Integrated Drylands Development Programme Sustainable Land Management and Local Development in the Governorate of Kasserine Tunisia 12th Advisory Committee Meeting Amman, 26 & 27 February 2014 NFP UNCCD of Hamda Aloui

IDDP IN T UNISIA Partnership between the Government of Tunisia, the Government of Finland and UNDP since 2003 Started with the elaboration of four Regional Action Programmes to Combat Desertification (RAP) for the governorates of Kasserine, El Kef, Siliana, and Zaghouan. Implementing a local development program in one area in Kasserine identified since 2008, with the contribution of government Finland, the EC and the co-financing of government of Tunisia at the rate of 50% of the total project cost.

K ASSERINE A marginal area affected by poverty and drought Part of Tunisia's interior, which lags behind the more prosperous coastal areas Area of intervention : El Brek sector

P ROJECT MAIN AXIS Supporting the implementation of the UNCCD; Implementation of field activities by the “Union Tunisienne de Solidarité Sociale” (UTSS, a major national NGO) aiming at improving livelihood of local communities

R ESULTS ACHIEVED IN 2013

The project Supported the Alignment of Tunisia’s National Action Program to the UNCCD 10-Year Strategy implementation and Reporting review Process, through financing the project identified form (PIF) : $ S UPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNCCD

Revision and alignment of the NAP with the 10-year Strategy of UNCCD Reporting and Review process 2 components

S UPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNCCD 1. Revision and alignment of the NAP with the 10- year Strategy of UNCCD 1.2 Enhanced national capacity to assess baselines and monitor defined NAP indicators Review 1.1 The NAP aligned with the 10-Year Strategy of UNCCD and mainstreamed into development planning and relevant sectoral investment plans and policies 1.3 Improved policy and institutional framework and financing mechanisms for NAP implementation

S UPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNCCD 2.2. An enabling evironment for preparation of national reporting cycle to the UNCCD 2.1 The fifth national report on UNCCD implementation prepared and submitted 2.Reporting and Review process

S UPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNCCD The Ministry of Environment of Tunisia in collaboration with UNDP Tunis, organized in July 4, 2013 a conference on the theme "Challenges drought and land degradation” in celebration of the international day to combat desertification,

The project supported organization the Fourth International meeting: Resource Management and biotechnological applications Aridocultures and oasis Cultures; Opportunities for Sustainable Development of Arid Zones, organized by the IRA Mednenine, December 2013 S UPPORTING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE UNCCD

L IVELIHOODS ENHANCEMENT The revolving fund, A rotational micro-credit fund was established with the objective to make available the much needed financial resources to encourage individual initiative and support livelihood enhancement and diversification. The rotational nature of the fund proved to be successful with 95% reimbursement rate A rotational fund of about $100,000 was made available to support fruit tree production, animal fattening and local handicrafts.

Improve of local families the incomes : -In 2010, the project has installed 13 units of sheep fattening with a credit of 1700 DT for each unit. -In 2012, the project has expanded to 34 units to achieve sheep fattening : 12 were funded from the support fund ( the former having repaid their loans to maturity) with an increase of 3000 DT credit / unit and 22 new units at a cost of 2000 dinars per unit funded by the project, 90% reimbursement rate.. -In 2013, the revolving fund has installed 22 new units at a cost of 3000 DT / unit to beneficiaries. L IVELIHOODS ENHANCEMENT

A CCESS TO I RRIGATION W ATER Access to irrigation water was facilitated through the provision of animal-tracted cisterns to 40 families (500 l each).

S OIL CONSERVATION AND PLANTING TREES Soil conservation and erosion control activities were implemented and involved mainly the establishment of terraces, tabias and fruit tree plantation. The project contributed to soil conservation through the plantation of about 8,000 olive trees and 3000 almond trees in 2013, The project helped also local agricultures for valorization of agricultural by- products through acquisition of disposer twigs

D IFFICULTIES AND LESSONS ’ LEARNED L ESSONS ’ LEARNED Good practices in local development planning, water harvesting, and micro- finance were promoted for replication and scaling-up by local authorities; Revolving fund managed by NGO is still sustainable since its implementation in 2010 and continues to help local communities; Effective advocacy to mobilize national partners and resources; Collaborative partnership between government and CSO; Participative approach with close partnership with local community; Need for more capacity building of CSO in rural areas, D IFFICULTIES social instability in the areas of intervention prevents the execution of activities as per the expected timeline; The needs of the local population is important compared to the availability of resources.

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