Our recent mission to Tunisia on water, sanitation and hygiene projects:
A new mission was recently carried out in Tunisia with several aims:
– Attending the Mediterranean Water Forum, whose discussions covered, among other things, the need for hydro-diplomacy around transboundary basins as a factor of peace and cooperation
-Accompanying the representatives of the Aude departmental council in the follow-up of the project in Soliman for the preservation of a sensitive natural area and the water supply of disadvantaged neighbourhoods
– Following up the cooperation project between Ramonville and Mellouleche on water, sanitation and the setting up of a pilot biomethanation unit
– Supporting the design of the cooperation project between Lescar and Testour on solid waste management in Testour
-Meeting cross-cutting institutional actors: the French Embassy and the National Federation of Tunisian Municipalities
At the Mediterranean Water Forum :
Several subjects were addressed, including the use of tools such as the WASHREG matrix, and recommendations on transboundary water management suggesting, among other things, that gender be given more weight in governance and planning and that local populations be included in water management.
Within the decentralised cooperation between the Aude departmental council and the commune of Soliman :
The mission was devoted to meetings with everyone involved on the ground: the commune of Soliman, the CERTE and CBBC research centres and the Soliman environmental protection association AEDS. These meetings allowed a review of the first phase of the cooperation around the project for the « preservation and enhancement of a sensitive natural area in the Soliman wetland (Sebkha) and access to good quality drinking water for all ». The objectives reached during this specific phase of the project are as follows:
– Assessing the build-up of contaminants in the plant species native to the site
– Proposing a technology package for the rehabilitation of the site studied, through phytoremediation
-Creating a model demonstration plot to validate the proposed technology package
For the second phase of the project, due to start in 2024, the following actions are planned:
– the physiological characterisation of the endemic species found on the three newly selected study sites,
– the design and implementation of a protocol for selecting and preparing the plant species.
– The monitoring, extension and improvement of the demonstration area in Soliman
Within the decentralised cooperation between the commune of Ramonville and the commune of Mellouleche :
The current project continues and extends the cooperation's work on access to drinking water and sanitation, on support to the municipal council and on a pilot methanation project.
– 67 homes will shortly be connected to the public drinking water network run by SONEDE (the national drinking water distribution company)
– A study on collective sanitation in Mellouleche will be launched to identify the relevant lines of action in this field
– An assessment of how the pilot biomethanation unit on a farm in Mellouleche is working.
Within the decentralised cooperation between the commune of Lescar and the commune of Testour :
HAMAP is supporting the commune of Lescar in designing a project for the Integrated Management of Household Waste in the Municipality of Testour, in order to protect and improve the commune's environment while preserving the health and well-being of its residents.. The mission met local representatives to discuss the commune's needs and current practices.
With this in mind, several avenues are to be explored with the partners:
-Working on a collection and recycling chain
-Encouraging behaviour change among a selected group of residents;
-The rehabilitation of the existing landfill
