Pompidou Group | Our activities| MedNET

The Mediterranean network for co-operation on drugs and addictions (MedNET) aims to foster co-operation, exchange and transfer two-way knowledge between North African and European countries which are members of the Pompidou Group and donors (North-South and South-North) as well as within the countries of the Mediterranean Basin (South-South). Independent experts provide their expertise and experience.

Aims

The ultimate aim is to improve the quality of implementation of drugs policy in all the participating countries in both North Africa and Europe, with the emphasis on greater awareness of cultural factors influencing intervention policies.

Target Groups

The network is a cooperation mechanism for professionals working on the ground : doctors, social workers, representatives of NGOs and public associations, researchers and policy-makers: policy and administrative managers. It is geared to promoting interaction between the political, practical and scientific aspects.

Development and Financing of the network

The network was being developed for a period of one year (2006-2007) after which it was assessed. It was thus recognised as being flexible in terms of functioning and structure and the 2008 activities were pursued under the co-ordination of the Pompidou Group. The annual report of activities for 2008 confirmed that the flexibility of the functioning was instrumental to the positive results of the network. Funding for the development period was provided by the Netherlands and France. In 2007, voluntary contributions from Italy, Portugal and Spain were added. Since then, the budget continues to be fed by voluntary contributions.

Participating countries

The initial focus of the project in 2006 was on North Africa: Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. In Europe, the partners were France and the Netherlands who restart the initiative of Malta in 1999. Since then, the project has been extended and twelve countries have so far become members.
Lebanon which participated in the first conference organised within MedNET in Algiers in December 2006, has joined the network since January 2007.
Italy and Spain have joined in June 2007 and Portugal in September 2007. Along with the representatives of these countries, who must be empowered to commit their national authorities, Independent experts are also invited to bring in their knowledge and experience, especially in the framework of the MedSPAD1 project (Mediterranean School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs).
Progressively, other countries joined the network: Tunisia in January 2009, Jordan and Egypt in May 2010 and Cyprus in June 2010, as well as Greece in March 2011.

Member States: Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia

Added value

- Adaptation to the southern Mediterranean cultural context of the methodology and tools recognised and used in Europe
- Wide range of activities whereby qualitative and quantitative information in various fields is collected with a view to a comprehensive approach to the drug problem
- Bridging role between Europe and the southern part of the Mediterranean region
- Exchange of knowledge and experience between the countries of the southern rim of the Mediterranean
- Activities based on needs expressed by stakeholders in the countries concerned
- Instilling of awareness and skills in the drug field through meetings at which various agencies come together
- Flexibility in the implementation of programmes
- Regular and thorough evaluation by all stakeholders
- Cost-effectiveness

Publications & Documents

Situational Needs Assessment 2009 (Lebanon, September 2011)
Report prepared by Skoun (Lebanese Addiction Centre) in the framework of the Project "Filling the Gap"

Report

Guidelines for the Mediterranean School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (MedSPAD)

Guidelines

Work Programme 2011
Adopted at the 9th MedNET meeting in Rabat on 3 December 2010

Programme

Activity Report 2010
Adopted at the 9th MedNET meeting in Rabat on 3 December 2010

Report

Training for trainers in implementation of drug abuse prevention projects in Algeria
Trainings for trainers in Zeralda, Batna, Oran and Ghardaia in 2009

publication in French version

Publication in Arabic version

MedNET High Level Conference
Strasbourg, 1st December 2009

Declaration

Conference report

Feasibility study

MedSPAD survey in Lebanon

Publication 2009 (pdf format)

Presentation of MedNET

Brochure 2010 (pdf format)

All documents of MedNET

All publications from Pompidou Group