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From Hurghada: The Mediterranean Youth Foundation Addresses Climate Change! The Mediterranean Youth Foundation, in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, is preparing to launch the second edition of our regional project, the Mediterranean Initiative for Climate, from December 19 to 23, 2024. The importance of the initiative stems from its response to the growing environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region, which accommodate more than 510 million people, and where temperatures are rising 20% faster than the global average, according to United Nations reports. This initiative aims to build capacities, develop environmental policies, and generate knowledge to raise awareness about climate change. It serves as a platform for interaction and cultural exchange among Mediterranean youth to innovate environmental solutions and address shared challenges. Stay tuned for event details and share your expectations with us!

“Ministry of Youth and Sports and Mediterranean Youth Foundation Continue to Address Climate Change” The Mediterranean Youth Foundation and the Ministry of Youth and Sports are continuing the activities of the second edition of the regional project “Mediterranean Initiative for Climate” from December 19 to 23, 2024. The initiative included a variety of sessions, ranging from workshops and listening sessions to research activities and presentations focusing on Gender Lens on Climate Change. These sessions were led by Dr. Yasmeen Aladdin, a gender expert and co-president of the Mediterranean Youth Foundation. The initiative also featured artistic performances by participants that addressed concepts such as loss and damage, mitigation and adaptation, and deep decarbonization, reflecting the initiative’s aim to translate climate action to the grassroots level. The importance of this initiative lies in responding to the increasing environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region, which accommodate more than 510 million people, where temperatures are rising 20% faster than the global average, according to UN Environment reports. Our journey in Hurghada for climate change has come to an end, but our efforts continue. Stay tuned for more updates!

The Mediterranean Youth Foundation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, is organizing the second edition of the regional project, “The Mediterranean Initiative for Climate,” from December 19 to 23, 2024. This initiative aims to build the capacities of representatives of youth organizations and entities, develop environmental policies, and generate knowledge to raise awareness about climate change. It also seeks to explore the regional interaction mechanism between science and policies as recognized by the Barcelona Convention. The initiative includes diverse sessions such as workshops, hearings, research activities, and presentations on the conceptual framework and historical background of climate change, along with key related international agreements. It also featured a knowledge competition on climate and environmental terminology presented by Mr. Youssef Aroog. Additionally, the initiative hosted a session on climate diplomacy and translating climate action to the grassroots level, including mechanisms for negotiation between parties, presented by Mr. Mohamed Ageez, Climate Action Advisor at the Mediterranean Youth Foundation and Managing Partner at TIS Labs. The importance of this initiative lies in responding to the increasing environmental challenges in the Mediterranean region, which accommodate more than 510 million people, where temperatures are rising 20% faster than the global average, according to UN Environment reports. Our activities are still ongoing… Stay tuned! #Youth #peace #Youth4Mediterranean #MYF

Before the next United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference 2022 (UNFCCC, COP 27) that will take place in Egypt in November 2022, the Mediterranean Youth Foundation for Development (MYF,) hosted  in cooperation with the “Oceans Network” through the Erasmus+ student and Alumni Alliance (ESAA EU,) funded by the “European Commission” with the support of the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Egyptian Ministry of Environment, brought together 55 youth aged 21-35 from the Euro-Mediterranean countries for a 3-day training covering the topic of climate change, in August 2022 in El- Alamein, Egypt.

How It Worked?

The aim of the initiative was to raise awareness about climate change and building the capabilities of youth in the field of climate change. In addition to the training, awareness raising campaigns and contests that have been organized on the same topic, engaging as many youths as possible with the priority topics of the upcoming COP27 (unemployment, The climate crisis, migration, gender inequality) and building the capacities of young men and women to face these challenges.

In a multicultural atmosphere, the Mediterranean Initiative for Climate was launched, with participation of 55 participants from different Mediterranean countries from Spain, Lebanon, Palestine, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Egypt which included about 10 workshops and panel discussions with approximately 50 training hours, and addressed a number of main topics of concern to everyone interested in the environment and climate change, namely environmental peace, challenges of the environment in the Mediterranean and mechanisms of mitigation and adaptation.

The workshops also dealt with how to write a policy paper specialized in the environment, and at the end of the program, the participants worked on writing and submitting policy papers, which will be evaluated and reviewed, to be presented to the officials.

How was social media used?

Before the workshops started, the Mediterranean Youth Foundation launched an online awareness campaign to educate the audience about the issue of climate change, the dangers of using plastic, and how they can contribute to reducing the effects of climate change by publishing a set of posters and infographics.

Also, two competitions were launched. The first was a question competition, the winners received a set of prizes, from an opportunity to participate in the workshops to financial prizes and certificates of appreciation, and the second competition was an article competition, where the participants worked on writing articles on the issue of climate change in Arabic and English. A team of professionals assessed them, and the essay competition winners were allowed to participate in the workshops and receive monetary prizes.

Outcomes 

We are at a critical moment in human history. We are facing a dangerous issue that needs individuals, communities, local, regional and global organizations and governments to come together to reduce the effects of climate change. In November 2022, world leaders will gather at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, an important event in our journey to tackle climate change. We came out of the Mediterranean Initiative for Climate with a set of recommendations, which are as follows:

  1. The necessity of activating and accelerating climate policies worldwide and involving youth in a greater way in limiting the effects of climate change.
  2. Climate action cannot be postponed for the next decade, next year, or tomorrow. We all have to take action now.
  3. There is an urgent need to view the environment as an essential human right.
  4. Governments and local, regional, and international organizations need to strengthen the channels of communication between them, and governments should strengthen the channels of participation at the national and international levels in all stages of planning, implementation, evaluation, and monitoring of climate action policies and programs.

In the end, it can be said that this initiative was an excellent opportunity to pave the way for the Climate Summit, as it was necessary to involve a group of young people from all over the world to exchange views, experiences, and cultures, to come up with a set of policies that can be presented to governments to reduce the effects of climate change.

*A Funded Opportunity for Those Interested in Climate Action in Egypt – The Mediterranean Initiative for Climate MIC*.

Are you a climate action activist?
Do you have an idea or a recommendation in the field of climate and you need a financial or technical support?
Are you between 18 and 35 years old?
If your answers are yes, then this is your opportunity to be part of the change.

Apply now for the 4th edition of the Mediterranean Initiative for Climate (MIC) and receive free training and a chance to obtain a financial support up to 500 USD.

The project is implemented by the Mediterranean Youth Foundation (MYF) under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministry of Environment and in cooperation with Misr El-Kheir Foundation and Population Matters. The 4th edition focuses on three key pillars:

Building youth capacity, enhancing climate knowledge, and understanding international efforts and the outcomes of climate summits.
Empowering youth through field environmental initiatives and providing direct financial support.
Supporting their participation in decision-making by training them on how to prepare policy papers and provide badges to attend official climate negotiations.

Benefits of participation:

Receive free training on climate change, its historical background, and international efforts.
The possibility of obtaining micro-technical and financial support up to 500 USD to fund environmental initiatives and projects.
Participate in the preparation of policy papers with the possibility of obtaining badges to attend official climate negotiations such as COP-SB.

Note: This project is funded, and there are no fees for participation.

The final deadline for registration is December 20, 2025, at 11PM Cairo Time.

The third edition of the Mediterranean Initiative for Climate (MIC) is being launched from Ras El Bar, Egypt. In parallel with the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY Egypt 2025), the Mediterranean Youth Foundation and its partners launched the third edition of our strategic project, the “Mediterranean Initiative for Climate.” The initiative is jointly supported by the Council of Europe and the European Union and is being implemented in Egypt by the Mediterranean Youth Foundation, under the joint patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Environment. The events kicked off with ice-breaking sessions and energizing activities, followed by interactive workshops addressing key climate change questions: What is it? When did it start? How was the response of the international community? What is the role of cultural dialogue in fostering Euro-Mediterranean cooperation? This initiative comes as part of the foundation’s plan to develop the skills and build the capacities of civil society actors, aiming for sustainable development driven by youth leadership. Aroog also facilitated an analytical session that explored the evolution of international frameworks to combat climate change , starting from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), followed by the Kyoto Protocol, and then the Paris Agreement, all the way up to the long-term European Green Deal, which aims to make the EU the first climate-neutral continent by achieving net-zero emissions by 2050! A rich sequence that reflects how the international community’s response to the climate issue has evolved, and highlights the importance of continued cross-border cooperation for a more sustainable future. Stay tuned for upcoming events and reports.

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Streamlining Bank Account Opening for CSOs in Egypt: Towards a More Efficient and Uniform Process 

For Arabic, see below – للغة العربية، يرجي الإطلاع في الأسفل

The Mediterranean Youth Foundation for Development – MYF strongly urges the adoption of standardized and uniform guidelines for opening bank accounts for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Egypt.  Civil Society Organizations play a crucial role in the social and economic development of the country. On 5 April 2023, the Minister of Social Solidarity announced that 35,653 NGOs had registered under the 2019 NGO Law. Previously, the authorities stated that there were 52,500 civic groups in the country. However, they face significant challenges when trying to open bank accounts in Egypt, a process essential for their operations. Currently, there are no uniform guidelines shared by local banks, leading to excessive delays and unnecessary procedures often driven by the lack of knowledge among bank staff regarding laws and regulations governing CSOs. 

A prime example is the Mediterranean Youth Foundation for Development (MYF), which has encountered difficulties with Commercial International Bank (CIB) and Arab African International Bank (AAIB). Instead of completing the account opening process in the expected communicated three working days, the bank has extended it to over a month. Unrelated questions such as “How do you know each other within the organization?” or “Who funds you?” further causes unnecessary delays and wasting resources. While these are private institutions, these challenges can become even more complicated when dealing with governmental banks, further complicating the ability of CSOs to access critical banking services. 

Bank Accounts: A mandatory tool for CSO operations

The absence of standardized and uniform guidelines from banks not only creates unjustified delays, as seen in the case of the Mediterranean Youth Foundation for Development (MYF), but also threatens the sustainability of CSOs. These obstacles prevent access to the necessary resources for funding their initiatives, slow down project execution, and in some cases, may even discourage donations. Ultimately, this situation undermines the ability of CSOs to contribute to the country’s social and economic development, making it even more urgent to adopt uniform guidelines to facilitate the process of opening bank accounts.

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are legally required to have an operational bank account, as stipulated by Law No. 149 of 2019 on Regulating the Exercise of Civil Work, and its executive bylaw in order to carry out their activities effectively. A bank account enables CSOs to manage funds transparently, receive donations, make payments, and comply with legal financial obligations. However, the fact that the process of opening bank accounts for 

CSOs is hindered by bureaucratic delays, unclear guidelines, and a lack of understanding, it compromises the ability of the organizations to function.

Navigating Transparency: Why banks hesitate to engage with CSOs:

In addition to regulatory requirements, another contributing factor to the delays faced by CSOs in opening bank accounts is that some banks may be hesitant to engage with CSOs due to the increased scrutiny this brings. Working with CSOs requires banks to adhere to stricter transparency standards, as mandated by anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regulations. This level of transparency can expose banks to more rigorous audits and external monitoring of their financial practices, which may not be advantageous for them. Consequently, some banks may avoid relationships with CSOs to limit external oversight and avoid the potential risks associated with being monitored closely. This reluctance on the part of banks can further delay the process of CSOs obtaining the necessary financial infrastructure to carry out their work effectively.

On the other hand, private entities do not face such challenges. Their process of opening a bank account is significantly faster. Unlike CSOs, private companies benefit from streamlined procedures, fewer bureaucratic hurdles, and more standardized requirements, allowing them to complete the process with minimal delays. This discrepancy creates an uneven playing field, where private organizations enjoy greater ease of access to essential banking services.

CSOs’ efforts are weakened as they must navigate an inefficient and burdensome system, while private entities benefit from streamlined processes. This disparity not only hampers the operational capacity of CSOs but also puts them at a disadvantage, limiting their ability to contribute effectively to the country’s social and economic development. Moreover, this situation reflects an underestimation of the crucial role that CSOs play. It is essential to provide greater support to Civil Society Organizations and facilitate their operations, given the significant impact they have on the well-being of the nation as a whole. 

Toward Efficiency: A joint effort to simplify banking for CSOs

This initiative aims to streamline processes, reduce delays, and eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles that currently hinder the effective operation of CSOs across the country by calling for a collaborative effort involving the Egyptian Ministry of Finance, the Government representatives, CSO representatives, representatives of the Central Bank of Egypt, and key figures from Egyptian banks to establish shared guidelines that will simplify procedures and expedite the bank account-opening process.

These guidelines should aim to:

  1. Standardize and simplify the bank account opening procedures for CSOs.
  2. Ensure faster and more transparent responses.
  1. Eliminate unnecessary requests, focusing solely on legal and operational requirements.
  2. Provide specific training to bank staff to ensure they understand the needs and regulatory framework of CSOs.
  3. Set a clear and reasonable timeframe for processing applications, making sure the process stays efficient and moves along smoothly. 
  4. Establish a complaint system where CSOs can easily raise concerns about issues, ensuring that their grievances are addressed promptly and fairly.

We emphasize the importance of adopting these regulatory practices as they will not only streamline processes and reduce unnecessary barriers, but also foster greater transparency and accountability. By facilitating the work of CSOs, their contributions to the country itself will be enhanced, as CSOs play a crucial role in driving progress and addressing key societal  challenges. By enabling them to function more efficiently, Egypt will harness their full potential, leading to a stronger, more resilient, and inclusive path to development.

تسهيل فتح الحسابات المصرفية لمنظمات المجتمع المدني في مصر: نحو عملية موحدة وأكثر كفاءة

تحث مؤسسة شباب المتوسط للتنمية بقوة على اعتماد إرشادات موحدة لفتح الحسابات المصرفية لمنظمات المجتمع المدني في مصر. تلعب منظمات المجتمع المدني دورًا حيويًا في التنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية للبلاد. في 5 أبريل 2023، أعلن وزير التضامن الاجتماعي عن تسجيل 35،653 منظمة غير حكومية بموجب قانون المنظمات غير الحكومية لعام 2019. وفي السابق، صرحت السلطات بوجود 52،500 مجموعة مدنية في البلاد. ومع ذلك، تواجه هذه المنظمات تحديات كبيرة عند محاولة فتح حسابات مصرفية في مصر، وهي عملية ضرورية لأعمالها. في الوقت الحالي، لا توجد إرشادات موحدة تتقاسمها البنوك المحلية، مما يؤدي إلى تأخيرات مفرطة وإجراءات غير ضرورية غالبًا ما تكون مدفوعة بعدم معرفة موظفي البنوك بالقوانين واللوائح التي تحكم المنظمات المجتمعية.
ومن الأمثلة البارزة على ذلك مؤسسة شباب المتوسط التي واجهت صعوبات مع البنك التجاري الدولي (CIB) والبنك العربي الأفريقي الدولي (AAIB). بدلاً من إكمال عملية فتح الحساب في الأيام الثلاثة العاملة المتواصلة المتوقعة، مدد البنكها إلى أكثر من شهر. أسئلة غير مرتبطة مثل “كيف تعرفون بعضكم البعض داخل المنظمة؟” أو “من يمولكم؟” تسبب مزيدًا من التأخيرات غير الضرورية وإضاعة الموارد. في حين أن هذه مؤسسات خاصة، يمكن أن تصبح هذه التحديات أكثر تعقيدًا عند التعامل مع البنوك الحكومية، مما يزيد من تعقيد قدرة المنظمات المجتمعية على الوصول إلى الخدمات المصرفية الحيوية.
الحسابات المصرفية: أداة إلزامية لعمليات منظمات المجتمع المدني
 إن عدم وجود إرشادات موحدة من البنوك لا يؤدي فقط إلى تأخيرات غير مبررة، كما هو الحال في حالة مؤسسة شباب المتوسط، بل يهدد أيضًا استدامة منظمات المجتمع المدني. تمنع هذه العقبات الوصول إلى الموارد اللازمة لتمويل مبادراتها، وتبطئ تنفيذ المشاريع، وفي بعض الحالات، قد تثبط التبرعات حتى. في النهاية، يقوض هذا الوضع قدرة منظمات المجتمع المدني على المساهمة في التنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية للبلاد، مما يجعل من الأهمية بمكان اعتماد إرشادات موحدة لتسهيل عملية فتح الحسابات المصرفية.
تتطلب القوانين المصرية من منظمات المجتمع المدني، وفقًا للقانون رقم 149 لسنة 2019 بشأن تنظيم ممارسة العمل الأهلي، واللائحة التنفيذية له، امتلاك حساب مصرفي تشغيلي من أجل ممارسة أنشطتها بفعالية. يتيح الحساب المصرفي للمنظمات المجتمعية إدارة الأموال بشفافية، وتلقي التبرعات، وإجراء المدفوعات، والامتثال للالتزامات المالية القانونية. ومع ذلك، فإن حقيقة أن عملية فتح الحسابات المصرفية لمنظمات المجتمع المدني تعوقها التأخيرات البيروقراطية والإرشادات غير الواضحة وعدم الفهم، فإنها تعرض قدرة المنظمات على العمل.
التنقل بين الشفافية: لماذا تتردد البنوك في التعامل مع منظمات المجتمع المدني:
 بالإضافة إلى المتطلبات التنظيمية، فإن هناك عامل آخر يساهم في التأخيرات التي تواجهها منظمات المجتمع المدني في فتح الحسابات المصرفية، وهو أن بعض البنوك قد تتردد في التعامل معها بسبب التدقيق المتزايد الذي يجلبه ذلك. يتطلب العمل مع منظمات المجتمع المدني من البنوك الالتزام بمعايير شفافية أكثر صرامة، كما هو مطلوب في لوائح مكافحة غسيل الأموال وتمويل الإرهاب. يمكن أن يعرض هذا المستوى من الشفافية البنوك لمزيد من عمليات التدقيق والمراقبة الخارجية لممارساتها المالية، والتي قد لا تكون مفيدة لها. نتيجة لذلك، قد تتجنب بعض البنوك العلاقات مع منظمات المجتمع المدني للحد من الرقابة الخارجية وتجنب المخاطر المحتملة المرتبطة بالمراقبة عن كثب. يمكن أن يؤدي هذا التردد من جانب البنوك إلى مزيد من التأخير في عملية حصول منظمات المجتمع المدني على البنية التحتية المالية اللازمة للقيام بعملها بفعالية.

من ناحية أخرى، لا تواجه الكيانات الخاصة مثل هذه التحديات. عملية فتح حساب مصرفي الخاصة بها أسرع بكثير. على عكس منظمات المجتمع المدني، تستفيد الشركات الخاصة من الإجراءات المبسطة والعقبات البيروقراطية الأقل والمتطلبات الأكثر وحدة، مما يسمح لها بإكمال العملية مع الحد الأدنى من التأخيرات. يخلق هذا التباين أرضية لعب غير متكافئة، حيث تتمتع المنظمات الخاصة بسهولة أكبر في الوصول إلى الخدمات المصرفية الأساسية.
تضعف جهود منظمات المجتمع المدني حيث يتعين عليها التنقل في نظام غير فعال ومثقل، بينما تستفيد الكيانات الخاصة من العمليات المبسطة. لا تعيق هذه الفجوة فقط القدرة التشغيلية لمنظمات المجتمع المدني، بل تضعها أيضًا في وضع غير مؤات، مما يحد من قدرتها على المساهمة بفعالية في التنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية للبلاد. علاوة على ذلك، يعكس هذا الوضع التقليل من أهمية الدور الحاسم الذي تلعبه منظمات المجتمع المدني. من الضروري توفير دعم أكبر لتلك المنظمات وتسهيل عملياتها، بالنظر إلى التأثير الكبير الذي لها على رفاهية الأمة ككل.
نحو الكفاءة: جهد مشترك لتبسيط الخدمات المصرفية لمنظمات المجتمع المدني
 تهدف هذه المبادرة إلى تبسيط العمليات وتقليل التأخيرات والقضاء على العقبات البيروقراطية غير الضرورية التي تعرقل حاليًا التشغيل الفعال لمنظمات المجتمع المدني في جميع أنحاء البلاد من خلال الدعوة إلى جهد تعاوني يضم وزارة المالية المصرية، وممثلي الحكومة، وممثلي منظمات المجتمع المدني، وممثلي البنك المركزي المصري، وشخصيات رئيسية من البنوك المصرية لوضع إرشادات مشتركة من شأنها تبسيط الإجراءات وتسريع عملية فتح الحسابات المصرفية.
يجب أن تهدف هذه الإرشادات إلى:
توحيد وتبسيط إجراءات فتح الحسابات المصرفية لمنظمات المجتمع المدني.
ضمان استجابات أسرع وأكثر شفافية.
القضاء على الطلبات غير الضرورية، والتركيز فقط على المتطلبات القانونية والتشغيلية.
توفير تدريب محدد لموظفي البنك لضمان فهمهم لاحتياجات منظمات المجتمع المدني والإطار التنظيمي الخاص بها.
تحديد إطار زمني واضح ومعقول لمعالجة الطلبات، مع التأكد من أن العملية تسير بفعالية وسلاسة.
إنشاء نظام شكاوى حيث يمكن لمنظمات المجتمع المدني رفع الشكاوى بسهولة بشأن القضايا، مما يضمن معالجة شكواها على الفور وبشكل عادل.
 نؤكد على أهمية اعتماد هذه الممارسات التنظيمية لأنها لن تقتصر على تبسيط العمليات وتقليل الحواجز غير الضرورية، بل ستعزز أيضًا الشفافية والمساءلة. من خلال تسهيل عمل منظمات المجتمع المدني، سيتم تعزيز مساهماتها في البلاد نفسها، حيث تلعب دورًا حاسمًا في دفع التقدم ومعالجة التحديات الاجتماعية الرئيسية. من خلال تمكينها من العمل بكفاءة أكبر، ستستفيد مصر من إمكاناتها الكاملة، مما يؤدي إلى مسار أقوى وأكثر مرونة وشمولية للتنمية.