authorities in the energy transition, bringing together representatives of Mediterranean cities – Lisbon (Portugal), Sahab (Jordan), and Tata (Morocco) – and the SEACAP4SDG and CLIMAMED projects.

During the session, Portuguese Energy Agency  (ADENE) presented the 14 selected cities and the 6 partnerships identified, namely those that join Lisbon in Portugal with Al-Karak and Sahab in Jordan, Palmela in Portugal and Tata in Morocco, San Lucido in Italy and Moukhtara in Lebanon, Gozo in Malta and El Kef Lahmar in Algeria, Grevena in Greece to Abasan Al-Kabira in Palestine, as well as Grenoble in France with Sfax and Bizerte, both in Tunisia. A Spanish town and Cairo are still expected to join these partnerships.

Following the selection processes, the next steps will include signing Memorandums of Understanding with the cities, after which the Action Plans for each partnership will be prepared. These plans will address energy self-consumption, urban rehabilitation and renovation of buildings, the water-energy nexus, passive climate change mitigation measures, as well as actions to raise awareness and boost public participation.

Notably, the call for applications for meetMED twinning agreements was launched in January under project’s activity dedicated to promoting cooperation between cities in the north and south of the Mediterranean Basin region. Under the Portuguese Energy Agency (ADENE) leadership, the twinning agreements intend to promote dialogue, exchanging knowledge and experiences, and regional cooperation on energy efficiency in buildings.

 

For more information, please contact:

Mrs. Inês Mendes

meetMED II activity leader

Manager Email: [email protected]

Marrakech – Within the activities of the meetMED II project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean Region), funded by the European Union, the second edition of meetMED Weeks 2023 took place in Marrakech between 9 – 11 May. The three-day event brought together more than 250 energy experts representing officials, stakeholders, and policymakers from the Mediterranean region with the aim of promoting energy and climate transition.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Morocco’s Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Leila Benali said that the event is an opportunity for the world to reiterate its commitment to sustainability goals as humanity faces successive energy and climate challenges.

Said Moulin, Director General of the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE), echoed Benali’s remarks, highlighting Morocco’s potential in the renewable energy sector. He also recalled King Mohammed VI’s directives to prioritize energy sufficiency.

President of the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER), Griorgio Graditi, who joined the event via video conference, stressed his association’s efforts to implement renewable resources and energy efficiency policies and programs, as well as coordinate with various institutions to reach energy and climate transition goals.

Despite these efforts, “the region’s energy potential is largely under-exploited,” said Graditi, calling on stakeholders and policymakers to implement “concrete measures and goals” to fostering decarbonization. He also encouraged the sharing of experience, know-how, and skills between countries of the Mediterranean region.

Likewise, Jauad El Kharraz, Executive Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), called for more cooperation between all concerned parties to reach the region’s energy sufficiency potential.
“We are proud of what has been achieved but we hope Morocco will do more to meet its goals, including increasing renewable energy [generation] and reducing electricity consumption,” he said.

While the world is currently witnessing a “challenging geopolitical and climate context,” the Mediterranean region has a “big opportunity to become a regional hub for hydrogen economy,” according to El Kharraz.
Throughout the second day of the conference, representatives of regional organizations, national agencies, financial institutions, experts, researchers, and private sector actors called on MED SEI Forum, to promote green finance as a key imperative for a successful energy transition in the Mediterranean region.

Welcoming the growing interest of banks and financial institutions in energy transition projects, Cristina Casella, Programme Manager – Climate Action, DG NEAR, European Commission, said “The purpose of this roundtable is to enhance the discussion between public authorities, the financial sector, and other stakeholders to promote the exchange of experience and best practices in order to facilitate access to green finance, which is essential for a successful green energy transformation.”

Maged Mahmoud, Technical Director of the Regional Center for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), indicated that this forum has created synergies between public and private actors to develop green investment that provides several benefits to companies, including lower energy and production costs, reducing the carbon footprint and access to international markets in light of environmental requirements.

From her side, the Secretary General of the Mediterranean Association of National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER), Roberta Boniotti, stressed the importance of the contribution of the private sector in the financing of energy transition projects, due to the lack of public money to finance energy efficiency interventions and green investments.

The event featured a variety of sessions and conferences, during which speakers representing different countries and institutions shared their insight into the region’s climate and energy-related issues, as well as recommended action plans.

After the conference, participants were invited by the Research Institute for Solar Energy and New Energies (IRESEN) of Morocco to a site visit to Ben Guerir Green Energy Park, a unique platform for experimentation, research, and training on renewable energy technologies, batteries, electrolysis, eco-buildings and eVehicles charging technologies.

MeetMED Project

The MEETMED project (Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region), funded by the European Union aims to promote energy and climate transition in Southern Eastern Mediterranean countries. Implemented by MEDENER and RCREEE, the project is “dedicated to fostering regional cooperation for energy and climate transition” in the region, according to the organizers.

For more information and media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Asmaa Ahmed – meetMED Communication Manager
Email: [email protected]

Looking for Expertise on Sustainable Building in Mediterranean Area for Contributing to a MOOC

Within a unique collaboration between meetMED II along with several EU-funded projects and based on the experience of ADEME, the French Agency for Ecological Transition, a MOOC dedicated on Sustainable Construction in Mediterranean Climate is to be developed in 2023. It is intended for professionals in the construction sector, particularly at the stage of sizing and designing buildings, therefore targeting mainly architects, engineers, students but also potential project owners (urban agencies, executing agencies) by providing basic knowledge to design a sustainable construction project. It takes place in 3 sequences spread over 3 weeks that require about 2 hours of attention per week.

You have relevant expertise in the area of sustainable construction, you’re interested in sharing your knowledge and contribute to capacity building strategy in the MED region. You have experience and robust references in giving trainings and courses on the following topics: engineering skills, architecture, urbanism, environment and climate change topics. You shall join us for participating in the technical expert group (TEG).

Eligible profile & requirements: All profile coming from any country of the region with a dedicated experience of 5 years minimum in MED region are called to apply. A minimum understanding and speaking skills in French and English languages is required.

You will be part of a technical expert group of max 15 persons for revising, adjusting, and participating to a Massive Online Open Course dedicated to sustainable construction in MED area. Your role will be to revise the content of each module, be responsible for the elaboration of additional content, coordinate study cases and video shooting. An indicative level of effort of 10 to 20 days in one year is required for participating to these works. No financial gratification shall be expected for coordination. A symbolic gratification will be proposed for the trainers.

Please send us this form completed and a 3 pages maximum CV on the following address before 15/06/2023 : [email protected] ; [email protected]

Put in subject of the email “MOOC MED – Call for Experts”.

For more information and the application form in French , please click here

About meetMED

The Mitigation Enabling Energy Transition in the Mediterranean region (meetMED) project is an EU-funded project, developed by the Mediterranean Association of the National Agencies for Energy Management (MEDENER) and the Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE).It aims at enhancing the energy security of beneficiary countries (namely Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia) while fostering their transition to low carbon economy. in the targeted countries. MeetMED II activities aim at strengthening the implementation of EE measures and improving countries’ energy mix focusing on building and appliances’ sectors through a multiscale, multi-partner and inclusive approach at local and regional levels, thereby fostering regional cooperation.