The Mediterranean, home to over 510 million people, is facing a climate emergency—warming at a rate 20% higher than the global average, according to UNEP. In response to this escalating crisis, the Mediterranean Initiative for Climate (MIC) was launched by youth and women leaders, emerging from ROLYN training sessions. This grassroots initiative focuses on tackling pressing environmental and governance challenges, particularly the intersection of climate change and corruption.

MIC’s mission is to empower local NGOs by equipping their members with tools, strategies, and knowledge to effectively address environmental corruption. The program aims to activate a regional movement by preparing civil society groups to lead the fight for environmental justice and sustainability across Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya.

Target Group:
The initiative will train 45 young civil society leaders, aged 21–35, from Egypt (20), Tunisia (15), and Libya (10), ensuring at least 40% participation from women. Over five months, these participants will engage in capacity-building workshops and mentorship programs designed to address key environmental challenges such as industrial waste mismanagement in Tunisia, water and air pollution in Egypt, and oversight failures in Libya.

Goals:

• Provide in-depth training and mentorship to participants on combating environmental corruption.
• Establish a regional network of capable NGOs ready to act on local climate and corruption challenges by the end of 2025.
• Empower young leaders to design and apply anti-corruption strategies in their organizations and communities.
• Develop practical monitoring mechanisms to detect and respond to environmental violations.

Expected Outcomes:

• Each group will develop and present a comprehensive strategy tailored to their organization and local context.
• These plans will be rolled out and refined within their respective communities over a 2–3 year period.
• A long-term, scalable model for fighting environmental corruption across the Mediterranean will be initiated.
• Specific goals include reduced illegal industrial waste disposal in Tunisia and improved water management in Egypt.
• Promoting recycling and waste reduction through accessible education and incentives.

MIC’s Ambitions Include:

• Having 45 trained CSOs implementing anti-corruption strategies across three countries.
• Ensuring that these solutions become embedded in NGO operations nationwide for at least three years.
• Increasing women’s leadership in environmental governance through active engagement in MIC activities.
• Tracking measurable progress in reducing ecological harm, such as illegal logging and water misuse.

Apply By: May 8, 2025, 11:00 PM (Cairo Time)
Location: Activities will be held concurrently in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya. Shortlisted participants will receive specific dates and venues.