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Launch of the 2025 Call for Projects – Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE)

Initiative

As wetlands take centre stage at Ramsar COP15, DIMFE reaffirms its commitment to restoring and conserving freshwater ecosystems across the Mediterranean.

As Ramsar COP15 opens in Victoria Falls, the Donors’ Initiative for Mediterranean Freshwater Ecosystems (DIMFE) is pleased to announce the launch of its 2025 Call for Projects, supporting concrete actions for freshwater conservation and restoration across the Mediterranean region.

Coordinated and hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, in collaboration with the Aage V. Jensen Charity Foundation, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, and the Sigrid Rausing Trust, DIMFE funds field-based projects that protect and restore rivers, lakes, wetlands, marshes, peatlands, and other freshwater ecosystems.

This new call comes at a time of growing urgency. According to the latest Global Wetland Outlook, wetlands provide up to USD 39 trillion in ecosystem services each year. Yet they are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem.

The Mediterranean Wetlands Outlook 3 highlights that the region is among the most severely affected globally. Over 50% of natural wetlands have already been lost, and the remaining ones are under increasing pressure from land-use change, unsustainable water withdrawals, pollution, and climate disruption.

As water scarcity worsens and climate impacts intensify, wetlands are disappearing just when we need them most: to store water, regulate floods, protect coasts, and support biodiversity and communities.

In this context, DIMFE invites proposals that aim to:

  • Restore and conserve freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity
  • Promote the sustainable and equitable use of water resources
  • Develop long-term financing mechanisms to support freshwater protection

Projects should adopt a holistic and inclusive approach, combining ecological ambition with community engagement, cultural relevance, and long-term sustainability.

  • Project start: Between March and June 2026
    Funding available: €100,000 to €500,000 (co-financing required above €300,000)
    Eligible applicants: NGOs, scientific institutions, local authorities, and small private companies based in the Mediterranean basin
    Deadline for submission: 15 October 2025

    Full guidelines and application documents    :     https://www.dimfe.org/en/submit-a-project