The Gov4GreenMed project: building cooperation and participation for sustainable waste management across the Mediterranean
The two-year project Gov4GreenMed has started this October 2025 with the objective of boosting inclusive governance models for better municipal waste management across the Mediterranean
Gov4GreenMed is a transnational cooperation initiative co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme
Although notable progress has been made in waste collection, recycling and prevention, municipal solid and food waste remain pressing challenges across the Mediterranean. Participatory approaches are still seldom applied, with citizens and businesses rarely playing an active role in decision-making. Gov4GreenMed, a project co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, responds to this gap by developing territorial participatory methodologies to strengthen municipal solid and food waste management models.
The project has a duration of two years, a total allocated budget of 1.460.392,19 € with an EU contribution of 1.299.749,05 € (89%). Gov4GreenMed has 6 partners and 5 countries involved which are the BETA Technological Centre (UVic-UCC) and Medcities in Spain, Cooperation for the Development of Emergency Countries (COSPE) in Italy, Centre International des Technologies et de l’Environment des Tunis (CITET) in Tunis, Future Pioneers for Empowering Communities’ Members in the Environmental and Educational Fields (FPEC) in Jordan, and Antalya Metropolitan Municipality (AMM) in Türkiye.
The project will test participatory methodologies through five pilot actions in different Mediterranean municipalities such as at Mancomunitat la Plana (Spain), Kumluka (Türkiye), Nabeul (Tunisia), Scandicci (Italy) and a municipality in Jordan ta=hat will be determined at later stage, each addressing specific local issues on solid and food waste management.
“We hope this project will provide cities and municipalities with tools — especially participatory ones — to include in their decision-making processes, enabling them to design and deliver public services that are more efficient and useful for citizens”, says Mercè Boy, project coordinator at BETA Technological Centre.
In addition to its local impact, Gov4GreenMed will produce a policy paper on inclusive local governance models, organise replication workshops, and host a final capitalisation conference. These actions will ensure that the lessons learned can be shared and replicated by other Mediterranean municipalities.
“To collaborate in a Euro-Mediterranean project is an opportunity to expand our network and capacity, and to learn from and with other cultures and institutions”, explains Clara Casanovas project manager at BETA Technological Centre. “We also hope to increase the level of participatory engagement — not only among citizens but also among institutions and other stakeholders involved in waste management”, she adds.
Ultimately, the project aims to strengthen cooperation between public authorities and stakeholders, improve citizens’ quality of life, and accelerate the green transition across Mediterranean territories.
Communication contacts:
Albert Palou: albert.palou@uvic.cat
Paula Pérez: paula.perez@uvic.cat
Project webpage:
https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/gov4greenmed/about/
Gov4GreenMed is a transnational cooperation initiative co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme
Although notable progress has been made in waste collection, recycling and prevention, municipal solid and food waste remain pressing challenges across the Mediterranean. Participatory approaches are still seldom applied, with citizens and businesses rarely playing an active role in decision-making. Gov4GreenMed, a project co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg NEXT MED Programme, responds to this gap by developing territorial participatory methodologies to strengthen municipal solid and food waste management models.
The project has a duration of two years, a total allocated budget of 1.460.392,19 € with an EU contribution of 1.299.749,05 € (89%). Gov4GreenMed has 6 partners and 5 countries involved which are the BETA Technological Centre (UVic-UCC) and Medcities in Spain, Cooperation for the Development of Emergency Countries (COSPE) in Italy, Centre International des Technologies et de l’Environment des Tunis (CITET) in Tunis, Future Pioneers for Empowering Communities’ Members in the Environmental and Educational Fields (FPEC) in Jordan, and Antalya Metropolitan Municipality (AMM) in Türkiye.
The project will test participatory methodologies through five pilot actions in different Mediterranean municipalities such as at Mancomunitat la Plana (Spain), Kumluka (Türkiye), Nabeul (Tunisia), Scandicci (Italy) and a municipality in Jordan ta=hat will be determined at later stage, each addressing specific local issues on solid and food waste management.
“We hope this project will provide cities and municipalities with tools — especially participatory ones — to include in their decision-making processes, enabling them to design and deliver public services that are more efficient and useful for citizens”, says Mercè Boy, project coordinator at BETA Technological Centre.
In addition to its local impact, Gov4GreenMed will produce a policy paper on inclusive local governance models, organise replication workshops, and host a final capitalisation conference. These actions will ensure that the lessons learned can be shared and replicated by other Mediterranean municipalities.
“To collaborate in a Euro-Mediterranean project is an opportunity to expand our network and capacity, and to learn from and with other cultures and institutions”, explains Clara Casanovas project manager at BETA Technological Centre. “We also hope to increase the level of participatory engagement — not only among citizens but also among institutions and other stakeholders involved in waste management”, she adds.
Ultimately, the project aims to strengthen cooperation between public authorities and stakeholders, improve citizens’ quality of life, and accelerate the green transition across Mediterranean territories.
Communication contacts:
Albert Palou: albert.palou@uvic.cat
Paula Pérez: paula.perez@uvic.cat
Project webpage:
https://www.interregnextmed.eu/project-page/gov4greenmed/about/
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