Strengthening civil society in North Africa for climate and biodiversity (PPI OSCAN 4)

The Mediterranean region is one of the world's main biodiversity hotspots, characterised by an exceptional wealth of endemic species but subject to significant anthropogenic pressures, exacerbated by marked climatic impacts. In North Africa, these environmental challenges are compounded by changing political contexts and persistent socio-economic fragility. For several years, however, the emergence of a dynamic network of associations has revealed the growing role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in conservation and sustainable development, despite often limited technical, financial and organisational capacities and very difficult access to international financing mechanisms.

To address these issues, in 2014 the FFEM and its partners launched the OSCAN PPI, implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Med) Centre for Mediterranean Cooperation. The first three phases of the OSCAN PPI have so far funded more than 100 projects led by local organisations working with communities, strengthened the skills and governance of CSOs and improved recognition of their legitimacy among national authorities. The fourth phase of the programme is intended to be the central pillar of the IUCN's new Mubadarat strategy for Mediterranean civil society.

The fourth phase of the PPI OSCAN programme is structured around four components:

• Funding approximately 40 conservation projects led by small local CSOs in Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.
• Strengthening the capacities of CSOs (technical, organisational and financial) and supporting their technical and financial autonomy and the diversification of their funding sources.
• Promoting exchanges and networking between CSOs, as well as highlighting the impacts and results achieved.
• Ensuring the coordination and management of the programme by IUCN Med within the Mubadarat strategy.

The OSCAN 4 PPI aims to sustainably increase the influence of CSOs in biodiversity conservation and the fight against climate change in Morocco, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt.

• Select, contract and monitor projects efficiently.
• Achieve the expected results of biodiversity conservation projects in the four countries.
• Strengthen CSOs in grant management and professionalisation.
• Strengthen exchanges between CSOs, support their advocacy and promote their dialogue with public authorities.
• Capitalise on, disseminate and communicate the programme's results.

PPI OSCAN's philosophy is to promote local development and biodiversity conservation with the central participation of civil society, by supporting projects built according to the needs and priorities identified by and for local communities.
The programme innovates by supporting emerging CSOs that are often excluded from traditional national or international funding, through individualised support that promotes their structuring, professionalisation and institutional recognition. It acts as a springboard by offering initial international financial support and increased visibility. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to the unstable contexts of the region and the specific needs of each organisation, and to support experimentation. Finally, regional networking stimulates peer-to-peer exchange, the dissemination and local adaptation of good practices, reinforcing the catalytic role of the programme.