Tunisia Aims to Enhance Access to International Climate Finance for Resilient Agriculture, Water, and Maritime Sectors

Tunisia is intensifying its efforts to secure international climate finance, with a specific focus on funding projects designed to reduce the vulnerability of agriculture, water resources, and maritime activities to the impacts of climate change.

This strategic priority was at the center of a working session held on September 23, 2026, chaired by Azzedine Ben Cheikh, Minister of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources, and Fisheries. The discussions focused on the operational mechanisms of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Loss and Damage Fund (LDF), as well as the specific conditions required to access their financial resources.

From Needs Identification to Fundable Project Portfolios

The immediate challenge is to transition from merely identifying needs to building a robust portfolio of projects that are sufficiently prepared for financing. To achieve this, the Ministry plans to select and prioritize projects based on their urgency, level of readiness, and compliance with international fund criteria.

Transforming Needs into Bankable Projects

The sectors targeted are directly exposed to the adverse effects of climate change, including rising temperatures, decreased precipitation, droughts, heatwaves, and floods. These phenomena are intensifying pressure on water resources and irrigation systems, agricultural land, grazing areas, and livestock. They also pose significant threats to forests, marine ecosystems, fisheries, and aquaculture.

In this context, the sought-after financing must support concrete projects focused on:

• Adaptation to changing climatic conditions.
• Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Prevention and response to climate-related losses and damages.

The Ministry emphasizes the necessity of grounding these projects in scientific data and technical studies. The goal is to better translate research outcomes into operational projects with clearly defined objectives, costs, and implementation modalities that meet the rigorous requirements of international donors.

Key Institutional Roles and Next Steps

A pivotal role has been assigned to the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA), which is accredited as a national entity by the Green Climate Fund. The APIA is tasked with contributing to the mobilization of funds and supporting public institutions and project proponents in preparing proposals that align with international mechanisms.

The next critical step involves developing a National Portfolio of Climate Finance Projects. This portfolio will include concept notes and categorize projects based on:

1. Urgency of the issue.
2. Maturity of the project preparation.
3. Likelihood of securing financing.

Furthermore, the Ministry aims to strengthen initiatives dedicated to marine fisheries and aquaculture, sectors considered particularly vulnerable to climate shifts. Simultaneously, it is calling for improvements in data systems, evaluation frameworks, and loss and damage analysis to establish a more solid evidence base for guiding future investments.