Tunisia Seizes Opportunities at World Urban Forum 13
In the Margins of World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13), Held in Baku, Azerbaijan
Aida Robbana, Head of the UN-Habitat Tunisia Office, reflects on the key issues of Tunisia's participation in this global gathering focused on cities and housing. A strategic partnership for inclusive housing, a pilot project in Kerkennah, climate adaptation of Tunisian cities, and mobilization of new international funding: she details the new perspectives opened up for Tunisia in an interview with La Presse.
What lessons can be drawn from this edition for Tunisia?
This edition of the World Urban Forum was particularly important because it transformed international discussions into concrete actions. The "Call to Action" launched on the last day reflects a global awareness: populations need immediate and visible solutions in the fields of housing, urban development, and quality of life improvement.
For Tunisia, this forum represents a strategic opportunity. As a UN agency specialized in urban issues, UN-Habitat plays a facilitating role in bringing Tunisia closer to new international partners, expertise, and multilateral funding that can support Tunisia's public policies.
The WUF13 also allowed us to meet partners from different regions of the world, including the Caucasus and Central Asia, and explore new cooperation paths in the fields of social housing, climate change adaptation, and sustainable urban development.
One of the highlights of Tunisia's participation was the signing of a partnership with Alwaleed Philanthropies. What does this agreement concretely provide?
Indeed, it is a major moment for UN-Habitat Tunisia and the Tunisian government. We signed a significant memorandum of understanding with Alwaleed Philanthropies, one of our main international partners.
This agreement will support a pilot project for inclusive housing in Greater Tunis and the governorate of Tataouine. Specifically, it involves rehabilitating and improving 100 existing social housing units to make them accessible to people with disabilities.
Our goal is to introduce the principle of universal accessibility in these housing units. This means adapting the infrastructure to meet the needs of different types of disabilities, while improving the living conditions of beneficiaries. This project will be implemented in coordination with the national housing social program and the Ministry of Equipment and Housing. We hope to be able to replicate this experience in other governorates.
What role does UN-Habitat play in this type of project?
UN-Habitat's role is multifaceted. We act as a bridge between Tunisia and international partners. We facilitate access to technical expertise, knowledge sharing, and international funding mechanisms.
We also accompany Tunisian institutions in identifying priority projects and structuring them to attract financial partners.
Our mission is aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This involves affordable housing, improving urban infrastructure, and creating new economic, social, and environmental opportunities for citizens.
You also presented environmental projects developed in Kerkennah at Baku. Can you tell us more about this?
Yes, we presented the experience of Kerkennah, which is now one of UN-Habitat's most important pilot projects in Tunisia in terms of climate resilience and sustainable territorial development. Kerkennah is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, including sea level rise, coastal erosion, droughts, and degradation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems. In response to these challenges, we developed an approach based on nature-based solutions and community participation.
We are working with the Kerkennah municipality, the Sfax governorate, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Ministry of Equipment and Housing to implement a comprehensive action plan for the archipelago.
As part of the "Soumoud" project implemented by UN-Habitat in Kerkennah, we conducted a multidimensional evaluation of climate vulnerability and developed a Resilience Action Plan for urban areas, identifying 44 bankable projects, including initiatives related to sustainable infrastructure, ecological restoration, environmental awareness, and the creation of inclusive public spaces.
These projects are structured enough to be quickly funded as soon as international financial partners are mobilized.
Among the already engaged projects is a large program involving 12 educational establishments from the archipelago and the Sfax governorate around actions of planting, climate awareness, and citizen mobilization.
This project involves direct actions of planting and environmental awareness involving the inhabitants of the island.
Climate change seems to be at the heart of international urban policies. What is the situation in Tunisia?
Climate change is now a concrete reality affecting many Tunisian cities, particularly coastal areas. Risks related to erosion, flooding, and extreme climate phenomena require a new way of thinking about urban development. That's why we emphasize nature-based solutions. Kerkennah is a pilot experience, but we are already thinking of extending this approach to other Tunisian cities.
The goal is to test innovative solutions that reduce climate impacts while improving the living conditions of populations.
Is Tunisia already preparing for the next international events in the urban field?
Absolutely. We have already started discussions with the Minister of Equipment and Housing to prepare for the next international exhibition scheduled for Mexico in two years.
The idea is to have a dedicated pavilion for Tunisia to present its achievements in the fields of housing, territorial planning, and sustainable urban development.
This would also be an important opportunity to highlight the challenges facing the country, particularly in terms of climate, but also to showcase innovative solutions developed in Tunisia.
We want to show that Tunisia can become a true laboratory for sustainable urban solutions adapted to Mediterranean and African realities.
