Restoring Marine Ecosystems in the Med

Launch of the Sustainable Blue Economy Call under EMFF 09th November 2017 - Brussels

Alessandra LAMOTTE (DG MARE, B1) Joana PATRÍCIO (EASME, A3 – EMFF)

#EMFF17

JOINT ACTION TO SUPPORT THE RESTORATION

OF COASTAL AND MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Challenge

• Oceans offer great potential for the years and

decades to come

• Vital in our fight against climate change

• But they are fragile and vulnerable

• Oceans and coastal ecosystems need better care and better management

• Only strong international cooperation can do that

• Implementation of Action 6.1 of the Joint Communication on international ocean governance: joint action to support the restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean sea

• Ensuring the continuation and improved provision of marine ecosystem services

• Preserving the oceans' natural function as a climate regulator

• Supporting in a sustainable manner the basis and conditions for blue economy

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Objectives

Core activities:

• Identify and select at least one damaged or degraded coastal and marine natural ecosystem in the Mediterranean Sea or along its coast

• Identify and implement concrete activities to restore the selected area(s) and their capacity to provide goods and services

• Establish a partnership or develop an existing partnership

• Develop a robust method for evaluating the results of the project

• Prepare a detailed roadmap for a follow-up project

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Type of Activities

Complementary activities (non-exhaustive):

• Implementation of Action 6.2 of the Joint Communication on international ocean governance: creating new or extending already existing areas of blue-green infrastructures

• Prepare awareness raising material, create the "buy-in" of the local community and prepare the ground for future investments in marine and coastal restoration.

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Type of Activities

A pilot example of restoration of damaged coastal and marine ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea

A pilot joint action between entities based in the EU and in third countries in the Mediterranean Sea

Partnership that combines multidisciplinary competences

Method for evaluating the results of the project to facilitate the scaling up to other Mediterranean sea areas

Detailed roadmap for a follow-up project

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Expected Outputs

Enhanced contribution to the implementation of actions 6.1 and 6.2 of the JC on IOG

Restored marine areas, increase in area under sustainable management

Enhanced context to launch and implement a larger scale project in the future

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Expected Results and Impacts

Increased awareness of relevant regional stakeholders

Extended "buy-in" of the local community and better ground for future investment in marine and coastal restoration activities

Increased diversification of jobs into green jobs in the targeted local communities

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED Expected Results and Impacts

RESTORING MARINE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE MED

PRACTICAL ASPECTS

ELIGIBILITY section 3 of the strand

Geographical eligibility:

from EU MS from third countries bordering the Mediterranean sea

basin, excluding volatile regions from other third countries if activity outside EU territory +

if participation relevant for objectives

Eligible applicants:

Applicants must be legal entities. They can be public or private bodies

Applicants must be active in the field of marine environment, research, marine, maritime affairs or any other relevant field

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of minimum

2 legal entities from at least 2 different eligible countries; of which at least one must be based in an EU MS and at least one in a non-EU country, both of which shall be bordering the Mediterranean Sea basin/area, excluding volatile regions.

The coordinating entity (lead partner) must be established

in an EU Member State.

ELIGIBILITY section 3 of the strand

Project consortia:

AWARD CRITERIA section 4 of the strand

AWARD CRITERIA

To evaluate the quality of the proposals against

transparent criteria published in the call

For Restoring Marine Ecosystems in the MED:

4 award criteria for a total of 100 points

Minimum required - 50% for each criterion

However, overall pass threshold - 65 points

BEWARE: reaching 50% for each criterion is not enough –

Minimum overall mark is 65 points

AWARD CRITERIA section 4 of the strand

Name of the award criterion Minimum pass score

Maximum score

1. Relevance and Added Value 20 40

2. Project Implementation 12.5 25

3. Cost-Effectiveness 5 10

4. Impact 12.5 25

Total 65 100

1) RELEVANCE AND ADDED VALUE (40 pts):

Sub Criterion 1 - Relevance of the proposal and its expected results/impacts to achieving the objectives (max 20 pts):

- Relevance to the objectives of the strand

- Clear, measurable & realistic objectives

- Appropriate needs/gap analysis (including target area) + justification of activities

AWARD CRITERIA section 4 of the strand

Sub Criterion 2 - Added value of the activities (max 20 pts):

- Added value compared with existing environmental situation in the area + how the proposal builds on existing research & initiatives

- Concrete & effective strategies and activities to restore ecosystems, adapt/develop green-blue infrastructures, develop partnership

- Clear, concrete and robust evaluation method (facilitate scale up)

- Detailed & realistic roadmap for follow up project

- Clear added value to support JC on IOG

AWARD CRITERIA section 4 of the strand

AWARD CRITERIA section 4 of the strand

2) PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION (25pts):

Effectiveness and coherence of the work plan:

- Implementation (description of activities, workplan, deliverables,…)

- Expected results and impacts clearly identified; indicators

Complementarity of partners and project management:

- Partnership composition

- Project management mechanisms

- Risks & mitigation measures

3) COST - EFFECTIVENESS (10 pts):

- Clear, consistent & detailed budget

- Value for money

AWARD CRITERIA section 4 of the strand

4) IMPACT (25pts):

Impact, communication, dissemination and exploitation:

- Impacts

- Consultation and involvement with relevant stakeholders (industry,

business, local community, NGOs)

- Communication and dissemination

Sustainability:

- Long-term environmental sustainability

- Concrete measures to sustain the project after the project end

Transferability and multiplier effect:

- Concrete measures for transferability to other MED areas

Submission Deadline: 08/02/2018

Evaluation period: Mar–Jul 2018

Information to applicants: Aug–Sep 2018

Grant Agreement preparation: Sep–Dec 2018

Start of the project(s): Jan 2019

INDICATIVE

TIMETABLE

PAYMENTS

Pre-financing 40% within 30 days after signature by EASME

Interim payment 30% of the grant amount will be made within 60 days of receipt and approval by the EASME of an interim report

Balance payment will be made within 60 days of receipt and approval by the EASME of the final report

PAYMENTS & REPORTS section 11 of the call

REPORTS

Progress reports: Six-monthly technical progress reports

Interim report is due within 60 days

of the end of the interim period (18 months for a 36 month project)

Final report is due within 60 days of the end of the project duration.

Report on the distribution of the EU financial contribution

What is at stake?

Contributing to the implementation of actions 6.1. & 6.2 of the Joint Comm. on international ocean governance

What do we expect?

A project that will restore damaged or degraded ecosystems in the MED with high potential to provide marine ecosystem services

Total budget and co-financing rate:

EUR 1.500.000; 80% co-financing

Grant range per project: EASME expects to fund one proposal

Duration of projects: 36 months

Deadline for submission: 08/02/2018

SNAPSHOT

More information

ANY QUESTION?

Useful links:

Call for proposals webpage:

https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/sustainable-blue-economy

FAQs:

https://ec.europa.eu/easme/en/frequently-asked-questions-emff-calls-proposals

Beginner's guide from DG BUDG:

http://ec.europa.eu/budget/funding/index_en

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

#EMFF17