Tunisia Showcases Inclusive and Sustainable Housing Vision at World Urban Forum 13
Baku, Azerbaijan - May 20, 2026 - Tunisia is showcasing its vision for a more inclusive and sustainable housing at the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), held from May 17 to 22, 2026, in Baku. Led by Minister of Equipment and Housing, Slah Zouari, the Tunisian delegation is participating in international discussions on the global housing crisis, climate challenges, and the future of cities.
Tunisia Signs Strategic Partnership with UN-Habitat and Alwaleed Philanthropies
In a significant development, Tunisia has signed a strategic partnership with UN-Habitat and Alwaleed Philanthropies, marking a major step forward in the country's inclusive housing strategy. The pilot project, which will be implemented in the Grand Tunis and Tataouine regions, aims to develop housing solutions adapted to people with disabilities, with a focus on integration, citizen participation, and respect for local specifics.
Interview with Slah Zouari: Tunisia's Expectations at WUF13
La Presse de Tunisie: What are Tunisia's main expectations through this participation?
Slah Zouari: Tunisia is participating in this international forum with a high-level delegation composed of representatives from the Ministry of Equipment and Housing, as well as UN-Habitat Tunisia. Our main objective is to present the Tunisian experience in the fields of housing, urban planning, and social housing.
We are here to share our expertise, but also to learn from different international experiences presented within the framework of the forum. WUF13 brings together experts, urban planners, decision-makers, and international institutions from around the world. This is a strategic opportunity to exchange ideas on innovative solutions related to housing, social inclusion, and urban resilience.
Tunisia wants to highlight a human and inclusive approach to housing. Today, our priority is to propose solutions adapted to people with specific needs and the most vulnerable categories. We want to develop a housing that takes into account the real needs of citizens, both inside and outside their homes.
Tunisia's Current Projects in the Field of Social Housing
La Presse de Tunisie: What are the main projects carried out by Tunisia in this field?
Slah Zouari: Tunisia has launched several important programs in the field of social housing. Among the new mechanisms to be launched this year is the "rent-to-buy" system. This new model aims to facilitate access to social housing for low-income categories. This mechanism complements existing devices, including the Specific Social Housing Program, which is currently ongoing. Thanks to this program, over 4,800 housing units have already been delivered across several regions of the country. Additional social housing will also be allocated to the most vulnerable and marginalized categories in various governorates. We are also preparing new programs that will be announced in 2026. We will launch tenders for around 2,500 new housing units. All these projects have a common objective: to strengthen social housing and ensure decent housing for the most fragile citizens, with a particular attention to people with disabilities.
The Partnership between UN-Habitat and Alwaleed Philanthropies: A Major Step Forward for Tunisia
La Presse de Tunisie: Does the signature of the partnership between UN-Habitat and Alwaleed Philanthropies represent a major step forward for Tunisia?
Slah Zouari: Absolutely. This signature represents an extremely important step in our national strategy for inclusive housing.
The partnership between UN-Habitat and Alwaleed Philanthropies will enable the implementation of a pilot project titled "Strengthening inclusive and sustainable housing for people with disabilities in the Arab region: a pilot project in Tunisia."
This project will be implemented over a period of two years and aims to improve access to decent housing for people with disabilities. For the moment, the initiative will be deployed in two pilot zones: the Grand Tunis and Tataouine. It provides for the adaptation of existing housing as well as the integration of accessibility criteria in new social housing projects.
In addition to infrastructure, the project includes an important capacity-building and training component for public institutions, urban planners, and beneficiaries themselves. The adaptation of at least 100 housing units, in a first phase, is one of the major objectives of this initiative.
Today, we have presented this vision in Baku, and the feedback we have received is very positive and encouraging.
The Philosophy of the Pilot Project
La Presse de Tunisie: What is the philosophy behind this pilot project?
Slah Zouari: Our main objective is integration. We want every citizen to be able to live normally, without feeling a difference or exclusion related to their disability.
The fundamental idea is simple: it is not the citizen who must adapt to the housing, but the housing that must adapt to the citizen. We want to build habitats that are thought out according to the real needs of the inhabitants.
That is why we have adopted a "made-to-measure" approach. The beneficiary participates directly in the design of his or her housing. He or she becomes, in a way, the architect of his or her own living space.
We want to preserve in each citizen the feeling of belonging to their region, their environment, and their way of life. Social integration also passes through this cultural and territorial dimension.
Why the Grand Tunis and Tataouine Were Chosen as Pilot Zones
La Presse de Tunisie: Why were the Grand Tunis and Tataouine chosen as pilot zones?
Slah Zouari: Because each region has its own social, environmental, and architectural specifics.
Tataouine, for example, presents particular climatic and geographical characteristics. There is the heat, the mountains, but also traditional building materials that differ from those used in the Grand Tunis.
