UN-Habitat and Alwaleed Philanthropies Launch Inclusive Housing Project in Tunisia
In the margins of the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), a strategic partnership was officially announced between the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Alwaleed Philanthropies (Global) Foundation, through the signing of a contribution agreement aimed at implementing a pilot project in Tunisia dedicated to inclusive housing for people with disabilities.
A Pilot Project Structuring for Tunisia
The project, titled "Strengthening Sustainable and Inclusive Housing for People with Disabilities in the Arab Region: Pilot Project in Tunisia," will be implemented over a two-year period, from June 2026 to June 2028. It will target two pilot zones: Greater Tunis and Tataouine, with the aim of testing a replicable model of inclusive housing.
In a context where over 500,000 people with disabilities still face difficulties accessing housing and urban services, the initiative aims to strengthen accessibility, improve the quality of existing housing, and integrate inclusive standards from the design phase of new social housing programs.
The project also provides for the adaptation of at least 100 housing units and the implementation of a capacity-building program for public institutions, urban planners, and concerned stakeholders.
Engaged Leaders for a Dignity-Centered Approach
During the press conference, Princess Lamia bint Majed Al Saud emphasized the human dimension of the project. "Housing is a fundamental human right that guarantees dignity, stability, and opportunity. Through this partnership with UN-Habitat, we place people with disabilities at the heart of housing and urban planning policies. The goal is to develop sustainable, replicable, and socially cohesive solutions."
From her side, the Regional Director of UN-Habitat for the Arab States, Rania Hedaya, highlighted the contextual dimension of the project while emphasizing that one of the major challenges is to adapt solutions to local realities. "Accessibility should not be added later, but integrated from the planning of housing projects," she said.
Tunisia, a Regional Laboratory for Inclusive Housing
Beyond its national dimension, this pilot project aims to position Tunisia as a regional experimentation space for inclusive housing. It is based on a participatory approach that directly involves concerned individuals in the design of housing.
According to the partners, this approach not only improves the relevance of technical solutions but also ensures better social appropriation of projects. The Head of the UN-Habitat Office in Tunisia, Aïda Rabbana, emphasized the importance of this approach: "In Tunisia, we observe that the absence of adapted housing severely limits the autonomy and social inclusion of people with disabilities. This project allows us to test concrete, co-constructed, and replicable solutions."
It is worth noting that this initiative fully aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It also aligns with Tunisia's national priorities in terms of social housing and urban rehabilitation.
Through this partnership, Tunisia and its international partners aim to lay the foundations for a new model of social housing based on inclusion, sustainability, and citizen participation, in a context where urban challenges require innovative and coordinated responses.
