About METAP

Who we are

METAP gives a regional dimension to national environmental issues.  It’s mission is:

to enhance the regional capacity to develop and enact sound policies for the environment

focusing in particular on:

• policy and legislation tools 
•  water quality, wastewater and coastal zone management; and
• municipal and hazardous waste management.

Today, METAP operates in the following Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and West Bank and Gaza.  In the past, the program also worked in Cyprus and Slovenia.

METAP is a partnership between countries of the Mediterranean region and multilateral donors.

METAP’s inception occurred thanks to the results of a study on the Mediterranean, led by the World Bankand the the European Investment Bank (EIB), which highlighted an acute lack of environmental awareness, policies and programs in the region.  

In response to this study, the two banks linked up with partners  to set up a coherent initiative of priority setting, institutional strengthening and project execution.  

Program Design

The METAP program was initially designed to identify fundable actions to halt environmental deterioration.  In time, the focus shifted to defining sustainable development indicators for the region, to assess the impact of policies, programs and projects on the state of the environment, and to reinforce the technical capabilities and resources of both public and private entities.

Something to Aspire to

METAP’s objectives for the region are:

• To strengthen the institutional capacity required to manage environmental issues;
• To prepare a strong portfolio of priority environmental projects in order to accelerate and catalyze investment in environmental activities in the region; and
• To formulate a set of focused key policy factors affecting the Mediterranean environment.

Spotlight on Operations

METAP’s four operational phases have kept the spotlight on the regional dimension, building the capacity of national and local institutions, while fostering support between nations to limit transboundary environmental impacts, disseminate knowledge and nurture best practice.

METAP activities are integrated with other initiatives such as the Mediterranean Action Plan or the EU’s Short and Medium Term Priority Environmental Action Programme.

Our Partners

METAP is the fruit of a partnership between the World Bank, European Investment Bank, and the partners listed below.  They joined forces to combat an acute lack of environmental awareness, policies and programs in the Mediterranean region.  Together, through METAP, they have significantly contributed to improving the environmental situation in many countries.

• The European Commission (EC) 

The EC is the executive branch of the European Union; responsible for implementing the decisions of the Council of Ministers and proposing new measures and directions for the EU.

·  The European Investment Bank (EIB)

The European Investment Bank is the largest financial institution in the world. It gives loans for regional development particularly in the less developed areas of Europe.

·  The Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Development Cooperation (FINNIDA)

International development cooperation is a part of the Finnish Foreign Service, and its planning, implementation and supervision is administered as an integral element of the Ministry’s relations with developing countries.

·  The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is Switzerland’s international cooperation agency within the Swiss Foreign Ministry.  Together with other federal offices, SDC is responsible for overall coordination of development activities and cooperation with Eastern Europe, as well as humanitarian aid.

·  United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP is on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges.

·  The World Bank

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world. It is a development Bank which provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty.

The Partners form part of METAP’s tiered structure.

Our Structure

METAP is a decentralized program. The Secretariat is located in the World Bank  headquarters in Washington DC, while project preparation operations are managed by the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg.

Partners

The World Bank and the European Investment Bank are two of the Partners that oversee METAP operations. 

The Secretariat

The Secretariat is responsible for the overall administration of the program; emphasizing capacity building, securing project funds, managing and supervising implementation, reporting, and organizing annual meetings.

National Focal Points

On the ground, National Focal Points  in government ministries or departments are responsible for coordinating and facilitating the implementation of METAP activities. These include Tunisia’s Agence nationale de protection de l’environnement (ANPE); the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in Lebanon; and Egypt’s National Water Resource Center (NWRC).

Member Beneficiary Countries

Today, METAP operates in the following Southern and Eastern Mediterranean countries: Albania, Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and West Bank and Gaza.  In the past, the program also worked in Cyprus and Slovenia.

Our approach

METAP projects converge on the three main themes of water quality, solid waste, and policy and legislation tools, with a strong emphasis on capacity building and knowledge management.

Water quality, solid waste, and policy and legislation tools are called “METAP Pillars”, while capacity building and knowledge management are “cross-cutting themes”.

Water quality managementrelates to improving water quality through the improved treatment of wastewater and enhanced management of coastal zones.

METAP activities on solid waste  look into municipal and hazardous waste management.

Policy and legislation tools are broken down into Environmental Impact Assessments(EIA); the Cost of Environmental Degradation(COED) studies; and linking Trade and Environment(T&E).

The three pillars are of both regional significance and priority concern to the individual member beneficiary countries.

The METAP approach to regional activity implementation under each pillar begins at the country level.  National consultations include fact finding missions, diagnostics, and situation assessments.  Country reports and profiles of specific sectors form the basis of Regional Strategies.  This ground work is supported by workshops and knowledge dissemination initiatives, as well as tangible projects in each country.

METAP Phases: Similar Themes but Different Approaches