Tunisia's APIA Obtains Official Accreditation from Green Climate Fund
The Tunisian Agency for Agricultural Investment Promotion (APIA) has obtained its official accreditation from the Green Climate Fund (GCF), becoming the first Tunisian entity authorized to mobilize international financing for climate change adaptation and mitigation.
A Major Milestone for Tunisia
This accreditation, obtained on October 28, 2025, marks a significant step for Tunisia in mobilizing international financial resources for sustainable development, ecological transition, and resilience in the agricultural and fisheries sectors.
"Cactus/Carbone" Project: A Call to Action
On this occasion, Noureddine Nasr, an international expert in agriculture and rural development, launched a call to the APIA, as the National Designated Authority (NDA) for the Green Climate Fund, to submit a project called "Cactus/Carbone". The project aims to replant 600,000 hectares of cactus across the country, an area equivalent to that devastated by the cactus cochineal, a parasitic insect that has ravaged prickly pear trees in Tunisia.
A Carbon Sink
"The cactus is a true carbon sink, capable of fixing up to 360 tons of CO₂ per hectare and per year," recalled the expert, highlighting that this call had already been launched during the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The "Cactus/Carbone" project would include:
- Multiplying cochineal-resistant varieties
- Protecting areas still unaffected (notably in Cap Bon and Kasserine)
- Large-scale production of predatory insects of the parasite
- Strengthening the capacities of laboratories, technical agents, and farmers
- Conserving genetic resources, carbon, and water
Direct Access to Green Climate Fund Financing
Thanks to this accreditation, the APIA will now have direct access to Green Climate Fund financing, paving the way for new national projects aligned with Tunisia's climate priorities and international commitments.
