Tunisia has been suffering from severe droughts in the past years. The coast of Ghar El Melh, in the governorate of Bizerte, home to one of the country’s most valuable wetlands, is facing a range of developmental pressures particularly due to climate vulnerability and climate change impacts, negatively affecting the local lagoon but also the livelihoods of the local farming community.
A regional collaboration encompassing local, national and Mediterranean partners came together to provide a customized solution to the above challenges. ACCISI-GEM (Adapting to Climate Change Impacts through Smart Irrigation and WEFE Nexus Approach), an innovative project with a range of targeted interventions, produced significant results at the local and national level, improving the livelihoods of local farmers.
ACCISI-GEM, was implemented from late 2023 to February 2025 by the Global Water Partnership – Mediterranean, under the leadership of the General Directorate of Rural Engineering and Water Exploitation (DG-GREE) within the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries, in partnership with the National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia (INAT) and in collaboration with the Regional Commissary for Agricultural Development CRDA Bizerte.
Financially supported by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Malta with co-financing from the GEF UNEP/MAP MedProgramme, the project illustrates the potential of Mediterranean collaboration, successfully replicating solutions well-tested in the Maltese islands into the Southern Mediterranean. Smart irrigation technology was deployed in specific plots in Ghar El Melh, following the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus approach. A real-time monitoring system for soil and crop conditions and water requirements was installed, providing farmers with precise, data-driven advice on when and how much water to apply to their crops. Renewable energy through solar panels was used for water pumping, further reducing the energy footprint. In the framework of the project, farmers received training on how to operate and maintain the equipment, to ensure sustainability under local capacities. Thanks to the system installed, farmers were able to reduce the use of water for irrigation by 27% and increase crop productivity by 31%.
At the national level, amulti-stakeholder Policy Dialogue was organised aiming to strengthen cooperation among government agencies, agricultural associations, technology providers, and relevant NGOs for the wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices along the WEFE Nexus approach. The project developed a common vision and framework among key stakeholders for the wider adoption of sustainable agricultural practices using the WEFE Nexus approach in the country; formulated realistic policy recommendations and built a collaborative Action Plan to scale up smart irrigation technologies and renewable energy solutions; discussed financial incentives and opportunities for farmers along with public policies for replication in other regions in Tunisia, and strengthened the institutional support for the application of smart irrigation and the adoption of the WEFE Nexus approach in agriculture.
The policy recommendations were developed through a desk-study analysis, semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders and a series of consultation workshops with a core team comprising representatives from key institutions such as the Regional Commissariat for Agricultural Development CRDA Bizerte, the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA Bizerte), the National Institution of Agronomy of Tunisia (INAT), the Territorial Unit of extension services (CTV Ghar Elmelh), the Local Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (ULAP Ghar Elmelh), the Agricultural Extension and Training Agency (AVFA), IrWise startup, agricultural consultants, and ENDA TAMWEEL as financial organizations.
Key policy recommendations included:
- The adoption of a national WEFE policy and the establishment of a formal WEFE Nexus monitoring committee to ensure the steering and effective implementation of the coordination and collaboration model.
- The creation of a dedicated national fund to support climate-resilient agricultural practices.
- Financial incentives for the acquisition of smart irrigation systems and solar energy solutions.
- Capacity-building initiatives for institutional actors to enhance their understanding and implementation of the WEFE Nexus approach.
The ACCISI-GEM project built on the findings of the ‘Conservation and Sustainable Development of Coastal Wetlands with High Ecological Value’ GEMWET project (2020-2021), which aimed to assist economic, socio-cultural and ecological development in the Ghar El Melh. GEMWET successfully enhanced water, energy and food security in the Ghar El Melh wetland area in North Tunisia, protecting its valuable ecosystems and their functions from intense environmental pressures and enhancing community resilience to climate change, in line with the government’s efforts towards sustainable development.