WATERMEDYIN Project is financed by the Italian Cooperation and implemented by CIHEAM Bari in Lebanon, Palestine and Tunisia in partnership with the local Ministries of Agriculture and with the support of the most important Scientific Institutions of the same countries.

The project aims at contributing to sustainable development in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting innovation, and supporting youth and women-led entrepreneurship as a key to foster youth inclusion and socio-economic opportunities in the Mediterranean Region.

Within this broad frame, the project intends to focus on the issues related to the use of continental and marine water resources, encompassing agriculture, fishery, and coastal zone management.

Social and technological innovation can make a huge difference in addressing the challenges to balance economic growth and the achievement of the SDGs. This requires strengthening the local and regional innovation ecosystems and improving the synergies and collaboration among different stakeholders. With this purpose, WATERMEDYIN intends to strengthen the Innovation Support Organizations (ISOs), building on the existing resources of the Mediterranean Innovation Partnership (MIP). The initiative will set up an innovation network contributing to the sustainability of socio-economic development, the protection of natural resources and the enhancement of the immaterial and material cultural heritage of the Mediterranean communities.

The water and coastal resources sector has been chosen among the main issues of the Region for its relevance and its potential benefits and expected impact, such as managing the demand for water resources, improving the efficiency of water networks and health services, reducing water pollution, contributing to groundwater replenishment, improving the access to water in poorly-served areas.