World Bank Approves Two Projects to Improve Water Services in Tunisia
The World Bank's Board of Directors today approved two projects totaling $332.5 million to improve drinking water services for millions of Tunisians, modernize irrigated agriculture, and support employment and livelihoods in rural areas.
These two new projects represent the first phase of the Program for Water Resilience and Security, which addresses water challenges in both rural and urban areas. The program is expected to create over 4,000 permanent jobs and more than 13,000 temporary jobs, while helping Tunisia adapt to increasing water scarcity and climate pressures.
"Tunisia has taken significant steps to address its growing water scarcity and protect its population's access to essential services and livelihoods," said Alexandre Arrobbio, World Bank Country Manager for Tunisia. "Through a multi-phase programmatic approach, the World Bank Group, including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), is mobilizing its full range of instruments and international expertise to ensure comprehensive and sustainable water security in Tunisia. This collective commitment by the World Bank Group demonstrates our determination to support Tunisia's water sector over the long term."
The $124 million Irrigation Water Resilience, Security, and Valorization Project aims to improve irrigation water services, strengthen operator performance, and increase agricultural yields in targeted public irrigation schemes. The project will rehabilitate essential irrigation infrastructure in the governorates of Jendouba, Béja, Bizerte, and Siliana, strengthen the capacity of regional agricultural development commissions and local water user groups, and help farmers adopt climate-smart technologies and access higher-value markets. The project is expected to directly benefit nearly 4,000 farmers through improved irrigation services, as well as an additional 9,000 farmers through agricultural extension and product valorization activities, while generating the equivalent of 3,400 permanent and 7,000 temporary jobs in the construction sector.
The $208.5 million Drinking Water Resilience and Security Project aims to improve the quality and resilience of drinking water services and strengthen the operational performance of the National Water Distribution and Exploitation Company (SONEDE). The project will expand the capacity of the Zarat seawater desalination plant in Gabès from 50,000 to 100,000 cubic meters per day to ensure a more secure and reliable supply to the populations of Gabès, Médenine, and Tataouine; deploy 100,000 smart meters and rehabilitate distribution networks to reduce water losses in Sfax, Tozeur, and Kébili; and support the organizational modernization of SONEDE. The project is expected to benefit 2.3 million people with more reliable and sustainable drinking water services, including 224,000 people who will have access to continuous water supply and 440,000 who will see improved water quality, while creating the equivalent of approximately 600 permanent and 6,000 temporary jobs.
The Tunisia Water Resilience and Security Program is designed as a multi-phase approach, with a total financing envelope of $700 million over ten years. By phasing investments over several phases, this programmatic approach allows the Tunisian government and the World Bank to diversify water sources, modernize service providers, and scale up proven solutions. The first phase, approved today, addresses urgent priorities in drinking water and irrigated agriculture, while the next phase will focus on sanitation, with the National Sanitation Office (ONAS) playing a central role in the collection, treatment, and reuse of wastewater.
