Abstract Book of the 6th World Conference on Media and Communication
Year: 2025
[PDF]
Policies Beyond Borders: Co-Designing Communication Tools for harmonized Maritime Spatial Planning in the Mediterranean
Folco Soffietti, Hadi El Hage, Cristina Cervera-Núñez, Ana Iñigo-Rodríguez, Elena Gutiérrez-Ruiz, Mónica Campillos-Llanos, Lobna Boudaya, Alessandra Fudoli, Samir Bachouche, Lassad Neifar, Fanny Châles, Neil Alloncle, Gianni Sinni, Francesco Musco
ABSTRACT:
This study, conducted within the EMFAF co-funded project MEDIGREEN (MEDiterranean Approach towards a Maritime European GREEN Deal in MSP), explores how purposefully designed communication tools can enhance knowledge transfer on Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) and blue economy concepts from European to Arabic-speaking Mediterranean contexts. To overcome holdbacks that may prevent policy harmonization and implementation. Building on previous initiatives such as MSP-MED and MSP-GREEN projects, the research responds to the enduring challenge of language and cultural barriers in cross-basin, policy-driven cooperation. A mixed-methods approach combined expert consultation, participatory design, and interactive validation. An initial focus group of Italian, Algerian, Spanish, and Tunisian MSP experts identified key communication needs for translating MSP principles and sectoral knowledge—fisheries, aquaculture, marine renewable energy, and environmental protection—into accessible and locally resonant formats. Three communication formats were co-developed and tested: multilingual factsheets, short social-media animations, and flash cards in Arabic, French, and English. The materials were evaluated by Mediterranean stakeholders during a dedicated workshop, through a Mentimeter survey with ranking, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions. Results highlighted the importance of Arabic terminology consistency, contextual examples, and hybrid dissemination strategies bridging expert and policy audiences. The findings confirm that tailored, multilingual communication tools can significatively improve inclusiveness, comprehension, and engagement in transboundary MSP processes. By addressing both linguistic and visual dimensions, the study contributes to the development of an evidence-based framework for communicating marine policies and sustainability transitions across the Mediterranean region.
Keywords: Maritime spatial planning; ocean governance; policy design; policy communication; communicating sustainability