Minister of Equipment and Housing Highlights Key Challenges
The Minister of Equipment and Housing emphasized three sensitive files during the plenary session held on November 16: housing, climate risks, and urban planning. These three distinct but deeply connected areas affect citizens' daily lives.
Social Housing
Regarding social housing, Slah Zouari recalled that the program prioritizes supporting low- and middle-income households by offering them housing and plots at studied prices. The year 2026 will mark a decisive step with the launch of the "rent-to-own" program, a formula that allows families to rent before acquiring. This mechanism will start after the adoption of legal texts and the publication of a specification booklet. The minister also stressed a major axis: strengthening women's access to housing programs through better integration of the gender approach in the ministry's policies.
Protection Against Floods
Protecting cities from flooding is another essential front. The minister explained that the department is pursuing the implementation of the national strategy for managing runoff water, while updating technical studies for areas where urbanization is accelerating. A national protection strategy is also being prepared to secure regions most exposed to flood risks. The coastal aspect is not forgotten: the ministry is carrying out interventions to protect the coastline, restore maritime facilities, develop ports, and precisely identify the public maritime domain, while preparing targeted studies for areas threatened by marine erosion.
Urban Planning
In parallel, a more structural project is advancing: updating urban planning documents. The ministry is working with the Interior Ministry to revise planning documents, with a clear objective: publishing 126 planning documents in 2026. This dynamic accompanies urban growth to avoid anarchic expansion and better frame city development.
Strengthening Regional Directions
Finally, the minister emphasized the need to strengthen the ministry's regional directions, often limited in resources. To improve their capabilities, 18 million dinars will be allocated in early 2026 to purchase new leveling machines, in addition to a recruitment program aimed at filling the shortage of human resources.
