The Mediterranean Hot Spots Investment Programme (MeHSIP) is a European Union programme providing direct technical advice and support to promoters for the preparation of investment projects in the water and environmental sectors of the Southern Mediterranean countries .
Led by the European Investment Bank (EIB) and cooperating closely with other European Financial Institutions, MeHSIP is part of the European Union’s contribution to the Horizon 2020 Initiative, which addresses the main sources of pollution entering the Mediterranean Sea through environmental investments, capacity building, monitoring the state of the Mediterranean environment and research.
MeHSIP is funded by European Commission grants to the Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP) Fund, which helps project promoters prepare investment activities throughout the project cycle.
The overall objectives of MeHSIP are to:
- promote adequate and sound water, wastewater, solid waste and industrial emissions management in the Southern Mediterranean region;
- reduce health risks and enhance the quality of people’s lives by improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation services as well as through sound solid waste management;
- improve the management and disposal of waste and contribute to achieving the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Initiative goal of de-polluting the Mediterranean.
MeHSIP-supported projects will also contribute to the creation of jobs both within and outside these key sectors during the preparation, construction and operation of the investments.
MeHSIP therefore represents an important element of the European commitment to improve prosperity and the quality of life in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region, based on the shared stewardship of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Programme is expected to help promoters accelerate the preparation of financeable projects through technical assistance. More specifically, MeHSIP aims to support the preparation and implementation of 10 to 20 projects across the region.
To receive MeHSIP technical assistance, projects must be designed to improve the management of one or more of the following:
- wastewater;
- solid waste;
- industrial de-pollution;
- water resources, water supply and efficiency;
- or contribute to climate change mitigation or adaptation in one or more of the above areas.
In addition, projects should be consistent with the national strategy or sectoral plan for a MeHSIP country and be supported by a well-defined promoter.
The MeHSIP Programme is managed by a team comprising three experts in the EIB headquarters in Luxembourg and four resident experts in EIB offices in Cairo, Tunis, Rabat, and in a MeHSIP office in Amman.
