Monaco and France reaffirmed their shared commitment to uplifting the Mediterranean’s younger generation, celebrating the fifth anniversary of the J-MED initiative on Friday, March 14. Isabelle Rosabrunetto, Director General of Monaco’s Department of External Relations and Cooperation, joined Jean d’Hauteville, France’s Ambassador to Monaco, to spotlight this enduring partnership. Launched in November 2024 during Mediterranean Day, the latest J-MED call for projects has named 15 winning civil society organisations from across the region.
Run by the European Institute of Cooperation and Development (IECD) and the MedNC network, J-MED draws support from Monaco’s government, France’s Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Fondation de France, and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region. Since 2020, it has backed youth-focused projects in Algeria, Lebanon, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia, partnering with Mediterranean stakeholders to foster education, job training, entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, culture, heritage preservation, sports, and environmental action.
This year’s edition saw nearly 300 applications, with 15 standout initiatives selected to benefit youth on the Mediterranean’s southern, eastern, and northern shores. Over five years, J-MED has fuelled 100 local projects, touching the lives of over 3,000 young people. Rosabrunetto hailed the program’s impact: “Monaco is deeply invested in Mediterranean youth. J-MED, born five years ago with our French partners, opens doors for young people—especially girls—to unlock their potential and shape their futures.”
Ambassador d’Hauteville echoed her enthusiasm, noting, “J-MED lets us, alongside Monaco, back youth tackling key issues like climate adaptation, job opportunities, and women’s economic independence. This year, five projects specifically bolster Lebanon’s civil society, supporting resilience amid crisis, while others target vulnerable groups—women, girls in rural areas, and youth far from job prospects.”
Rooted in a 2010 partnership agreement, Monaco and France’s collaboration continues to bridge divides and build hope across the Mediterranean, one youth-driven project at a time.
