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Regional Conference on Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea Continuum: From Strategy to Action

Event Details:

  • Date:          Tuesday 24 - Thursday, 26 February 2026
  • Time:         Duration: All day
  • Venue:       John Ioannides Auditorium, Fresnel Building, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.  Alternatively, watch the event on our YouTube livestream.

 

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About the Conference

The Regional Conference on Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea Continuum: From Strategy to Action will promote multi-stakeholder efforts towards action for the integrated management of natural resources as well as water, food and energy security and environmental sustainability in the Mediterranean region.

The Conference supports the implementation of the “Strategy for WEFE Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea Continuum”, which was adopted by the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24) of the Barcelona Convention (December 2025, Cairo) and the 15th Meeting of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Regional Platform on Water (November 2025, Barcelona), in view of the 2nd UfM Ministerial Conference on Water (March 2026, Rome). The Strategy proposes a comprehensive strategic framework to assist countries in enhancing policy and action integration across WEFE sectors and to promote leveraging of necessary funding towards sustainability and climate-resilience objectives.



Objectives

In this context, the Conference aims to:

  • Elaborate technical inputs for an Action Framework to support implementation of the WEFE Nexus Strategy, aligned with the upcoming Rome Initiative
  • Demonstrate practical application of the WEFE Nexus and the Source to Sea approaches, highlighting policy and governance developments, pilot results, digital innovation, and pathways for replication and upscaling
  • Advance discussion on WEFE Nexus investments and access to financing
  • Strengthen alignment between the WEFE Nexus framework and regional climate resilience initiatives, including the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative (EMME-CCI)



Expected Outcomes

Expected outcomes of the Conference include:

  • Establishment of a multi-stakeholder consultation process to support the shaping of the Strategy’s Action Framework
  • Strengthened collaboration through the Mediterranean WEFE Nexus Community of Practice (WEFE4MED NCoP), reinforcing links between science, policy and finance
  • Enhanced alignment of the regional WEFE Nexus agenda with theEMME-CCI and other related regional initiatives



Programme Highlights

  • 24 February 2026 (afternoon)
    Technical interactive sessions focused on financing, replication and upscaling of WEFE Nexus demonstration cases, including a poster session.
  • 25 February 2026
    Official opening and panels addressing governance, financing, science-policy interfaces and pathways for moving the WEFE Nexus Strategy to Action.
  • 26 February 2026
    Thematic consultations and interactive sessions contributing directly to the structuring of the Strategy’s Action Framework and alignment with regional initiatives.



Target Participants

The Conference is addressed to representatives of:

  • National and local authorities
  • Regional and international organisations
  • Research and academic institutions
  • National development banks and financing institutions
  • Multilateral and bilateral development partners
  • Civil society, youth and community-based organisations
  • Private sector and practitioners
  • Media



Organisation & Support

The Conference is held under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026, within the frameworks of UNEP/MAP, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and PRIMA.
 
It is organised by the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean (GWP-Med) and The Cyprus Institute, in synergy with the EU WES-BCA Project, and implemented with the support of the GEF UNEP/MAP MedProgramme, the PRIMA WEFE4MED Project (Nexus Community of Practice – NCoP), and contribution from GEF IWLEARN.
 
 



Registration & Updates

Registration: WEFE Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea Continuum: From Strategy to Action – Registration

Important note: For in-person participation, registration is open until 10 February 2026.

Further updates, practical information and revised versions of the agenda will be made available through the WEFE4MED Knowledge Hub, which will be regularly updated as preparations progress.

 


Conference Agenda

Time indicated in the agenda is in Cyprus/Eastern European Time
For Central European Time: -1 hour

Notification goes here xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx



Tuesday 24 February 2026

13.00 - 13.30

Registration and Get Together
13.30 - 13.45

Welcome to the WEFE Nexus Technical Interactive Sessions
     • Intros, objectives, structure and expected outcomes

          - PRIMA WEFE4Med Project
          - PRIMA Foundation
13.45 - 14.00 Setting the Stage: Financing WEFE Nexus replication and upscaling
          - PRIMA Foundation
Q/A
14.00 - 15.00 Panel A: How we will finance replication and upscaling of successful demo applications (1)
Facilitator: TBD
          - 4 Panel members from regional projects
Interactive Discussion
15.00 - 15.30 Break
15.30 - 16.30 Panel B: How we will finance replication and upscaling of successful demo applications (2)
Facilitator: UfM
          - 4 Panel members from regional projects
Interactive Discussion
16.30 - 17.30 Poster Session: participants receive information from regional projects on WEFE Nexus at the poster exhibition. The poster exhibition will be open for visits and info provision during breaks throughout the Conference.
17.40 Dinner / Iftar

Wednesday 25 February 2026

10.00 -  10.30

Formal Opening & Purpose of the Conference
     • Introduction and moderation: The Cyprus Institute
     • Welcome Remarks
          - Cyprus
          - European Commission
          - UNEP MAP
          - UfM
          - PRIMA Foundation
     • Purpose of the Conference: GWP-Med
10.30 - 12.00 Setting the Stage
Facilitator: Med Country

Why action cannot wait
     • Understanding the added value of WEFE Nexus in Source to Sea Continuum in a changing Mediterranean: EU WES-BCA Project
     • WEFE Nexus Brief Country Assessments: GWP-Med – MedProgramme CP2.2
     • The Strategy for WEFE Nexus in the Mediterranean Source to Sea Continuum
Q/A

Perspectives from the field
     • The WEFE Nexus project (Child 2.2) of the GEF UNEP MAP MedProgramme: GWP-Med
     • The WEFE Nexus Community of Practice facilitated by the PRIMA WEFE4Med Project: The Cyprus Institute
Q/A
12.00 - 12.15 Break
12.15 - 13.00 Setting the Stage: How to screen and finance WEFE Nexus
Facilitator: European Commission
     • The landscape of WEFE Nexus financing in the Mediterranean
     • WEFE Screening tool for WEFE Nexus projects
Q/A
13.00 - 14.00 Panel 1: How we will move the Strategy to Action
Focus on Strategy’s Goal 1: Appropriate institutional arrangements, policies, and cooperation frameworks are established at country and regional levels
Facilitator: UNEP MAP
     - Representatives of Government from the WEFE Nexus sectors, RBOs and Cities networks
Interactive Discussion
14.00 - 15.00 Break
15.00 - 16.00 Panel 2: How we will move the Strategy to Action
Focus on Strategy’s Goal 2: Efficient and effective planning, financing and implementation of management and technical solutions
Facilitator: European Commission
     - Representatives of Financing Partners
Interactive Discussion
16.00 - 17.00 Panel 3: How we will move the Strategy to Action
Focus on Strategy’s Goal 3: Informed decision making based on enhanced science-based knowledge, engagement of capacitated stakeholders, and increased public awareness
Facilitator: PRIMA
     - Representatives of regional organisations, science partners, civil society, gender and youth
Interactive Discussion
17.40 Dinner / Iftar

Thursday 26 February 2026

10.00 - 11.30

Informing the Action Framework: results of recent consultations on WEFE Nexus aspects
Facilitator: UfM
     • WEFE Nexus Financing
     • WEFE Nexus Governance
     • WEFE Nexus & Desalination
     • WEFE Nexus Digital Transformation
Q/A
11.30 - 11.45 Break
11.45 - 13.00 Informing the Action Framework: exploring further linkages
Facilitator: European Commission
     • WEFE Nexus for Climate Resilience
     • WEFE Nexus across the Source to Sea Continuum - systemic thinking in practice
     • WEFE Nexus in Wastewater Treatment & Reuse
     • WEFE Nexus in Nature based Solutions
Q/A
13.00 - 14.00 Aligning the Action Framework: linking with regional initiatives and processes
Facilitator: Cyprus Presidency of the EU
     • Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Climate Change Initiative
     • Rome Initiative
     • 6th Euro-Med Water Forum
     • Arab Region Initiatives and regional processes
Q/A
14.00 - 15.00 Break
15.00 - 16.30 Structuring the Strategy’s Action Framework
Facilitator: TBD
     • Presentation of a suggested ToR for the Action Framework, and facilitated discussion
16.30 - 17.00 Conclusions & Next steps
     • Joint Declaration on WEFE Nexus in the Mediterranean -presentation for adoption
     • UNEP MAP, UfM, EU, PRIMA, GWP-Med, CyI
17.40 Dinner / Iftar


Download the timetable

          |          For more information, please visit this website

 

 

The event is open to the public and held in English.

This is a hybrid event.  You are welcome to join us in-person at The Cyprus Institute, or alternatively watch our YouTube livestream
Images and/or recordings of our open public events may be used by The Cyprus Institute for dissemination purposes including print and digital media such as websites, press-releases, social media, and live streaming.

       



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